The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted during a special meeting on Wednesday to terminate CEO Erik Johnson, effective immediately, ending a weeks-long controversy over his unauthorized stay in a public housing unit.
The decision comes as an independent investigation into Johnson’s actions continues, according to a statement released by the board on Friday.
“The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board has voted to terminate the employment of CEO Erik Johnson, effective today,” the board said in its brief statement.
Rickie Maddox, who has been serving as acting CEO since Johnson was placed on probation in late August, will continue in the interim role while the board determines next steps.
“The independent investigation remains ongoing and will guide us in determining any additional steps needed to ensure transparency and strengthen our governance structures,” the board statement said.
Timeline of controversy
The termination marks the culmination of a controversy that began in August when ALXnow first reported that Johnson had lived in a public housing unit on Cook Street in July without board approval. Johnson confirmed the details of his residency during an interview with ALXnow.
Following calls for an investigation by City Council member John Taylor Chapman and Mayor Alyia Gaskins, the ARHA board placed Johnson on probation and hired the law firm Mintz Levin to conduct an independent investigation.
The board had previously stated that Johnson “moved into an ARHA property without required approvals or knowledge by the Board” and ordered him to vacate immediately.
Johnson, who was hired a year ago and began work in September 2024, had told ALXnow he stayed in the property “temporarily while transitioning residences” for less than a month.
Federal conflict of interest concerns
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it is a conflict of interest for a public housing agency director to live on a property they manage. HUD regulations prohibit PHAs from entering into contracts or arrangements where covered individuals — including current employees who influence policy decisions — have a direct or indirect interest.
The controversy erupted at a time when ARHA was already facing scrutiny from tenants who had protested poor conditions and delayed repairs at ARHA properties.
City Council demands investigation
In her August letter to the ARHA board, Gaskins called for an independent investigation into Johnson’s actions, ARHA’s compliance with applicable laws, and the authority’s finances, including an independent financial audit.
“Mr. Johnson’s actions raise significant questions about governance and accountability at ARHA,” Gaskins wrote. “His actions also threaten to undermine public confidence in ARHA at a time when the need to ensure that all Alexandrians have access to safe and affordable housing is at an all-time high.”
The City Council also submitted multiple Freedom of Information Act requests seeking Johnson’s employment contract, correspondence related to employee occupancy of ARHA units, and communications with HUD regarding the matter.
Acting CEO takes charge
Maddox, who took over as interim CEO in early September, previously served in the role for nearly a year from November 2023 to September 2024 when former CEO Keith Pettigrew left for the D.C. Housing Authority. Before that, she was ARHA’s chief compliance officer.
The board emphasized that despite the leadership turmoil, its focus remains on serving residents.
“Our priority and focus remains the residents of ARHA and our commitment to serving them with the highest quality and standards,” the board said.
ARHA by the numbers
ARHA owns and operates more than 1,100 public housing properties in Alexandria and administers the Housing Choice Voucher program to more than 1,600 residents in private properties citywide. As of February, more than 8,700 people were on the public housing waitlist, with another 10,600 on the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist.
The board’s nine members include eight citizen appointees and one representative from the Alexandria Resident Council, who must be a public housing resident.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
