Finding Text
Criteria: The Authority is required to adhere to the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) relating to the Housing Voucher Cluster program. The Housing Quality Standards require that the Authority systematically inspects voucher properties to determine that established housing quality and safety standards are met, or if deficiencies are found, they are corrected in a timely manner. According to CFR 24 982.404, units under HAP contracts that fail to meet housing quality standards, the public housing authority (PHA) must require the owner to correct any life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours of the inspection and all other HQS deficiencies within 30 calendar days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. If the owner does not correct the cited HQS deficiencies within the specified correction period, the PHA must stop (abate) HAPs beginning no later than the first of the month following the specified correction period or must terminate the HAP contract. Condition: The Authority systematically inspects voucher properties for compliance with the Housing Quality Standards; however, five properties were found to have life threatening issues that the Authority did not complete the reinspection within the 24-hour period provided by the standards and three properties were found to have non-life threatening issues that the Authority did not complete the reinspection within the 30 calendar days provided by the standards. Only six of the eight properties were corrected before required voucher abatement. Effect: The Authority was not in compliance with the Housing Voucher Cluster Housing Quality Standards. Questioned Costs: $48,441 Context/Sampling: A sample of 10 of 99 housing quality standard violations were tested. 8 of the 10 sampled contained violations that were not corrected within the period provided by the standards. Cause: Limited number of staff trained for Housing Quality Standards and a lack of follow-up with landlords and/or tenants regarding violations resulted in the noncompliance. Repeat Finding: This finding was reported in the prior year as finding 2024-003. Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority develop and implement procedures for the Housing Quality Standards which provide for re-inspections within the period provided by the standards for housing quality violations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The Authority is in agreement with the finding. See separately issued Corrective Action Plan.