Finding 1238721 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-30
Audit: 413646
Organization: Peabody Housing Authority (MA)
Auditor: CBIZ CPAS PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Missing third-party income verifications and information release forms led to noncompliance with HUD requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to document income and asset verification affects rent calculations and tenant eligibility.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Create a recertification checklist to ensure all necessary documentation is collected for tenant files.

Finding Text

2025-003 – ELIGIBILITY Material Weakness/Noncompliance U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ALN #: 14.871 & 14.879 – Housing Voucher Cluster CRITERIA For both family income examinations and reexamination, 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.) (24CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, 982.516). CONDITION As a result of audit procedures, we identified 10 instances of missing income verification and 8 instances of missing information release forms. CAUSE The Authority’s system of internal control over the participant recertification process was not sufficient to meet the requirements established by HUD. EFFECT Redetermination of tenant’s rent and the housing assistance payment was not performed in accordance with HUD regulations. As a result, tenants may have paid more or less in rent than they should have paid. QUESTIONED COSTS None identified. CONTEXT We selected a sample of 25 program participants from a population of 254 participants in the Housing Voucher Cluster. This was not a statistically valid sample. REPEAT FINDING Not a repeat finding. RECOMMENDATION We recommend that the Authority develop and implement a recertification checklist to accompany the tenant file to ensure all required documentation is obtained. AUDITEE’S RESPONSE AND PLANNED CORRECTIVE ACTION See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Auditee’s Response and Planned Corrective Action Peabody Housing Authority hired two new employees to manage and operate the HCV Program in late 2025. These two employees replaced the prior employees who completed the recertifications noted with findings. While the new employees came with strong prior experience, they have participated in many trainings and classes since they have been hired. Together with continued education, better oversight, and clear requirements, these issues should not be repeated. Quality control measures, such as secondary reviews and engagement with participants, will result in fewer recertification missteps and errors. Planned Implementation Date of Corrective Action: June 30, 2026 Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Eric Cronin, Executive Director

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Eligibility Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1238718 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1238719 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1238720 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $4.97M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $1.43M
14.195 PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE (PBRA) $1.41M
14.879 MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS $912,311