Finding 480938 (2018-009)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2018
Accepted
2024-08-12
Audit: 317044
Organization: City of Compton (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Six out of sixteen re-inspections were completed late, and one required inspection was not conducted at all.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with OMB 2 CFR Part 200 mandates timely inspections to meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS), with specific deadlines for addressing deficiencies.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a tracking system to ensure timely re-inspections and address staffing shortages to avoid future delays and potential grant funding loss.

Finding Text

Criteria: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI sections 4-14.871- 16 and 4-14.871-17 states: "The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least 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 (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.405(b)). "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 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)." Condition: Our review identified six (6) re-inspections out of the total sixteen (16) that were performed were completed after the required 30-day time period. Our review also identified one required inspection for the year that had not been conducted. Cause: The HQS re-inspections were not performed in a timely manner due to delays on the abated status on the property or more focus on other urgent inspections. The high volume of requested inspections and the shortage of staff during the audit examination period were also factors. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to perform re-inspections for HQS deficiencies that were recorded during the annual inspection may result in grantor sanctions, potentially leading to a loss grant funding. Questioned Cost: None Context: Of the sixty (60) participant files reviewed, fifteen (15) required re-inspection. Of those 15, the City failed to perform re-inspections for six (6) participants within the 30-day time period. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: 2017-008, 2016-005, 2015-007, 2014-002, 2013-012

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation: We recommend that the Housing Authority enforce its policies and procedures pertaining to inspection and re-inspection of leased units to ensure that such activities are performed in a timely manner. This can be done by the Housing Authority taking an assertive approach in the education of the leased units' owners and tenants on the program's requirements on such timely reinspections and the ramifications on possible loss of subsidies due to loss of grant funding if such procedures have not been performed. City's Response: The City concurs with the recommendation. Corrective Action Plan: The Compton Housing Authority (CHA) has taken an assertive approach to correct the above finding by revising the CHA's Administrative Plan. The CHA has determined that it would be more attainable that re-inspections must be completed no more than 45 days instead of 30 days. This modification to the CHA policies and procedures will ensure that the CHA meets the program's requirement and any ramifications on possible loss of subsidies due to loss of grant funding. In addition to revising the CHA Policies and Procedures, the CHA has updated and modified our inspection letters. In each letter, the CHA emphasized the importance of the precise time frame, which must be met for inspections or re-inspections, in order for the unit to meet the Housing Quality Standards and continue to qualify for the program without any break in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Planned Implementation Date: New policy effective September 1, 2019 Responsible Person: Delmonsha Green, Housing Director

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 480930 2018-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 480931 2018-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 480932 2018-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 480933 2018-004
    Material Weakness
  • 480934 2018-005
    Material Weakness
  • 480935 2018-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 480936 2018-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 480937 2018-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 480939 2018-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057372 2018-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057373 2018-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057374 2018-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057375 2018-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1057376 2018-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1057377 2018-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057378 2018-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057379 2018-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057380 2018-009
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1057381 2018-010
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $8.17M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $614,545
14.239 Home Investment Partnership Program $282,232
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program $12,142
14.231 Emergency Shelter Grants Program $10,091
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant $6,227