A Chicago housing official shocked attendees at a crucial meeting by making an inappropriate personal remark. Francine Washington, a member of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), reportedly stated in front of colleagues that she was in “dire need of sex” and needed to “get laid.” This incident led to an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General, which confirmed that Washington had a sexually graphic conversation in the presence of other agency staff.
The report further noted that Washington was critical of an attorney’s response to a union representative and described the reaction as stemming from “white privilege.” Interim Board Chair Matthew Brewer later met with Washington, and according to the report, she committed to refraining from such behavior in the future. While Washington acknowledged the meeting with Brewer, she said she couldn’t recall the specifics of their conversation.
Washington believes the incident was reported by a human resources manager who may have been frustrated with her persistent questioning of agency operations. “All the board members know me,” she said. “I don’t change with the weather. I love being a public housing resident and I love my residents. I would never do anything to hurt the residents or the authority.”
Appointed to the CHA Board of Commissioners in 2014, Washington also serves as President of the Central Advisory Council and the Washington Park Local Advisory Committee. She is involved in several other prominent boards and committees. The Inspector General’s report revealed a lack of a formal sexual harassment policy within the CHA and recommended that such a policy be developed.
In response, Brewer agreed with the report’s recommendations, noting that commissioners already undergo annual ethics and sexual harassment training. The CHA stated that it is committed to maintaining a culture of respect and accountability and emphasized that while it cannot comment on specific personnel matters, it takes all allegations of misconduct seriously.
