Report on housing probe expected Monday

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A report detailing the findings of an investigation into the Lawrence County Housing Authority and a nonprofit spinoff, Affordable Housing of Lawrence County, will be released Monday.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted the investigation after questions arose about the two entities in December.
Affordable Housing of Lawrence County was created in 2003 when the housing authority gave it a $200,000 loan from its Section 8 funds.
The group initially said it was going to build housing for the handicapped in Union Township but could not get proper zoning for the project. Last December, the group took out a $250,000 bank loan and bought seven rental homes in New Castle. Shortly after buying the homes, four of Affordable Housing's six board members resigned.
Robert Evanick, director of the county housing authority and former chairman of Affordable Housing, said he received the report Wednesday and would not release it until housing authority board members had a chance to see it. Attempts to reach HUD for details were unsuccessful.