Finding 537636 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-27
Audit: 348913
Organization: Pittsfield Housing Authority (RI)
Auditor: Cbiz CPAS PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inadequate verification of tenant income and assets led to miscalculations in rent payments.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to comply with HUD regulations on income eligibility and rent calculation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Create a recertification checklist to ensure all necessary documentation is collected during tenant file reviews.

Finding Text

2024-001 –ELIGIBILITY: RENT CALCULATION Material Weakness/Material Noncompliance U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CFDA #: 14.850 – Public and Indian Housing CRITERIA For both family income examinations and reexamination, 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 (24 CFR Section 960.259). Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant’s rent payment using the documentation from third-party verification in accordance with 24 CFR Part 5 subpart F (24 CFR section 5.601 et seq.) (24CFR sections 960.253, 960.255, 960.259). CONDITION As a result of our procedures, we identified the following exceptions in our testing:  Fourteen (14) instances of income, asset or medical miscalculations or insufficient verification  Twelve (12) instances of untimely reexamination CAUSE The Authority’s system of internal controls over the participant recertification process was not sufficient to meet the requirements established by HUD. EFFECT Redetermination of tenant’s rent was not performed in accordance with HUD regulations. As a result, tenants may have paid more or less in rent than they should have paid. QUESTIONED COSTS None noted CONTEXT We selected a sample of 40 from a population of 153. This was not a statistically valid sample. REPEAT FINDING See finding 2023-003. RECOMMENDATION We recommend that the Authority develop and implement a recertification checklist to accompany the tenant file to ensure all required documentation is obtained.

Corrective Action Plan

2024-001 - Eligibility Rent Calculation Material Weakness/Material Noncompliance The Authority has made a corrective action and Section 8 has implemented a checklist to accompany the tenant file to ensure all required documentation is obtained. Other HUD properties, staff has been trained and certified in rent calculations and redetermination. There is on-going oversight by the Authority federal public housing manager and the federal public housing specialist. Planned Completion Date of Corrective Actions: June 30, 2025 Persons Responsible for Corrective Actions; Tina Danzy, Executive Director Tracy Pero, HCV/PIH Compliance

Categories

Eligibility HUD Housing Programs Material Weakness Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 537637 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1114078 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1114079 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $5.98M
14.850 Public Housing Operating Fund $805,086
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $48,164
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $20,800