SECTION III - FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS 2025-001 – SPECIAL TESTS AND PROVISIONS: PAYMENT STANDARDS Other Matter/Significant Deficiency U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CFDA #: 14.871 / 14.879 – Housing Voucher Cluster Issue Identified: It was brought to the attention of the North Providence Housing Authority (NPHA) in May 2025 that a procedural error occurred regarding the implementation of decreased payment standards for existing subsidized participants. The error involved applying the decreased payment standards immediately (at most recent annual reexamination), rather than adhering to the required 12-month written notice period for existing participants. The correct procedure, as per HUD policy, requires applying the decreased payment standards only at the participant's second annual review of income following the effective date of the decrease. Corrective Action: The NPHA took the following immediate and diligent steps to rectify this oversight: 1. Identification of Affected Participants: A comprehensive review was conducted to accurately identify all families whose subsidies were incorrectly calculated due to the premature application of the decreased payment standards. 2. Recalculation and Adjustment: For all affected participants, the housing assistance payment (HAP) was retroactively recalculated using the higher, correct payment standard that should have remained in effect during the notice period. 3. Issuance of Refunds: The difference between the higher, correct HAP, and the lower, incorrect HAP was calculated. This amount was then refunded to compensate participants for any increased tenant rent they may have paid as a result of the error. Status of Correction: The NPHA confirms that the corrective action is complete. • As of Friday, September 26, 2025, all identified affected participants have been fully compensated and made whole. • The distribution of all calculated refunds related to the incorrect application of the 2024/2025 payment standards is finalized. Preventative Measures: To prevent recurrence, the NPHA has implemented updated policies and procedures to ensure strict compliance with HUD regulations regarding changes to payment standards: • The NPHA staff is now fully aware of the specific HUD policy requiring a 12-month written notice for existing participants before a decreased payment standard is applied. • New internal controls and verification steps have been established to ensure that future decreased payment standards are applied only at the second annual income review for existing participants, following the issuance of the 12-month notice. Planned Implementation Date of Corrective Action: July 1, 2025. Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Marilee Arsenault, Stephnie Dos Reis, and Eileen Reyes