Finding 40096 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-26
Audit: 44295
Organization: Brownsville Housing Authority (TN)
Auditor: Miller & Rose PA

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Family eligibility files for the Housing Choice Voucher program have documentation errors affecting income verification and compliance with HUD regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Key requirements include accurate income documentation, social security verification, rent reasonableness checks, and passing housing quality inspections.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct a comprehensive review of tenant files to address and correct identified deficiencies, as this is a repeat finding.

Finding Text

C. FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS-MAJOR FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDIT Department of Housing and Urban Development 2022-001 Family Eligibility Files Federal Program: Housing Choice Voucher, CFDA No. 14.871 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. Reexamine family income and composition at least once every 12 months and adjust the tenant rent and housing assistance payment as necessary. Questioned costs: None Context: Testing of nineteen family files revealed the following deficiencies: 1. Three files contained errors in the documentation of household income. 2. One file lacked social security number documentation. 3. One file lacked appropriate rent reasonableness documentation. 4. One file lacked a housing quality standard (HQS) "passed" inspection Recommendation: This is a repeat finding. A thorough review of tenant files should be performed for the purpose of eliminating the deficiencies. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: We will comply with the auditor's recommendations.

Corrective Action Plan

Brownsville Housing Authority respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2022. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Miller & Rose, PA 1309 East Race Searcy, AR 72143 Audit period: Year ended June 30, 2022 B. FINDINGS - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDIT None C. FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS-MAJOR FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDIT DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 2022-001 Family Eligibility Files Federal Program: Housing Choice Voucher, CFDA No. 14.871 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. Reexamine family income and composition at least once every 12 months and adjust the tenant rent and housing assistance payment as necessary. Condition: Exceptions were noted in the review of family eligibility files. Questioned costs: None Context: Testing of nineteen family files revealed the following deficiencies: 1. Three files contained errors in the documentation of household income. 2. One file lacked social security number documentation. 3. One file lacked appropriate rent reasonableness documentation. 4. One file lacked a housing quality standard (HQS) ?passed? inspection. Recommendation: A thorough review of tenant files should be performed for the purpose of eliminating the deficiencies. Views of responsible We will comply with the auditors? recommendations. We have already begun officials and planned reviewing files and corrected the deficiencies. corrective actions:

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 616538 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $910,877
14.850 Public and Indian Housing $421,558
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $186,931