Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency Approves Tax Credits Amidst Tulsa Housing Authority's Audit Backlog Controversy
The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board of Trustees has approved federal tax credit applications for the 36 North affordable housing project, despite significant concerns regarding the Tulsa Housing Authority's (THA) four-year audit backlog. The decision followed a contentious meeting where OHFA staff highlighted THA's failure to meet program threshold requirements due to the overdue audits. THA President and CEO Aaron Darden claimed the agency had completed two full audits this year and attributed delays to a software transition during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, OHFA Executive Director Deborah Jenkins disputed Darden's claims, stating that THA's 2021 audit has not been provided to OHFA and that Darden's explanation regarding the software transition date was inaccurate, according to THA's own 2021 Public Housing Authority Plan. The board ultimately voted to approve the tax credits, emphasizing the critical need for affordable housing in Tulsa.
