Finding 1166106 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-22

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Public Housing Authority (PHA) failed to maintain complete tenant files, leading to noncompliance with eligibility requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Missing documents include original applications, citizenship declarations, and income verifications, affecting accurate rent calculations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The PHA should implement stronger internal controls to ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and improve oversight of tenant file management.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Public and Indian Housing Program Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.850 Noncompliance – E. Eligibility - Tenant Files Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: Yes Material weakness in Internal Control over Compliance for Eligibility Criteria: Tenant Files. The PHA must do the following: As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit. Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit and the Authority failed to properly calculate the tenant's rent payments using documentation from third party income verification. Context: There are approximately 834 units. Of a sample size of twenty three (23) tenant files, the following was noted: • Original Applications were missing in thirteen (13) files. • Citizenship Declarations were missing in five (5) files. • Verification of income was missing in eight (8) files. The Authority also failed to properly calculate the rent payments of four (4) tenants by not utilizing documentation from third party income verification. Our sample size is statistically valid. Known Questioned Costs: $37,921 Cause: There is a material weakness in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files and the calculation of rent. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that reasonably assures the program is in compliance. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will reasonably assure eligibility compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement. Authority's response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The Authority will increase oversight in the Public and Indian Housing Program to ensure that established internal control policies are being followed on a timely basis.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Public and Indian Housing Program Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.850 Noncompliance – E. Eligibility - Tenant Files Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: Yes Material weakness in Internal Control over Compliance for Eligibility Finding 2025-003 (continued) Criteria: Tenant Files. The PHA must do the following: As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit. Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit and the Authority failed to properly calculate the tenant's rent payments using documentation from third party income verification. Context: There are approximately 834 units. Of a sample size of twenty three (23) tenant files, the following was noted: Original Applications were missing in thirteen (13) files. Citizenship Declarations were missing in five (5) files. Verification of income was missing in eight (8) files. The Authority also failed to properly calculate the rent payments of four (4) tenants by not utilizing documentation from third party income verification. Our sample size is statistically valid. Cause: There is a material weakness in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files and the calculation of rent. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that reasonably assures the program is in compliance. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will reasonably assure eligibility compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement. Authority's response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The Authority will increase oversight in the Public and Indian Housing Program to ensure that established internal control policies are being followed on a timely basis. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: Ms. Irma Gorham, Executive Director is responsible to remedy the deficiency by March 31, 2026.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Eligibility HUD Housing Programs Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1166104 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166105 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $40.83M
14.850 PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND $4.12M
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $4.10M
14.241 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS $760,088
14.896 FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM $65,928