Finding #2025-003 - Rent Reasonableness Criteria: HUD requires that recipients ensure that rent is reasonable compared to similar unassisted units and maintain documentation supporting the determination; rent paid with CoC leasing funds·may not exceed Fair Market Rent (FMR); and rent reasonableness determinations must be completed before providing assistance. Condition: During testing of rent reasonableness controls and documentation, the following exceptions were identified: • 4 of 4 rent reasonableness determinations lacked evidence of an independent review and approval. • There were 8 instances (2 units x 4 months) where rents exceeded HUD FMR limits. • 3 of 20 rent reasonableness determinations were not completed prior to the lease start date. Questioned Costs: $392. Cause: The Organization did not have sufficiently defined or consistently followed procedures for documenting independent review of rent reasonableness determinations, verifying rents against applicable FMR limits before authorizing payments, and ensuring determinations were complete prior to lease start dates. Effect: Units are approved and paid at non-compliant rent levels, federal funds are used for rents above allowable limits, and documentation does not meet HUD standards, potentially leading to questioned costs, required repayment, and findings in future monitoring or audits. Recommendation: We recommend that management establish a mandatory review and approval step for all rent reasonableness forms, require staff to verify current FMR limits before approving leasing amounts, and require rent reasonableness completion before any lease start date or payment authorization. Response: HALO's management concurs with this finding. HALO management will implement procedures to ensure compliance with rent reasonableness and FMR limits and train staff on those procedures. HALO will replace the current Rent Reasonableness form with the one on the HUD Exchange. Contact Person: Yvonne MacDonald Hames Anticipated Completion: June 30, 2026