Finding Text
Condition and Criteria: The Authority’s purpose for existence is providing decent, safe, and affordable housing to low-income persons. As such, the Authority prepares a file for each admitted family, which contains information necessary to determine eligibility for assistance and calculations of rent assistance to be paid on the family’s behalf. HUD regulations prescribe the content of these family files. These requirements consist of the following:a. As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family members to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility.
b. 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.
c. Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant’s rent payment in accordance with HUD regulations.
d. Select tenants from the public housing waiting list in accordance with the PHA’s tenant selection policies.
e. Re-examine family income and composition at least once every 12 months and adjust the tenant rent and housing assistance payment as necessary.Testing of ten HCV family files, it appeared the housing assistance payments were being computed correctly based on documentation in the file. However, and based on results from the CMR, it appears that incorrect payment standards and outdated utility allowance forms were being used in the computations.
Auditor’s Recommendation: A thorough review of tenant files should be performed for the purpose of eliminating the deficiencies. Utility allowances should be studied and determined if a change should be made. Payment standards should be approved and consistently applied.
Grantee Response: We will comply with the auditor’s recommendation. We are currently making changes related to our response to the CMR. We have completed our utility allowance study and implemented the new allowance amounts.
Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2024