WBRZ - Baton Rouge

LAFAYETTE, La.- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking over the troubled public housing agency in Lafayette.

On Tuesday, HUD said it would manage the day-to-day operations of the Lafayette Housing Authority. HUD cited numerous financial deficiencies over the past three years.

The agency has been probed by auditors, who have questioned a co-mingling of funds between LHA and St. Antoine Gardens Limited Partnership.

LHA is a minority owner of St. Antoine Gardens housing development, which owed the authority about $1 million.

HUD, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the state Legislative Auditor are investigating LHA.

The housing agency's board of commissioners has been dissolved.