Finding 1157286 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30
Audit: 369582
Organization: Fort Worth Housing Solutions (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority lacks adequate internal controls to ensure timely completion of rent reasonableness determinations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with HUD guidelines for determining reasonable rent at initial leasing and during contract terms.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement processes to ensure rent reasonableness determinations are completed before the rent effective date.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: US Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Housing Choice Voucher Program Assistance Listing Number: 14.871 Award Period: January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: According to the HUD Compliance Supplement, "The PHA must determine that the rent to the owner is reasonable at the time of initial leasing. Also, the PHA must determine reasonable rent during the term of the contract (a) before any increase in the rent to owner, and (b) at the HAP contract anniversary if there is a 10 percent decrease in the published Fair Market Rent in effect 60 days before the HAP contract anniversary." Condition: The Authority did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure that the rent reasonableness was completed/approved prior to the rent effective date. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, 2 of 29 sampled tenant files did not have their rent reasonableness determination completed/approved prior to the rent effective date. Cause: The Authority did not have proper internal controls to ensure that rent reasonableness determinations were completed in a timely manner. Effect: The Authority is not in compliance with the program’s requirements of reasonable rent. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority implement processes to ensure that rent reasonableness determinations are completed on time. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters – Rent Reasonableness Housing Choice Voucher Program – Assistance Listing No. 14.871 - Rent Reasonableness Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority implement processes to ensure that rent reasonableness determinations are completed on time. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The Authority has strengthened its internal controls to ensure timely completion of rent reasonableness determinations. We will implement a tracking process in the department to flag upcoming rent reasonableness reviews before the deadline. Staff have been trained on the updated procedures, and a monthly compliance review will be conducted by the HCV supervisor to verify that all determinations are completed on time and documented appropriately. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Lanesha Combs, Vice President of Housing Choice Voucher Program Planned completion date for corrective action plan: December 31, 2025

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1157285 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157287 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $70.27M
14.889 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants $7.89M
14.879 Mainstream Vouchers $5.30M
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $3.77M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $2.46M
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $2.34M
14.850 Public Housing Operating Fund $1.58M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $802,118
14.870 Resident Opportunity and Supportive Services - Service Coordinators $460,650
14.249 Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy $411,732