Ivory Mathews, the embattled CEO of Home Forward, the state’s largest public housing authority, is resigning. That’s according to people with direct knowledge of Mathews’ decision, which has not yet been announced by the agency.
Mathews’ impending resignation follows reporting by WW that showed she spent more than $100,000 on agency-funded travel over the past three years, crisscrossing the country to attend housing conferences and networking events, even as her agency fell into disarray. Home Forward provides affordable housing and rent vouchers to Multnomah County’s poorest residents, but saw its vacancy rate spike to 15% last year and several of its buildings fail to meet their debt service ratios.
Home Forward did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It’s unclear who will serve as interim CEO while the agency figures out next steps…