FINDING 2022-001 ?Public Housing Tenant Files ? Eligibility ? Internal Control Over Tenant Files Non-Compliance and Significant Deficiency? SHA RESPONSE The Springfield Housing Authority acknowledges the eleven (11) errors as delineated in the full 2022 FYE audit report. In 2022, the Springfield Housing Authority Public Housing program employed three (3) Asset Managers, three (3) Occupancy Specialists and one (1) Program Integrity Specialist. Due to post COVID-19 turnover and unqualified workers in the local workforce, the SHA has experienced a higher than usual turnover rate in the positions that conduct rent calculations. The primary function of the Program Integrity Specialist position is to audit and quality control tenant files and rent calculations conducted by Occupancy Specialists. The Asset Managers are responsible for reviewing 3% of recertifications audited by the Program Integrity Specialist position as an additional quality control measure. Further, during the auditor?s closeout meeting with the SHA Management team, the auditors stated that they observed that the SHA team conducted necessary file audits and identified deficiencies, however they did not observe corrections to the identified deficiencies upon staff notification. This error rate was directly attributable to the high turnover rate of Occupancy Specialists during the 2022 fiscal year. The SHA will take the following corrective actions to correct the errors and/or prevent the errors moving forward: ? The Program Integrity Specialist will conduct reviews of 100% of annual and interim recertifications for public housing tenants by December 31, 2023. ? The Program Integrity Specialist will ensure 100% audited file corrections are completed by the Occupancy Specialists, monthly. ? The Asset Manager(s) will review 10% of the recertifications audited by the Program Integrity Specialist as an additional quality control measure by December 31, 2023. ? The Asset Managers, Occupancy Specialists and Program Integrity Specialist will be provided with additional internal and external training opportunities in low rent public housing rent calculations and program integrity by December 31, 2023. ? The Asset Managers will re-review the files identified with errors during the independent audit and resolve the errors in accordance with the SHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan and HUD rules and regulations by September 30, 2023. PERSON RESPONSIBLE Melissa Huffstedtler ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE December 31, 2023