Finding 1223029 (2022-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2026-07-07

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There was a significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance with eligibility requirements for the HOME Investment Partnership Program, leading to incorrect rent charges for a tenant.
  • Impacted Requirements: The rent charged exceeded the allowable limits, as it should not surpass 30% of the tenant's income, which was incorrectly certified as $0.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should implement controls to ensure accurate information on Household Eligibility Certification forms to prevent future errors.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-002 Significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance with eligibility requirements. Identification of the Federal Program Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Program Title: HOME Investment Partnership Program Assistance Listing Number: 14.239 Award Numbers: N/A Award Periods: November 2000 - January 2055 Criteria Per CFR 92.252(a), the rent for a HOME-assisted unit must not exceed the rent limits published by the HUD on an annual basis. The rent limits apply to the rent plus the utilities or utility allowance. If a low-income family is participating in a program where the family pays as a contribution toward rent no more than 30 percent of the family's monthly adjusted income or 10 percent of the family's monthly income, then the maximum rent due from the family is the family's contribution. Condition/Context During our testing a tenant was identified as having been certified to have $0 monthly household income but was paying $44/month in rental charges. As a result, the tenant was charged in excess of allowable rent based on the HOME programs requirements. The requirements being that the maximum rent being charged to the tenant not exceed 30% of total household income, which in this case was $0. The error was a result of the unit not being properly identified as a HOME assisted unit on the certification form. Effect/Potential Effect The tenant (beneficiary) was not provided their full eligibly benefits under the program. Cause During the year ending December 31, 2022 internal controls were not implemented to ensure the information included on the Household Eligibility Certification form for the tenant was accurate, resulting in the unit not being identified as a HOME assisted unit causing an under allocation of eligible benefits to the tenant. Repeat Finding N/A Recommendation We recommend management verify controls are implemented to ensure all information included on the Household Eligibility Certification forms is accurate. Views of Responsible Officials Management agrees with the finding and has provided the corrective action plan following the Single Audit Report.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2022-002 Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls Over Compliance – HOME Investment Partnerships Program Finding: The audit identified a tenant file in which a HOME-assisted unit was not properly identified on the Household Eligibility Certification form, resulting in rental charges that exceeded allowable limits under HOME program requirements. Corrective Action Plan: DNDA agrees with the finding and has implemented procedures to strengthen compliance monitoring and tenant file review processes. To address this finding, management has taken the following actions: o Corrected the identified tenant file and reviewed the circumstances that led to the error. o Implemented additional review procedures for Household Eligibility Certification forms to verify unit designation, household income calculations, and applicable rent restrictions. o Established a secondary review process for HOME-assisted units to ensure compliance requirements are accurately reflected in tenant records. o Provided additional training and guidance to staff responsible for tenant certifications and compliance monitoring. o Incorporated periodic compliance reviews into ongoing property management oversight activities. Responsible Party: Shannon Woodard – Interim Executive Director, Danielle Clark-Burfening – Housing Director, Misty Wilson – Area Supervisor (3rd Party Property Management – United Marketing, Inc.), Bonita Salyers – Regional Portfolio Assistant (3rd Party Property Management – United Marketing, Inc.) Implementation Date: Corrective actions began upon identification of the finding. Expected Completion Date: Implemented December 18, 2025, Quarterly Verification of Compliance by Danielle Clark-Burfening Monitoring: Management will conduct periodic reviews of HOME-assisted tenant files and certification documents to verify continued compliance with HUD and HOME program requirements.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Eligibility HUD Housing Programs Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1223025 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223026 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223027 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223028 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $594,167
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $391,000