Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – E. Eligibility – Tenant Files
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Eligibility
Criteria: Tenant Files. The PHA must do the following: As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit.
Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit.
Context: There are approximately 1,782 units. Of a sample size of thirty-one (31) tenant files, the following was noted: - HUD 50058 Form was missing in 1 file
- Verification of income and assets was missing in 1 file. Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $2,694
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that assures the program is in compliance.
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The affected files relate to clients that have been on the program for decades and as files get large, archiving takes place. To correct this finding, a directive will be issued to staff that will ensure that when files are archived the original application must be placed in the current working file going forward.
Finding 2023-002:
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions - Housing Quality Standards
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions
Criteria: Housing Quality Standards Inspections. The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least annually to determine if the unit meets the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the PHA must conduct quality control re-inspections. The PHA must prepare a unit inspection report (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b)). For units that fail inspection the PHA must correct all life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours and all other deficiencies within 30 days.
Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were failed inspections that did not pass reinspection within 30 days without penalty.
Context: There are approximately 489 units with failed inspections. Of a sample size of twenty-five (25) failed inspections, two (2) failed inspections did not pass reinspection within 30 days. HAP was not abated nor was the tenant evicted.
Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $387
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS inspections. The Authority has not properly performed HQS inspections in compliance with program requirements following the expiration of HUD waivers as a result of insufficient staffing .
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS inspections.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement a corrective action plan that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The affected files relate to the software conversion from HAB to Yardi. The Authority has completed the software conversion, and this should not be an issue going forward.
Finding 2023-003:
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions - Housing Quality Standards
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions. occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit.
Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit.
Context: Of a sample size of thirty-one (31) tenant files, the following information was unavailable for examination at the time of audit:
- Annual inspection reports were missing in one file. Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $5,319
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that reasonably assures the program is in compliance.
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the special tests and provisions - housing quality standards type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will reasonably assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The Authority will increase oversight in the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program to ensure that established internal control policies are being followed on a timely basis.
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – E. Eligibility – Tenant Files
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Eligibility
Criteria: Tenant Files. The PHA must do the following: As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit.
Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit.
Context: There are approximately 1,782 units. Of a sample size of thirty-one (31) tenant files, the following was noted: - HUD 50058 Form was missing in 1 file
- Verification of income and assets was missing in 1 file. Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $2,694
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that assures the program is in compliance.
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The affected files relate to clients that have been on the program for decades and as files get large, archiving takes place. To correct this finding, a directive will be issued to staff that will ensure that when files are archived the original application must be placed in the current working file going forward.
Finding 2023-002:
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions - Housing Quality Standards
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions
Criteria: Housing Quality Standards Inspections. The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least annually to determine if the unit meets the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the PHA must conduct quality control re-inspections. The PHA must prepare a unit inspection report (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b)). For units that fail inspection the PHA must correct all life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours and all other deficiencies within 30 days.
Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were failed inspections that did not pass reinspection within 30 days without penalty.
Context: There are approximately 489 units with failed inspections. Of a sample size of twenty-five (25) failed inspections, two (2) failed inspections did not pass reinspection within 30 days. HAP was not abated nor was the tenant evicted.
Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $387
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS inspections. The Authority has not properly performed HQS inspections in compliance with program requirements following the expiration of HUD waivers as a result of insufficient staffing .
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS inspections.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement a corrective action plan that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The affected files relate to the software conversion from HAB to Yardi. The Authority has completed the software conversion, and this should not be an issue going forward.
Finding 2023-003:
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions - Housing Quality Standards
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions. occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit.
Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit.
Context: Of a sample size of thirty-one (31) tenant files, the following information was unavailable for examination at the time of audit:
- Annual inspection reports were missing in one file. Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $5,319
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that reasonably assures the program is in compliance.
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the special tests and provisions - housing quality standards type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will reasonably assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The Authority will increase oversight in the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program to ensure that established internal control policies are being followed on a timely basis.