Home Forward CEO Spent Over $100K on Travel as Agency Struggled

Ivory Mathews spent an average of 45 days a year over 3 years attending housing conferences across the country.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:07am by

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life featuring a stack of hotel room keys, a crumpled airline boarding pass, and a handful of loose change, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to symbolize the excessive travel and spending of public funds by the housing authority CEO.As a housing authority CEO traveled the country on the public dime, the agency's tenants faced deteriorating living conditions and financial struggles.Portland Today

The CEO of Portland's public housing authority, Home Forward, spent over $100,000 in taxpayer funds on travel to national conferences over a 3-year period, even as the agency faced financial troubles and deteriorating conditions in its properties. Home Forward CEO Ivory Mathews traveled extensively, often several times per month, to attend events hosted by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, where she successfully campaigned for a leadership position.

Why it matters

Home Forward is a crucial provider of affordable housing and rental assistance in the Portland metro area, but has struggled with rising costs, declining federal support, and high rates of tenant delinquency. Critics argue Mathews' extensive travel detracted from her focus on addressing these pressing local issues and improving conditions for Home Forward's tenants.

The details

Records show that between 2023-2025, Mathews spent over $100,000 in public funds on travel, including airfare, hotels, meals, and transportation. In 2025 alone, she made at least 14 out-of-state trips, 8 of which were to NAHRO conferences where she campaigned for a leadership role. This contrasts with other local housing officials who spent far less on travel. Mathews' travel schedule often included multiple trips per month, even as Home Forward's financial metrics worsened and tenant complaints mounted about drug activity and poor living conditions in its properties.

  • In 2024, Mathews traveled to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Anchorage, and Orlando for various housing conferences.
  • In September 2024, Mathews spent $355 per night on a hotel room with a balcony view in Orlando for a 3-day NAHRO conference.
  • In October 2024, Mathews spent 6 nights at a resort in Hawaii at a cost of $4,767 to the agency.
  • In early 2025, Mathews campaigned for the NAHRO Senior Vice President position, traveling to conferences in Connecticut and Texas.
  • In March 2025, Mathews urged NAHRO conference attendees in D.C. to visit her campaign booth where she offered 'handmade housing earrings'.

The players

Ivory Mathews

The CEO of Home Forward, Portland's public housing authority, who spent over $100,000 in taxpayer funds on travel to national conferences over a 3-year period.

Matthew Gebhardt

The chair of Home Forward's board of commissioners, who defended Mathews' travel and said the board has 'full confidence' in her leadership.

Eric Zimmerman

A Portland City Councilor who expressed concerns about Home Forward's high vacancy rates and deteriorating tenant conditions, saying 'When an organization is in crisis, you expect leaders to be present'.

Michael Buonocore

The former CEO of Home Forward from 2015-2022, who is now the interim director of the Portland Housing Bureau.

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)

The advocacy group made up of housing officials across the country that hosted many of the conferences Mathews attended.

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What they’re saying

“Ivory's engagement in national affordable housing organizations is a core part of her role and strengthens our work by connecting Home Forward to best practices, peer providers, and federal policy conversations.”

— Matthew Gebhardt, Home Forward Board Chair

“When an organization is in crisis, you expect leaders to be present. I think the hundreds of vacant units and six-month average vacancy is damning information. The Home Forward board of commissioners and the executive team need to be fully engaged in turning this around, and I have deep concerns about the future of Home Forward.”

— Eric Zimmerman, Portland City Councilor

“Ivory has been a tireless national advocate and leader in ensuring housing is affordable and abundant. Having Oregon voices like Ivory's in national leadership positions benefits our entire state.”

— Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator (D-Oregon)

What’s next

Home Forward has pledged to institute new transparency and accountability measures, including a public-facing data dashboard and hiring an independent consultant to evaluate the agency's strategies and operations.

The takeaway

This case raises questions about the appropriate use of public funds and the need for housing authority leaders to prioritize addressing local issues over national advocacy, especially when an organization is facing significant financial and operational challenges that directly impact the lives of low-income residents.