Finding 1163254 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-02

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The PHA is not properly documenting failed Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections, leading to non-compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: The PHA must conduct bi-annual inspections and maintain accurate records as per 24 CFR §§982.405 and 983.103.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a robust compliance oversight system and improve documentation practices to avoid potential penalties.

Finding Text

Questioned Costs None Criteria "The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least bi-annually to determine if the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the PHA must conduct quality control re‐inspections. The PHA must prepare a unit inspection report (24 CFR §§982.405, 983.103). " Condition During our audit, we noted multiple instances where failed HQS inspections did not have the proper support for the failed HQS inspection. Therefore, the Authority falls out of the HQS inspection compliance as noted in the Uniform Guidance Part IV HUD 14.871. Context We selected a sample of 18 out of 175 failed inspections that occurred during the fiscal year. Out of the 18 samples selected, 2 of those lacked the proper documentation of a follow up passed inspection. With an error rate of 11%, the total number of deviations would be 19.4 if the average holds consistent across the population. Cause Controls over compliance associated with the Authority’s grants of federal funds are inadequate. Effect The Authority is non‐compliant with the federal regulations over this federal program, this could potentially result in significant operating and financial penalties. Recommendations We suggest the Authority structure a system capable of properly overseeing compliance with regulations relative to these grants as well as maintaining more accurate and complete documentation of adherence to compliance. Management Views Management agrees and has a Corrective Action Plan detailing the course of action to be taken in the next fiscal year.

Corrective Action Plan

The Independence Housing Authority (IHA) implemented a new software system, Bob.AI, which was intended to automatically place units into abatement following a second failed inspection. IHA has worked with the software developer to resolve the issue, and the Director of HCV is now manually updating the unit status to abatement/termination after a second failed inspection. This update ensures that the required abatement notices are generated as intended.

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $14.97M
14.850 PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND $1.67M
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $1.57M
14.895 JOBS-PLUS PILOT INITIATIVE $129,356
14.870 RESIDENT OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES - SERVICE COORDINATORS $76,915