Ursula Holland is director.

2011 Grant Funding Scandal

The department had used $210,000 of a $1.1M grant intended for clothing and food for the poor to buy new furniture for the department. Director Shenetta Coleman was fired in May 2011. Bing's internal investigation ended on July 26.

In late 2011, the department returned $9.2M in Federal grants intended for home energy improvements . The city had a goal of using $33M to weatherize homes in three years. Only $19M of the money was used.

In March 2012, the Michigan Department of Human Services found that the City had misused at least $3M in grants. The State is requiring the City to transfer this year's $6M in Community Service Block Grant funding to Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. 

2011 Gift Card Scandal

In August 2011, the Free Press reported that $12,000 in grant funds had been spent on ABC Warehouse gift cards. Bing said he would re-open his internal investigation. The US Department of Health & Human Services said they would begin their own investigation.

2011 Relocation

The department continued moving into the Herman Kiefer Health Complex, also the home of the Department of Health and Wellness. The City Council had voted to stop a $641,000 renovation of the department's current headquarters, but that didn't halt the move. The mayor's office wants to use $316,000 in Head Start funding to offset the renovation costs, which would require approval from the federal government.

Sources

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