Questions surrounding government oversight and accountability have intensified after revelations that Baltimore City and the State of Maryland awarded nearly $4.1 million in public funds to the North East Housing Initiative (NEHI). The affordable housing nonprofit received this substantial financial backing while previously led by Garrick Good, a convicted felon who carries a history of criminal fraud and three bankruptcy filings.
According to a Spotlight on Maryland investigation, government spending databases show that Baltimore City allocated $3.25 million to NEHI between 2023 and 2025. Additionally, the Maryland state government provided $835,000 between 2022 and 2024. The public funds were specifically designated for affordable housing development initiatives within the region.
Background on Garrick Good’s Criminal Record and Financial History
Good’s legal and financial track record features multiple serious convictions and fiscal liabilities. In 2014, he entered a guilty plea in South Carolina to felony charges involving the acquisition of property under false pretenses. Court documents revealed that Good utilized a forged letter to convince the city of Greer to transfer a substantial piece of property, resulting in a court-ordered restitution amount approaching $579,000.
, Good’s criminal record includes additional fraud charges tied to securing architectural designs for a fictional project, which he used to defraud entities out of more than $10,000. Beyond his criminal convictions, Good’s financial history includes three bankruptcy filings carrying millions in liabilities. A 2012 bankruptcy filing reported over $1.3 million in debts, which included significant tax liabilities linked to a civil fraud penalty. A subsequent filing in Washington, D.C., reported approximately $2.3 million in debt.
Lack of Background Vetting by City and State Officials
Despite his extensive criminal and financial background, Good assumed the role of executive director at NEHI in 2017. Observers and governance experts have sharply criticized the absence of thorough vetting protocols by public officials before approving millions in taxpayer money.
Sheila Weinberg, CEO of Truth in Accounting, noted publicly that Good’s documented criminal background would typically disqualify an individual from heading an organization seeking public support. When pressed on the matter, a spokesperson for Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s office confirmed that current city oversight measures do not mandate background checks for executives leading nonprofits that receive taxpayer funding. Instead, verification protocols focus strictly on the overarching organization rather than individual personnel.
Resignation and Ongoing Federal Investigations
Following inquiries by Spotlight on Maryland regarding his legal and financial past, Good officially resigned from his position at NEHI. In his resignation communication, he asserted that stepping down would allow the organization’s leadership to concentrate on its core mission. He maintained that NEHI successfully developed 42 affordable homes under his stewardship, though he noted that not all of the $4.1 million allocated had been billed to the government.
Despite his departure, institutional fallout continues. Funding to NEHI has been temporarily frozen amid a federal investigation focusing on a $2 million anonymous donation received by the nonprofit. City officials are also actively pursuing the recovery of roughly $122,000 in unreturned funds linked to the group.
Financial analysts estimate that NEHI currently grapples with approximately $2.5 million in outstanding debts. The organization has additionally lost its tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service due to non-compliance in filing required tax forms, prompting renewed calls from municipal and state leaders for stricter compliance monitoring.
