Washington lawmakers demand investigation into alleged corruption in state-funded race-based housing program

Washington Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, is calling for a sweeping investigation and accountability after a bombshell exposé revealed that taxpayer money intended to expand minority homeownership in Washington state may have been misused for personal gain.

The investigation by journalist Brandi Kruse, host of the UnDivided podcast, centers on the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP), a $200 million initiative launched by the Democrat-led Legislature in 2022 and managed by the state Department of Commerce. The program, created to “uplift communities disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs,” received another $50 million in the 2025–27 budget cycle despite a $15 billion state deficit.

Kruse’s investigation was sparked by Corey Orvold, a real estate broker and former journalist who spent nearly a year documenting abuses in the CRP. Orvold, initially a supporter of the program, compiled a binder of evidence showing that individuals connected to BIPOC-focused nonprofits had awarded themselves or family members hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer aid.

One prominent nonprofit, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS), allegedly distributed six-figure sums in down-payment assistance to its own staff and associates, even as it claimed funds had run out for other applicants. Among them:
 

• Aysia Williams, who received nearly $350,000 in state-funded homebuyer assistance to purchase a $425,000 Tacoma home. Her mother, Angela Williams, is ULMS’s Director of Financial Empowerment — one of the officials administering the funds.
• Ariana Gold, a ULMS housing counselor, was awarded nearly $50,000 in taxpayer money to pay off personal debt.
• Tracy Brown, another beneficiary, received $245,000 in public funds while her nonprofit partnered with ULMS to promote the same program she profited from.

Meanwhile, families who applied through official channels were often turned away or told funds had “run out.”

The Department of Commerce, which oversees CRP, confirmed it is reviewing allegations of misconduct. Commerce Director Joe Nguyen, who co-sponsored the bill creating CRP before joining Gov. Bob Ferguson’s cabinet, acknowledged problems with accountability. “What we found when I came in wasn’t acceptable,” Nguyen said. “We’re taking action.”

The Attorney General’s Office has also reportedly contacted Orvold following her whistleblower disclosures, though officials declined to confirm or deny an investigation.

The Urban League has denied wrongdoing, citing privacy concerns and saying all recipients met eligibility requirements. But the organization has refused to disclose a list of staff or relatives who benefited from CRP funds.

Braun said the revelations expose what happens when government programs divide people by race.

“Corruption thrives wherever government decides certain people get special treatment and others don’t,” Braun said. “When public money is hijacked by self-serving operators, every Washingtonian pays the price.”

He announced that Senate Republicans will introduce legislation to eliminate race-based housing programs, impose strict oversight on nonprofits receiving state funds, and enforce performance standards to ensure aid reaches families in need rather than insiders.

Braun said that the lack of transparency underscores why legislative oversight is needed.

“This is about more than wasting money, it has stolen hope from families counting on a fair chance to build a future,” Braun said.

As Orvold continues to face retaliation for exposing the scandal, she says she only wants accountability.

“It’s been misused. It’s enriched certain people,” she said. “I don’t think this is ever what it was meant to do, and to me, that’s heartbreaking.”