Finding 1229973 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-16

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Commission failed to obtain required third-party income verification for tenant recertification, leading to non-compliance with HUD regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 24 CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, and 982.516 regarding income verification and tenant rent calculations.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Review and improve processes for collecting third-party income support to ensure accurate data for rent and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) calculations.

Finding Text

Eligibility - E Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Housing Voucher Cluster FALN: 14.871/14.879 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: MD023, 2025 Award Period: 1/1/2025-12/31/2025 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: For both family income examinations and reexaminations, obtain and document in the family file third party verification of (1) reported family annual income; (2) the value of assets; (3) expenses related to deductions from annual income; and (4) other factors that affect the determination of adjusted income or income- based rent (24 CFR section 982.516). 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 section 5.601 et seq.) (24 CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, and 982.516). Use the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system in its entirety to verify tenant employment and income information during mandatory reexaminations of family composition and income in accordance with 24 CFR 5.233; and reduce administrative and subsidy payment errors in accordance with 24 CFR 5.236 and other administrative guidance issued by HUD. Condition: The Commission did not follow its Administrative Plan designed to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements. Questioned costs: $1,128; this was calculated by determining the HAP payment that was paid during the time the Commission lacked support for income. Context: Out of 60 tenant files reviewed, the Commission did not obtain the required EIV report for one (1) tenant’s recertification. Cause: The Commission must verify income annually through obtaining an EIV report for each tenant’s annual recertification. The Commission did not run this in one instance. Effect: The Commission is not in compliance with HUD requirements. This could have an impact on HAP calculations. Repeat Finding: Yes, 2024-001 Recommendation: We recommend that the Commission review its process for collecting third party income support to ensure that accurate data is used as part of the rent and HAP calculation. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Housing Voucher Cluster – FALN No. 14.871 & 14.879 – Eligibility - E Recommendation: We recommend that the Commission review its process for collecting third party income support to ensure that accurate data is used as part of the rent and HAP calculation. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: HCHC staff attended a NAHRO training that provided an in-depth review of programmatic changes. In the training the HUD hierarchy of collecting documents was reviewed while also referencing the Commission’s Administrative Plan. The voucher team meets at least monthly to discuss HCVP issues, tools, and solutions that both meet the needs of the participants and comply with HUD regulations. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Crystal Gorham, Director of Rental Assistance Planned completion date for corrective action plan: September 2026.

Categories

Eligibility HUD Housing Programs Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1229972 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229974 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229975 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229976 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229977 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229978 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229979 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $31.12M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $3.28M
14.879 MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS $1.92M
14.241 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS $315,087
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $220,985
14.896 FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM $103,264
14.U01 FSS ESCROW FORFEITURE ACCOUNT $1,459