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Undeveloped dreams

Affordable housing construction projects around the country have stalled or never been built, and hundreds of millions of government dollars set aside for them have been lost or sit idle.

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The HUD headquarters in Washington. Nationwide, nearly 700 affordable-housing construction projects that were awarded $400 million have been idling for years, a Washington Post investigation has found.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

One of the oldest unfinished projects in the country sits on a desolate stretch of High Street in Southeast Washington, where the shells of three apartment buildings rise above overgrown brush and rotting heaps of trash.

One of the oldest unfinished projects in the country sits on a desolate stretch of High Street in Southeast Washington, where the shells of three apartment buildings rise above overgrown brush and rotting heaps of trash.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Abandoned buildings on High Street SE. In 2001, the District delivered nearly $800,000 in HUD funding to the nonprofit Safe Haven Outreach Ministry, but a decade later, no renovations have been done.

Abandoned buildings on High Street SE. In 2001, the District delivered nearly $800,000 in HUD funding to the nonprofit Safe Haven Outreach Ministry, but a decade later, no renovations have been done.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Marsha Richerson, executive director of the District’s Safe Haven Outreach Ministry, said that the nonprofit group did not anticipate problems getting permits and private funding, and that the housing agency was aware of the delays. “They knew everything,” she said. “They knew we had a credible defense.”

Marsha Richerson, executive director of the District’s Safe Haven Outreach Ministry, said that the nonprofit group did not anticipate problems getting permits and private funding, and that the housing agency was aware of the delays. “They knew everything,” she said. “They knew we had a credible defense.”

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

While Richerson was at the boarded-up buildings on High Street SE, Henry James was walking through the property to get to his low-income apartment building on another street. He asked Richerson whether she could help his girlfriend find a home.

While Richerson was at the boarded-up buildings on High Street SE, Henry James was walking through the property to get to his low-income apartment building on another street. He asked Richerson whether she could help his girlfriend find a home.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Lashelle Adams walks on her wooded property in Temple Hills. Adams and her father, Clinton, almost sold this land to Kairos Development Corp., a nonprofit group that had already received $350,000 in HUD funds to develop the site. Adams and her father ultimately opted not to sell.

Lashelle Adams walks on her wooded property in Temple Hills. Adams and her father, Clinton, almost sold this land to Kairos Development Corp., a nonprofit group that had already received $350,000 in HUD funds to develop the site. Adams and her father ultimately opted not to sell.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Adams on her wooded property in Temple Hills.

Adams on her wooded property in Temple Hills.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Kairos also received $400,000 in HUD funds in 2005 to develop apartments for seniors and single-family houses on this lot in Camp Springs. Nothing was ever built. In this photo, Harold Davis, the executive director of Kairos, holds plans for the unbuilt homes. The home in the background, unrelated to the project, is vacant.

Kairos also received $400,000 in HUD funds in 2005 to develop apartments for seniors and single-family houses on this lot in Camp Springs. Nothing was ever built. In this photo, Harold Davis, the executive director of Kairos, holds plans for the unbuilt homes. The home in the background, unrelated to the project, is vacant.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Soon after retired truck driver Grady Baxter moved into a building in Northeast Washington that had received HUD funds for renovation, part of his bathroom ceiling collapsed and sewage from the apartment upstairs soaked the walls. “They started work on it,” he said, “but didn’t come back.”

Soon after retired truck driver Grady Baxter moved into a building in Northeast Washington that had received HUD funds for renovation, part of his bathroom ceiling collapsed and sewage from the apartment upstairs soaked the walls. “They started work on it,” he said, “but didn’t come back.”

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

In 2008, the District awarded $600,000 in HUD funds to Alicia Marshall to renovate the building where Baxter lives. Though work was done, Baxter said he has problems with leaks and bugs. Marshall could not be reached for comment.

In 2008, the District awarded $600,000 in HUD funds to Alicia Marshall to renovate the building where Baxter lives. Though work was done, Baxter said he has problems with leaks and bugs. Marshall could not be reached for comment.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Daydette Sesay works at her part-time job in Maryland. Sesay, a single mother, spent months waiting for government-subsidized housing. She eventually moved into a subsidized apartment.

Daydette Sesay works at her part-time job in Maryland. Sesay, a single mother, spent months waiting for government-subsidized housing. She eventually moved into a subsidized apartment.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Tyesha Jackson, left, and Tiana Jackson help Sesay, shown with her baby, Kailee, move into her subsidized apartment.

Tyesha Jackson, left, and Tiana Jackson help Sesay, shown with her baby, Kailee, move into her subsidized apartment.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Tiana, from left, Keasha Budd and Tyesha help Sesay and her baby move into the new apartment,

Tiana, from left, Keasha Budd and Tyesha help Sesay and her baby move into the new apartment,

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Tiana Jackson writes a message on a chalkboard in Sesay’s kitchen.

Tiana Jackson writes a message on a chalkboard in Sesay’s kitchen.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Inglewood, Calif., has invested $2 million over the past four years to build a new senior center with housing at this site. The old center was torn down years ago, but its replacement was never built.

Inglewood, Calif., has invested $2 million over the past four years to build a new senior center with housing at this site. The old center was torn down years ago, but its replacement was never built.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Van Holloway and Rudolph Jones, both 79, say they are frustrated that the Inglewood senior center has not been rebuilt.

Van Holloway and Rudolph Jones, both 79, say they are frustrated that the Inglewood senior center has not been rebuilt.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Inglewood resident Darlenea Harris, 82, used to volunteer at the old Inglewood senior center that was torn down years ago. She wonders why the new one has not been built.

Inglewood resident Darlenea Harris, 82, used to volunteer at the old Inglewood senior center that was torn down years ago. She wonders why the new one has not been built.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Emma Brocks, center, lives across the street from two unfinished HUD-funded houses in Beaumont, Tex., shown here in the background.

Emma Brocks, center, lives across the street from two unfinished HUD-funded houses in Beaumont, Tex., shown here in the background.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Gardine Grogan, seated, at home with her daughter, Emma Brocks.Three years ago, a local developer working at a site across from Grogan’s house walked off the job without finishing the work. Now, abandoned bricks and pipes lie in haphazard piles in an overgrown front yard, and glass in a front window is cracked. A “no trespassing” sign had fallen to the ground and was covered with dirt.

Gardine Grogan, seated, at home with her daughter, Emma Brocks.Three years ago, a local developer working at a site across from Grogan’s house walked off the job without finishing the work. Now, abandoned bricks and pipes lie in haphazard piles in an overgrown front yard, and glass in a front window is cracked. A “no trespassing” sign had fallen to the ground and was covered with dirt.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

A view of Gardine Grogan’s yellow house on Grand Street in Beaumont.

A view of Gardine Grogan’s yellow house on Grand Street in Beaumont.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Since 1995, Newark’s Department of Economic and Housing Development has invested more than $2 million in five projects that have never been completed, including this unrenovated apartment building on Irvine Turner Boulevard.

Since 1995, Newark’s Department of Economic and Housing Development has invested more than $2 million in five projects that have never been completed, including this unrenovated apartment building on Irvine Turner Boulevard.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Kenny Matthews lives next door to an unfinished HUD property in Newark.

Kenny Matthews lives next door to an unfinished HUD property in Newark.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

Another view of the unfinished HUD property on Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark.

Another view of the unfinished HUD property on Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

A HUD building in Harlem, N.Y.

A HUD building in Harlem, N.Y.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

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