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Residents Voice Concerns at Lakeland Housing Authority Board Meeting
Residents and community leaders voiced concerns at Monday’s Lakeland Housing Authority meeting, prompting calls for greater accountability and public dialogue.
Lakeland Housing Authority Director Ben Stevenson presents information on housing programs and policies during the Sept. 15 board meeting, as board member David Samples asks questions. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
2-minute read
At Monday’s Lakeland Housing Authority board meeting, multiple speakers — including residents and City Commissioner Guy LaLonde — highlighted concerns ranging from Section 8 vouchers to transparency in decision making.
Roughly 20 to 25 people attended, at least six speakers addressed the board during the public comment period. Speakers referenced concerns affecting dozens of other residents, with LaLonde noting that he had heard from more than 65 people in the community.
Tareva Thomas said she waited months without a response to her concerns, despite repeated attempts to follow up. Tareva Thomas described the stress of receiving an eviction notice while still waiting for confirmation that rent would be paid. “Every meeting, I’m going to stand up here until I get a response. I’m tired of crying. I’m stressed out … I feel like I’m getting targeted again because I’m opening up my mouth,” Thomas said.
Earlier in the meeting, LHA director Ben Stevenson gave a 20-25 slide presentation outlining the authority’s programs, federal oversight and compliance audits, voucher distribution, and demographic trends.
Carlos Pizzaro, senior vice-president of housing at LHA, said, “We only take instructions and follow instructions. We don’t determine anything. We don’t make policies.”
Board members asked questions about procedures, including wait list mechanics, audit scope, eviction process, and public comment handling.
Stevenson outlined the agency’s HUD-directed procedures and said written replies to residents’ questions during the public forum would follow by mail.
Board and community leader remarks
City Commissioner Guy LaLonde, Pastor William Boss, Don Brown and other community leaders raised concerns about division in the community and called for more open dialogue, with LaLonde requesting a separate public forum to address complaints.
“If there’s something there, then there’ll be something there, and if there’s nothing there, one technique that worked for me as a reporter, especially when covering meetings, was to continually think about there’s nothing there … I’m hoping my request is taken seriously,” LaLonde said during the public comment portion of the meeting. “Let’s work with the city manager to get it done and let everything come to light and be addressed.”
Board member Stacy Campbell-Domineck emphasized civility, noting the meeting would be documented in public records, comments would receive written responses, and discussion should remain respectful.
Participation and next steps
The meeting followed recent calls for an investigation into the Housing Authority by LaLonde. No formal actions were announced.
Board members and staff said they would provide written responses to public comments and emphasized that housing programs are guided by federal policy. No determinations were made on the specific complaints raised during the meeting.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
