Finding 1156339 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority's internal controls failed to ensure proper income and asset verification for tenant files, leading to noncompliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Documentation of third-party verification for income, assets, and deductions is required under 24 CFR 985.516 and related sections.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Authority should review and strengthen its internal control policies and procedures to prevent future noncompliance.

Finding Text

2024 – 001: Income and Asset Verification Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Housing Choice Voucher Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 14.871, 14.879 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: WI183VO- 2024 Award Period: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 Type of Finding: - Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance - Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: For both family income examinations and reexaminations, obtain and document in the family file third party verification of (1) reported family annual income; (2) the value of assets; (3) expenses related to deductions from annual income; and (4) other factors that affect the determination of adjusted income or income-based rent (24 CFR 985.516). Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant’s rent payment using the documentation from third party verification in accordance with 24 CFR Part 5 Subpart F (24 CFR section 5.601 et seq.) (24 CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, and 982.516). Condition: The Authority's system of internal controls included in the policies and procedures failed to identify the noncompliance as described in the criteria section of this finding. Questioned Costs: None Context: From a sample of sixty (60) program participant files selected for testing, two (2) tenant files did not maintain evidence of completion of income verification as a part of the annual re-examination, three (3) tenant files had clerical errors of the income calculation reported on the HUD 50058, and one (1) tenant files did not contain third party verification of assets. Cause: The Authority's system of internal controls included in the policies and procedures failed to identify the noncompliance as described in the condition section of this finding. Effect: The failure of the internal controls has resulted in noncompliance with the requirements of the 24 CFR sections 985.516. Repeat Finding: Yes; 2023-003 Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority review its system of internal control related to the policies and procedures in place to mitigate the risk of noncompliance with the requirements of the stated criteria. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Housing Choice Voucher Cluster – Assistance Listing No. 14.871 and 14.879 Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority review its system of internal control related to the policies and procedures in place to mitigate the risk of noncompliance with the requirements of the stated criteria. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: PHA identified weaknesses in a new operating model, and has continued to fine-tune tracking and transparencies towards improved compliance. SEMAP reports are pulled monthly, and internal file audits are being conducted. Standard operating procedures have been created along with file checklists to ensure files are fully compliant. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Katie Kasprzak, Executive Director Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 12/31/2025

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Eligibility Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1156340 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156341 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156342 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $11.32M
14.182 Lower Income Housing Assistance Program_section 8 New Construction/substantial Rehabilitation $136,704
14.879 Mainstream Vouchers $101,479
14.896 Family Self-Sufficiency Program $72,000