Officials from Citizens for Affordable Homes who initiated a criminal complaint into the actions of former executive director Ron Trunk did the right thing. The wrongdoing they allege " misappropriating federal loan funds from one project to others " is not a victimless crime.
While it's fortunate that the Nevada Rural Housing Authority has taken over the nine homes under construction that had been under CAHI's authority before it shut down, we wonder what this means for the future of affordable housing in the region, and specifically the 34 homes it had planned to build in Dayton. Those families who won't be able to experience home ownership because of the problem are clearly victims.
What we do know is that affordable housing is needed desperately in Northern Nevada, where the cost of housing far outpaces the ability of much of the work force to afford it.
And while we don't know if Trunk is guilty of any misdeeds, it's clear that CAHI's name now lacks any credibility, something we hope will not extend to other credible organizations that may step in to fill the void.
That's a shame because the organization and its caring employees had accomplished good things in its 11 years, specifically helping dozens of families obtain their first homes. Several of those joyous occasions were documented in this newspaper.
Was it Trunk who destroyed that credibility? We'll only know that after the investigation is complete, but if it's true we hope there's a speedy prosecution.
Even if CAHI won't be building more homes, that message would at least help rebuild the trust that's been lost.
- This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board.