Audit 406899

FY End
2025-06-30
Total Expended
$1.88M
Findings
2
Programs
1
Organization: Vesta's Hearth, Inc. (MD)
Year: 2025 Accepted: 2026-07-10

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
1223532 2025-001 Material Weakness Yes P
1223533 2025-002 Material Weakness Yes P

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
14.181 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES $119,110 Yes 2

Contacts

Name Title Type
DAFCEJVDFAP5 Lorena Memberg Auditee
2402966300 Stacy Cooper Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal award activity of Vesta's Hearth, Inc. under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2025. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of Vesta's Hearth, Inc., it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of Vesta's Hearth, Inc.
Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. 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.
Vesta's Hearth, Inc. has elected not to use the fifteen percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.
Vesta's Hearth, Inc.'s Section 811 Capital Advance was determined to be a Type A Federal Financial Assistance Program based on the total amounts as of and for the year ended June 30, 2025, and was considered a major program under the criteria of the Uniform Guidance. The loan balance as of June 30, 2025, was $1,760,915.

Finding Details

Condition: Management utilizes a centralized operating account to process transactions. During our audit, we identified multiple instances in which expenses were not allocated to the appropriate project. Certain costs were charged to the wrong entity and, in some cases, were recorded to projects that did not benefit from the expenditure. The misallocations occurred across multiple fiscal years. Criteria: HUD Handbook 4370.2, Financial Operations and Accounting Procedures for Insured Multifamily Projects, requires that each project maintain accounting records that accurately reflect its own financial activity. Costs must be charged to the specific project that receives the direct benefit, and shared expenses must be allocated using a reasonable, supportable, and consistently applied methodology. HUD also requires that project funds be used solely for the operation of the project to which they relate. Cause: The centralized operating account structure, combined with insufficient controls over transaction coding and allocation, resulted in errors in assigning expenses to the correct project. Management did not consistently review or reconcile postings to ensure that costs were properly allocated. Effect: Misallocation of expenses can distort the financial position and operating results of individual projects. This may result in inaccurate reporting to HUD, potential improper use of project funds, difficulty assessing each project's true financial performance, and an increased risk of noncompliance with HUD program requirements. Questioned Costs: $1,391 Auditor's Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over the allocation and recording of expenses, including a) Requiring supervisory review of all centralized account postings, b) Performing periodic reconciliations to ensure expenses are charged to the correct project, and c) Correcting prior year misallocations where appropriate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management acknowledges the finding related to the misallocation of some expenses among projects. The issue resulted from errors in address based allocation, which have since been corrected. Although the impact of these misallocations was not material to the overall financial statements, we recognize the importance of accurate project level reporting in accordance with HUD requirements. Corrective actions have been implemented, including correcting address assignments, enhancing supervisory review of transactions, and performing periodic reconciliations. Management will continue to monitor expenses to ensure they are consistently allocated to the appropriate project. Adjustments to correct prior misallocations will be made during fiscal year 2026. Management remains committed to maintaining compliance with HUD requirements and ensuring the accuracy of each project’s financial records.
Condition: The Organization has not deposited residual receipts reserve account funds into an account insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Rather, such funds are deposited in a cash account of a large brokerage firm and are insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which is not a government agency. Criteria: As required by the regulatory agreement, the Organization is required to establish this account at a financial institution covered under the FDIC program. Cause: During the year ended June 30, 2025, the residual receipts reserve account funds invested in an FDIC Insured certificate of deposit matured and were not re invested (either in an FDIC Insured certificate of deposit or other FDIC Insured investments). Effect: FDIC coverage is meant to act as protection to both the Organization and HUD for the account balances, and the Organization may be susceptible to risk if the account is not properly insured. Questioned Costs: $120,250 Auditor's Recommendation: The Organization should transfer this balance to a participating financial institution. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: During the year ended June 30, 2026, the Organization plans to transfer the residual receipts reserve account funds to an FDIC Insured certificate of deposit.