Finding 50421 (2022-003)

Reference Number: 2022-003 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Title: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Federal Catalog Number: 14.871 Federal Grant Number: Not Applicable Category of Finding: Special Tests and Provisions (Housing Quality Standards Inspections) Classification of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Material Noncompliance Authority?s Response & Actions Taken The Authority has made considerable progress in addressing the backlog of annual inspections. Since outsourcing the programmatic functions of the HCV program to a third-party contractor. The Authority acknowledges that more progress in this area is required and continues to work diligently with the third-party HCV contractor to ensure this occurs. The Authority will continue to reinforce its current oversight process to ensure HQS inspections are performed in accordance with HUD requirements. The Authority adopted a series of HUD waivers following the COVID-19 pandemic, one of which HQS-5, under Notice PIH 2021-14, allowing the Authority to waive the completion of HQS Inspections through December 31, 2021. The Authority resumed the completion of HQS Inspections and was required by HUD to complete all delayed inspections by December 31, 2022. During fiscal year 2022, the Authority had inspections not completed in a timely manner, however, was not out of compliance as waivers were in place. The Authority is committed to ensuring all units under contract are beyond safe, sanitary, and decent in accordance with HQS requirements and the Authority's Administrative Plan. The Authority uses the Emphasys Elite software to check against HUD's PIH Information Center (PIC) system to identify units with outstanding Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections. The Authority has scheduled HQS Inspections for the units identified to be out of compliance. Some key strategies and controls in place are as follows: ? Review the report of outstanding HQS Inspections on a weekly basis. ? Schedule outstanding HQS Inspections in order of aging date. ? Conduct HQS Inspections prior to anniversary date of previously completed inspection. ? Running a monthly report of failed inspections and comparing them with future scheduled inspections to ensure a timely scheduling of the second inspection. ? Running a monthly report to identify units with two failed inspections to ensure all have been abated correctly. ? Implement weekly monitoring to ensure all units are properly abated and lifted timely when units pass inspections and contracts are properly terminated after being in abatement for 180 days without a cure. The Authority will continue to execute these sound procedures to prevent further findings related to inspections. The Authority has implemented a robust internal audit program starting fiscal year 2021- 22 and will continue to select annually a statistically significant random sample of actions completed by the HCV contractor to ensure that all actions are in compliance and files contain all required documentation. Although the HCV program subscribes to a quality control process, the Authority's internal audit program provides a method to reasonably understand the condition of the program as the Authority fully understands its responsibility to ensure the program complies to all applicable laws and regulations governing HCV operations. The HCV program is a part of our continuous monitoring process. Anticipated Implementation Date September 30, 2023 Name(s) and Title(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for Correction Action HCV Contractor Kendra Crawford, Director of Housing Operations