Senator Seeks Probe of PHA's Employee Housing Policy

Sen. Charles Grassley, of Iowa, is calling for a federal inquiry into the Chelsea Housing Authority's practice of letting managers live in subsidized public housing while hundreds of low-income families are on waiting lists.

The Republican has asked federal housing officials to send him documents related to the Massachusetts agency's policy of allowing employees making $50,000 a year to live in public housing for $25 in monthly rent. Grassley is already investigating former authority Director Michael McLaughlin, who resigned after misleading state officials over the size of his $360,000 salary.

The housing authority in Chelsea gets about $10 million a year in federal money. Federal housing officials say they are cooperating with Grassley.