Finding 2023-001:
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program
Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871
Noncompliance – E. Eligibility – Tenant Files
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No
Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Eligibility
Criteria: Tenant Files. The PHA must do the following: As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit. Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit.
Context: There are approximately 1,782 units. Of a sample size of thirty-one (31) tenant files, the following was noted: • HUD 50058 Form was missing in 1 file
• Verification of income and assets was missing in 1 file. Our sample size is statistically valid.
Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that assures the program is in compliance.
Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program is in non-compliance with the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The affected files relate to clients that have been on the program for decades and as files get large, archiving takes place. To correct this finding, a directive will be issued to staff that will ensure that when files are archived the original application must be placed in the current working file going forward. Allison Landrum, Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for implementing this corrective action by September 30, 2024.