Finding Text
Finding SA2019-002: Missing Utility Allowance Forms
AL number: 14.871
AL Title: Housing Voucher Cluster - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
Name of Federal Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Award Identification number and year: CA010 (2019)
Criteria: 24 CFR Section 982.517 requires Public Housing Authorities (PHA) maintain an up-to-date utility allowance schedule. The PHA must review utility rate data for each utility category each year and must adjust its utility allowance schedule if there has been a rate change of 10 percent or more for a utility category or fuel type since the last time the utility allowance schedule was revised.
Condition: We examined sixty Section 8 tenant files for new and existing tenants, and noted three instances in which there were no utility allowance schedule included in the tenant’s file for fiscal year 2019.
Effect: The Housing Authority is not in compliance with the requirements as stated in 24 CFR Section 982.517.
Cause: It was noted the missing allowance schedules were due to staff oversight.
Identification as a repeat finding: Yes. Since fiscal year 2017.
Recommendation: The Housing Authority must develop procedures to ensure required documentation is properly maintained for all tenant files.
Since the Housing Authority transferred the Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV Section 8) program to the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC) on July 1, 2019, the Housing Authority should work with the HACCC to determine how to address the recommendation.
View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Please see Corrective Action Plan separately prepared by the Housing Authority.