The Chester Housing Authority is “troubled,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

HUD gave the CHA a Public Housing Assessment score of 53 percent in April 2023, earning it the “troubled” designation.

 CHA must make improvements within two years, by 2025.

“The score is primarily due to poor physical conditions,” said a HUD spokesman.

It’s not known what would happen to Chester’s 2,500 families living in CHA-managed properties, or receiving housing vouchers, if the CHA can’t get off the troubled list.

“HUD will assess and take appropriate next steps based on rules and regulations,” a HUD spokesperson said.

The CHA and HUD have negotiated a recovery agreement and plan, and progress is underway, said CHA executive director Steven Fischer.

“Building maintenance has improved greatly,” Fischer said. “Work orders are being processed at, by far, the highest rates in many years.”

Previous pandemic restrictions limiting activity to essential work hurt building maintenance, said Fisher, and a moratorium on evictions caused lax habits by some residents.

Previous fraud inside the Authority also had an impact, Fisher said.

Chester’s new mayor Stefan Roots has vowed to provide proper oversight of CHA operations.

Read more about the Chester Housing Authority at WHYY.