Finding 1163579 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-12-08

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority failed to properly address housing quality standards (HQS) deficiencies, leading to non-compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with HQS enforcement as outlined in 24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b), affecting both the Moving to Work Demonstration Program and the Housing Voucher Cluster.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Authority should implement stronger internal controls to ensure compliance with HQS requirements and monitor inspection processes effectively.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-003: Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers & Housing Voucher Cluster Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.881, 14.871, 14.879, 14.EHV Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions – Housing Quality Standards (HQS) & HQS Enforcement Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: Yes Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions Criteria: HQS & HQS Enforcement. For units under HAP contract that fail to meet HQS, the PHA must require the owner to correct all life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after the inspections and all other deficiencies within 30 days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, the Authority did not properly abate or provide proper extension documentation for failed inspections selected for testing. In addition, there were inspection reports that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit. Context: The Authority did not properly abate thirteen (13) out of twenty-five (25) annual failed inspections selected for testing in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program. As a result, the Authority was not in compliance with the HQS as required by 24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b). The Authority did not properly abate one (1) out of two (2) annual failed inspections selected for testing in the Housing Voucher Cluster. Additionally, the Authority was unable to provide inspection reports for 2 (two) out of 2 (two) failed inspections selected for testing, therefore we were unable to determine if the unit passed resinspection within the required time in the Housing Voucher Cluster. As a result, the Authority was not in compliance with the HQS as required by 24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b). Known Questioned Costs: Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program: $22,500 Housing Voucher Cluster: $6,940 Cause: There is a material weakness in internal controls over the compliance in the Moving to Work Demonstration - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program and the Housing Voucher Cluster for the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS enforcement. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that assures the program is in compliance. Effect: The Moving to Work Demonstration - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program and Housing Voucher Cluster are in material non-compliance with the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS enforcement. Auditors' Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will reasonably assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement related to HQS enforcement. View of Responsible Officials and Corrective Actions: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor regarding HQS inspections and has made arrangements to comply with the Moving to Work Demonstration - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program and the Housing Voucher Cluster.

Corrective Action Plan

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers & Housing Voucher Cluster Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.881, 14.871, 14.879, 14.EHV Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions – Housing Quality Standards (HQS) & HQS Enforcement Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: Yes Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions Criteria: HQS & HQS Enforcement. For units under HAP contract that fail to meet HQS, the PHA must require the owner to correct all life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after the inspections and all other deficiencies within 30 days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, the Authority did not properly abate or provide proper extension documentation for failed inspections selected for testing. In addition, there were inspection reports that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit. Context: The Authority did not properly abate thirteen (13) out of twenty-five (25) annual failed inspections selected for testing in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program. As a result, the Authority was not in compliance with the HQS as required by 24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b). The Authority did not properly abate one (1) out of two (2) annual failed inspections selected for testing in the Housing Voucher Cluster. Additionally, the Authority was unable to provide inspection reports for 2 (two) out of 2 (two) failed inspections selected for testing, therefore we were unable to determine if the unit passed reinspection within the required time in the Housing Voucher Cluster. As a result, the Authority was not in compliance with the HQS as required by 24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b). Known Questioned Costs: Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program: $22,500 Housing Voucher Cluster: $6,940 Cause: There is a material weakness in internal controls over the compliance in the Moving to Work Demonstration - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program and the Housing Voucher Cluster for the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS enforcement. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that assures the program is in compliance. Effect: The Moving to Work Demonstration - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program and Housing Voucher Cluster are in material non-compliance with the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to HQS enforcement. Auditors' Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will reasonably assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement related to HQS enforcement. View of Responsible Officials and Corrective Actions: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor regarding HQS inspections and has made arrangements to comply with the Moving to Work Demonstration - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers program. Noelle Tackett, Director of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, will be responsible to implement this corrective action by December 31, 2025.

Categories

Questioned Costs HUD Housing Programs Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1163571 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163572 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163573 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163574 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163575 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163576 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163577 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163578 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163580 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163581 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.881 MOVING TO WORK DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM $29.54M
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $4.12M
14.879 MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS $328,564
14.896 FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM $191,123