Finding Text
Finding 2025-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Public and Indian Housing Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.850 Noncompliance – E. Eligibility Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No Significant Deficiency 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 members to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 960.259). Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant's rent payment using the documentation from third party verification in accordance with 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart F (24 CFR sections 5.601 et seq.) and 24 CFR Subpart C sections 960.253, 960.255, and 960.259). 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. Context: There are approximately six hundred forty seven (647) Public and Indian Housing units. Of a sample size of twenty (20) tenant files, the following information was unavailable for examination at the time of audit: Original applications were missing in six (6) files Declaration of citizenship forms were missing in six (6) files Our sample size is statistically valid. Known Questioned Costs: Unknown Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that reasonably assures the program is in compliance. Effect: The Public and Indian Housing Program is in non-compliance with the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority strengthen internal controls over eligibility compliance by implementing formal procedures to ensure all required tenant eligibility documentation is obtained, reviewed, retained, and readily available for examination. Management should also perform periodic internal reviews of tenant files to confirm completeness and compliance with HUD requirements. These procedures will reasonably assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.