2022-003 ? Rent Reasonableness Housing Choice Voucher Cluster ? Assistance Listing No. 14.871 and 14.879 Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority designate an individual to review tenant files to determine if a rent reasonableness has been performed. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The PBCHA acknowledges the continuing issues associated with this finding. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented stress on companies across the country. The PBCHA was no exception. This stress negatively impacted the PBCHA?s management, workforce and operations which resulted in sudden changes in working arrangements, shortages due to workforce sickness, staffing vacancies and turnover all while dealing with increased housing demand due rising rental costs, and decreased housing supply and housing instability. Despite these challenges, the PBCHA remains strongly focused on continued and improved operations, increased compliance, and accountability. The agency will continue to develop, train, and enforce procedures to ensure rent reasonableness is performed on a timely basis as required by federal regulations and documentation is maintained in the tenant file. The agency utilizes an external resource to conduct rent comparison. The PBCHA will continue to train and instruct Housing Specialists on the responsibility to perform the rent reasonableness determination at the time of initial leasing, when there is an increase in rent to owner and at HAP contract anniversary if applicable under HUD rules and regulations. The PBCHA make decisions, develop strategies, implement policies/procedures, and utilize all available resources during this period of prevailing uncertainty and volatility. Any action taken to address the noted deficiency will be based on careful analysis, innovative thinking, restructuring, flexibility and/or revised strategies to adapt to everchanging business circumstances. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: