Finding 1166846 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ELN
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority is not properly documenting controls related to Eligibility, Reporting, and Inspections in the Housing Choice Voucher program.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with federal regulations may lead to funding loss and affects timely reporting to landlords.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a checklist for Tenant Housing Representatives to ensure all compliance requirements are met and documented in tenant files.

Finding Text

2025-004 - Documentation of Controls U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 14.871 - Housing Choice Voucher Cluster/Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers E. Eligibility, L. Reporting, and N. Special Tests and Provisions - Significant Deficiency and Compliance Finding Condition: During review of the Housing Choice Voucher ("HCV") program, RBT noted that the Authority was not appropriately maintaining documentation of the controls over Eligibility, Reporting, Reasonable Rent, Utility Allowance, and HQS Inspections. RBT also noted that the Authority was not reporting failed inspections to landlords timely and in certain cases, payments to landlords were not stopped in accordance with the Authority's policy. Further, RBT noted that the Authority did not obtain the proper signatures on the form HUD-9886. Criteria: As a condition of receiving federal awards, the PHA agrees to comply with laws, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements and contracts (such as 24 CFR Section 982), and to also maintain internal controls to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with these requirements. Cause: The Authority does not have a central uniform location to document the controls in place over Eligibility, Reporting, Reasonable Rent, Utility Allowance, and HQS Inspections. Effect: Potential loss of funding due to noncompliance or additional noncompliance if a control is missed. Questioned Costs: None identified. Perspective: Out of the sixty tenant files selected for testing, three did not have the proper signatures on the form HUD-9886, and five lacked proper reporting of failed inspections to landlords. None of the sixty tenants files selected for testing contained documentation of the internal controls performed. Repeat Finding: This is a repeat of finding 2024-003. Recommendation: RBT recommends that the Authority maintain the checklist that the Tenant Housing Representatives use during the recertification process to ensure all compliance requirements are met. The checklist should be signed or initialed by the representative and maintained in the tenant's file. This checklist will serve as documentation that all compliance requirements were verified for the tenant. Auditee's Response: See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Auditee’s Response and Planned Corrective Action: Management concurs with the audit finding and acknowledges that internal controls were not consistently documented. Planned Corrective Action: Management will prepare, implement, and maintain a centralized internal control manual documenting HUD-required controls over key operational and financial processes, including inspections, rent calculations, eligibility determinations, and file reviews. Supporting documentation will be retained in tenant and administrative files. Sustainability Measures: Internal control documentation will be maintained as a living resource, reviewed periodically, and updated as HUD regulations or program requirements change. Management will ensure continued staff awareness and adherence through training and routine file monitoring.

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1166845 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166847 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166848 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166849 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $5.71M
14.850 PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND $1.11M
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $963,869
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $151,359