Finding 1148271 (2024-001)

2024-001 Direct Program Department of Housing and Urban Development FFAL #14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Special Tests and Provisions: HQS Enforcement and Inspections Material Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: As a condition of receiving Federal awards, non-Federal entities agree to comply with laws, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements and contracts, and to maintain internal controls to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with these requirements. The Housing Choice Voucher program requires that recipients perform inspections of properties where tenants receiving Housing Assistance Payments reside and when inspections fail, re-inspections must be performed within 30 days for non-life-threatening issues and within 24 hours for life-threatening issues. In addition, the Housing Choice Voucher program requires inspections on these units to be performed at a minimum of once biennially. Condition: Metro West Housing Solutions did not perform re-inspections of 17 failed inspections within the prescribed 30-day or 24-hour requirement during 2024. In addition, HAP was not properly reviewed for possible abatement for these tenants. Metro West Housing Solutions also did not perform inspections of 2 units within the biennial requirement. Cause: Controls over inspections that are a part of special tests and provisions were not properly designed to ensure that re-inspections of properties occurred within 30 days or 24 hours of a failed inspection, thus resulting in a deficiency of internal control. In addition, controls were not properly designed to ensure inspections were occurring at a minimum of biennially. Effect: Metro West Housing Solutions could be issuing HAP for properties that are not up to code or potentially dangerous for their recipients if inspections fail and re-inspections are not occurring timely. In addition, an abatement of HAP might be missed if the re-inspections are not occurring timely. Questioned Costs: None reported Context/Sampling: We tested 60 out of a population of over 250 failed inspections during 2024 based on maximum risk of material noncompliance. In addition, we tested 60 out of a population of over 250 eligible tenants during 2024 based on maximum risk of material noncompliance. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): Yes Recommendation: We recommend management revisit controls over follow-up on failed or incomplete inspections to correct this matter and ensure no further findings occur. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.