Finding Text
nadequate Tenant File Documentation and Inconsistencies in MTW Housing Assistance and Public Housing Records (ALN 14.881)
Condition: During tenant file testing for both the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing (PH) components of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program, we identified multiple deficiencies in the Authority's documentation and reporting practices:1. For the MTW HAP (HCV) sample, the Authority did not properly complete the "Summary Decision on the Unit" section of the HUD Form 52580-A, which documents the final pass or fail outcome of the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. As a result, it could not be confirmed whether the unit met HQS requirements at the time of assistance.
2. In six out of twenty-three HCV tenant files tested, housing assistance payments did not agree with the amounts reported on HUD Form 50058, and no reconciliations or explanations were provided.
3. For one out of twenty-three HCV tenants, the Authority was unable to provide a Form 50058 covering the period for which the HAP payment was selected, leaving the payment unsupported.
4. In the MTW Public Housing sample, five out of seventeen tenant files contained discrepancies between tenant receipts or rent register balances and the amounts reported on HUD Form 50058, without adequate explanation or reconciliation.
5. For one out of seventeen Public Housing tenants, the Authority was unable to provide any support for either the receipt from or payment to the tenant for the period tested.Criteria: Under 2 CFR §200.302 and §200.303, the Authority must maintain financial management systems and internal controls sufficient to ensure that costs are allowable, supported, and in compliance with program requirements. The MTW Operations Notice and HUD program rules require PHAs to complete and retain accurate HUD Forms 50058 and 52580-A to support rent calculations, assistance payments, and unit eligibility. The Summary Decision on the Unit section of Form 52580-A is critical to documenting compliance with HQS requirements before assistance can begin or continue.
Cause: The Authority lacked effective internal controls and monitoring procedures over tenant file documentation, rent calculation, inspection recordkeeping, and HUD form completion and retention.
Effect: Failure to properly complete HQS documentation may signal noncompliance with unit inspection requirements and tenant safety standards, while inconsistencies and missing Forms 50058 undermine the reliability of rent and assistance calculations. Additionally, the absence of supporting documentation for tenant receipts or HAP payments results in unsupported costs, increasing the risk of overpayments, underpayments, or questioned costs under the MTW program.
Questioned Costs: $378,340
Recommendation: The Authority should establish procedures to ensure that all required forms, including HUD 50058 and 52580-A with completed Summary Decision sections, are accurately filled out and retained in tenant files. Regular reconciliations between payment records, rent ledgers, and HUD reporting systems should be performed to maintain data integrity. Additionally, staff should receive training on HQS documentation, rent and assistance calculations, and federal recordkeeping requirements. To reinforce compliance with MTW and HUD program rules, periodic internal reviews of tenant files should also be conducted.Reply and Corrective Action Plan: The Authority will implement procedures to ensure that HUD Form 52580-A is fully completed for all HQS inspections, establish reconciliation processes for HAP and tenant rent payments against HUD Form 50058, and document any discrepancies. These steps aim to improve the accuracy and completeness of tenant records.