Assistance listing numbers and program names: 21.023 COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program 21.027 COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Agency: Department of Economic Security (DES) Name of contact person and title: Molly Bright, Community Services Division Assistant Dire...
Assistance listing numbers and program names: 21.023 COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program 21.027 COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Agency: Department of Economic Security (DES) Name of contact person and title: Molly Bright, Community Services Division Assistant Director Anticipated completion date: June 30, 2026 Agency’s Response: Concur The Department of Economic Security will address the audit recommendations as follows: 1. Ensure benefit payments are for allowable costs paid to or on behalf of eligible program applicants. The Division will review and confirm that benefits payments paid to or on behalf of eligible program applicants are allowable expenditures of the federal funding being disbursed. 2. Update existing policies and procedures to include a post-review of the benefits subsystem’s automated review of eligibility requirements, such as verifying the income thresholds and geographic location aligned with the Division’s written policies and procedures, and supported by required documentation. The Division should correct any inaccurate eligibility determinations identified during the post-review. Emergency Rental Assistance Program policies and procedures require validation of eligibility based upon substantiating applicant documentation, including household income and geographic location. The Division will update Division policy to include a post-review process to identify and correct any errors or discrepancies. 3. Allocate sufficient staffing resources to perform a thorough evaluation of program benefits applications and provide training on eligibility requirements and allowable benefit payments. The Division will allocate sufficient staffing resources to evaluate program benefits applications and provide training on eligibility requirements and allowable benefit payments. 4. Work with the federal agencies to resolve the $64,131 in program funds that were spent in violation of federal regulations, policies and procedures, and may need to be returned to the federal agencies. The Department of Economic Security will address the audit recommendations as follows: 1. Ensure benefit payments are for allowable costs paid to or on behalf of eligible program applicants. The Division will review and confirm that benefits payments paid to or on behalf of eligible program applicants are allowable expenditures of the federal funding being disbursed. 2. Update existing policies and procedures to include a post-review of the benefits subsystem’s automated review of eligibility requirements, such as verifying the income thresholds and geographic location aligned with the Division’s written policies and procedures, and supported by required documentation. The Division should correct any inaccurate eligibility determinations identified during the post-review. Emergency Rental Assistance Program policies and procedures require validation of eligibility based upon substantiating applicant documentation, including household income and geographic location. The Division will update Division policy to include a post-review process to identify and correct any errors or discrepancies. 3. Allocate sufficient staffing resources to perform a thorough evaluation of program benefits applications and provide training on eligibility requirements and allowable benefit payments. The Division will allocate sufficient staffing resources to evaluate program benefits applications and provide training on eligibility requirements and allowable benefit payments. 4. Work with the federal agencies to resolve the $64,131 in program funds that were spent in violation of federal regulations, policies and procedures, and may need to be returned to the federal agencies. The Division will coordinate with applicable federal agencies to resolve these unallowable costs.