Finding 50302 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-03

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Discrepancies in tenant files, including eight income miscalculations and one missing childcare deduction verification.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with federal regulations and local housing authority guidelines for tenant file documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct a comprehensive audit of tenant files and establish a monitoring system for compliance with regulations.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001 ? Public Housing Tenant Files ? Eligibility ? Rent Calculations ? Noncompliance & Significant Deficiency ? Public Housing Program ? CFDA #14.850, Grant Year 2021 & 2022 Condition & cause: Our review of seventy-five (75) Public Housing Tenant Files revealed the following discrepancies: ? There were eight (8) instances of income miscalculations. We noted that the income miscalculations were mainly related to wage calculation or child support calculations. We extrapolated the total potential error and found it to be material to the financial statements at both the total and singular AMP level. ? There was one (1) instance of a file missing required childcare deduction verification. Criteria: The Code of Federal regulations, the Housing Authority Admissions and Occupancy Plan and specific HUD guidelines in documenting and maintaining Public Housing tenant files. Recommendation: We recommend that the Agency conduct a thorough tenant file audit of existing tenants to determine whether there are any misstatements. We also recommend that the Agency determine the best way to monitor compliance with local and federal regulations as it pertains to the upkeep of the tenant files. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding: No Was sampling statistically valid? Yes

Corrective Action Plan

Reference # and title: 2022-001 Public Housing Tenant Files ? Eligibility ? Rent Calculations Federal program and specific federal award identification: Asst. Listing Number Award Year FEDERAL GRANTER/ PASS THROUGH GRANTOR/PROGRAM NAME United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Public and Indian Housing Program 14.850 2021 and 2022 Condition: The Code of Federal regulations, the Housing Authority Admissions and Occupancy Plan and specific HUD guidelines in documenting and maintaining Public Housing tenant files. Our review of seventy-five (75) Public Housing Tenant Files revealed the following discrepancies: ? There were eight (8) instances of income miscalculations. We noted that the income miscalculations were mainly related to wage calculation or child support calculations. We extrapolated the total potential error and found it to be material to the financial statements at both the total and singular AMP level. ? There was one (1) instance of a file missing required childcare deduction verification. Corrective action planned: Monroe Housing Authority will develop more effective processes for measuring, monitoring, and reducing errors in subsidy payments due to rent calculation and tenant underreporting of income. Implementations and strategies to include: ? Resolution of income and rent issues identified in the report and communication to Tenants where applicable. ? Development and implementation of an ongoing quality control review process of income at initial certification and re-examination to mitigate wage/income calculation errors to PHA and tenants by: o Hiring (1) FTE to perform quality control review of verification of income (upfront and/or a third party), and Tenant files upon new lease and re-examinations. o Developing a Tenant File Review checklist to document the result of file reviews. ? Partner with the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) to train staff on Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent training to accurately calculate Tenant Rent and avoid common errors in occupancy and eligibility functions in addition to understanding updates to the HUD-50058. Person responsible for corrective action: Mr. William Smart, Executive Director Anticipated completion date: 6/30/2023

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Eligibility Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 626744 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $8.89M
14.850 Public and Indian Housing $6.24M
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $4.37M
14.895 Jobs-Plus Pilot Initiative $561,907
14.850 Covid-19 - Public and Indian Housing $480,827
14.871 Covid-19 - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $165,592
14.870 Resident Opportunity and Supportive Services - Service Coordinators $79,464
14.871 Ehv - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $61,575