Finding 393332 (2021-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2024-04-16

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The PHA failed to conduct required inspections and maintain documentation for Housing Quality Standards (HQS) compliance during the 2021 audit.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with federal regulations regarding unit inspections and owner responsibilities for HQS deficiencies.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a robust system for monitoring compliance and improve documentation practices related to federal grant oversight.

Finding Text

"The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least bi-annually to determine if the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the PHA must conduct quality control re‐inspections. The PHA must prepare a unit inspection report (24CRF §§982.405, 983.103). Additionally, for units under HAP contract that fail to meet HQS, the PHA must require the owner to correct any life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after the inspections and all other HQS deficiencies within 30 calendar days or within a specified PHA‐approved extension. If the owner does not correct the cited HQS deficiencies within the specified correction period, the PHA must stop (abate) HAPs beginning no later than the first of the month following the specified correction period or must terminate the HAP contract. The owner is not responsible for a breach of HQS as a result of the family’s failure to pay for utilities for which the family is responsible under the lease or for tenant damage. For family‐caused defects, if the family does not correct the cited HQS deficiencies within the specified correction period, the PHA must take prompt and vigorous action to enforce the family obligations (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.404)." The above requirements were not met for the 2021 audit. During our audit, the Authority was unable to provide us with a reliable listing of HQS Inspections or any supporting documentation that any HQS inspections had taken place during the fiscal year under examination. Therefore, we were not able to perform the necessary procedures as described in the Uniform Guidance Part IV HUD 14.871 to ensure compliance with the above criteria. Controls over compliance associated with the Authority’s grants of federal funds are inadequate. The Authority is non‐compliant with the federal regulations over this federal program, this could potentially result in significant operating and financial penalties. We suggest the Authority structure a system capable of properly overseeing compliance with regulations relative to these grants as well as maintaining more accurate and complete documentation of adherence to compliance. See Management's Corrective Action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding # 2021-006 Housing Quality Standards lnspection/HQS Enforcement Corrective Action Plan: When the current director, Robert Weismore was appointed his first obligation was to inspect 51 units that had been neglected by the former staff. As documentation in the files all previous inspections have been completed. The current staff, Sarah Schaefer, has become a certified inspector after completing the necessary course and passing the exam. All inspections whether annual or bi-annually are all completed within the time frame directed by HUD. The director currently will complete the supervisory inspections based on the percentage of program participation directed by HUD regulations.

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 393330 2021-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 393331 2021-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 393333 2021-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 393334 2021-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 393335 2021-009
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 969772 2021-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 969773 2021-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 969774 2021-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 969775 2021-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 969776 2021-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 969777 2021-009
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $63,948