Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Hudson Housing Authority has lost close to $750,000 in back rent over the past 15 years, Executive Director Tim Mattice told the authority's Board of Commissioners June 13. Rent losses have averaged between $15,000 and $30,000 every year for the past 10 years, Mattice said. Bliss Towers, located on north Second Street in Hudson, is managed by the Hudson Housing Authority, under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Authority board member Peggy Polenberg blamed former executive director Jeff First’s administration for failing to collect back rent. First was at the helm of the authority for more than two decades and retired in December 2016. Mattice was hired in September and implemented an eviction policy soon thereafter. Under that policy, tenants must pay their rent by the 6th of the month. If the rent is not paid, a letter notifies the tenant they have 14 days to pay. After 14 days, a notice is sent to an attorney and the eviction process begins, Mattice said. The Hudson Housing Authority is now also using the Hudson police to run background checks on potential tenants, Mattice said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.