Audit 405460

FY End
2025-09-30
Total Expended
$1.17M
Findings
2
Programs
4
Organization: Winchendon Housing Authority (MA)
Year: 2025 Accepted: 2026-06-29
Auditor: CBIZ CPAS PC

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
1220643 2025-001 Material Weakness Yes E
1220644 2025-002 Material Weakness Yes N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
14.850 PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND $490,197 Yes 0
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $466,768 Yes 2
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $118,996 Yes 0
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $93,074 Yes 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
LAGSWM1JEKV3 Amanda Phillips Auditee
9782972280 Michael Guyder Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the schedule) includes the federal grant activity of Winchendon Housing Authority, under programs of the federal government for the year ended September 30, 2025. The information in the schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirement, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of Winchendon Housing Authority, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net position or cash flows of Winchendon Housing Authority.
Expenditures reported on the schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. For cost-reimbursement awards, such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. For performance-based awards, expenditures reported represent amounts earned.
The Winchendon Housing Authority has elected not to use the 15% de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.

Finding Details

2025-001 – ELIGIBILITY Material Weakness U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ALN #: 14.871 – Housing Voucher Cluster CRITERIA For both family income examinations and reexamination, obtain and document in the family file third-party verification of (1) reported family annual income (2) the value of assets (3) expenses related to deductions from annual income; and (4) other factors that affect the determination of adjusted income or income-based rent (24 CFR Section 982.516). Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant’s rent payment using the documentation from third-party verification in accordance with 24 CFR Part 5 subpart F (24 CFR section 5.601 et seq.) (24CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, 982.516). CONDITION As a result of audit procedures, we identified 4 instances of missing income verification, 5 instances of incorrect utility allowance provided and 5 instances of the Authority applying an incorrect payment standard. CAUSE The Authority’s system of internal control over the participant recertification process was not sufficient to meet the requirements established by HUD. EFFECT Redetermination of tenant’s rent and the housing assistance payment was not performed in accordance with HUD regulations. As a result, tenants may have paid more or less in rent than they should have paid. QUESTIONED COSTS Estimated questioned costs are less than $25,000 CONTEXT We selected a sample of 10 participants from a population of 44 participants from the Housing Choice Voucher program. This was not a statistically valid sample. REPEAT FINDING Not a repeat finding. RECOMMENDATION We recommend that the Authority develop and implement a recertification checklist to accompany the tenant file to ensure all required documentation is obtained. AUDITEE’S RESPONSE AND PLANNED CORRECTIVE ACTION See Corrective Action Plan.
2025-002 – SPECIAL TESTS & PROVISIONS: RENT REASONABLENESS Material Weakness U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ALN #: 14.871 – Housing Voucher Cluster CRITERIA The PHA may not approve a lease until the PHA determines that the initial rent to an owner is a reasonable rent. (2) The PHA must redetermine the reasonable rent: (i) Before any increase in the rent to an owner; (ii) If there is a 10 percent decrease in the published FMR in effect 60 days before the contract anniversary (for the unit size rented by the family) as compared with the FMR in effect 1 year before the contract anniversary. (iii) If directed by HUD. The PHA may also redetermine the reasonable rent at any other time. At all times during the assisted tenancy, the rent to owner may not exceed the reasonable rent as most recently determined or redetermined by the PHA. (24 CFR 982.507). CONDITION As a result of audit procedures, we identified 4 instances where the Authority did not perform rent reasonableness. CAUSE The Authority’s system of internal control over the participant recertification process was not sufficient to meet the requirements established by HUD. EFFECT The Authority cannot ensure that HAP payments to landlords were reasonable. QUESTIONED COSTS Estimated questioned costs are approximately $50,000. CONTEXT We selected a sample of 10 participants from a population of 44 participants from the Housing Choice Voucher program. This was not a statistically valid sample. REPEAT FINDING Not a repeat finding. RECOMMENDATION We recommend that the Authority develop and implement a recertification checklist to accompany the tenant file to ensure all required documentation is obtained. AUDITEE’S RESPONSE AND PLANNED CORRECTIVE ACTION See Corrective Action Plan.