Finding 581978 (2020-005)

Criteria: Per 24 CFR section 982.516, the Housing Authority must conduct a reexamination of family income and composition at least annually. Third-party verification of family income, value of assets, expenses deducted from income, and other factors that affect adjusted income must be obtained and documented. The Housing Authority must 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. The Housing Authority is also required to submit HUD-50058, Family Report, for each reexamination per 24 CFR part 908. The amount paid for housing assistance payments (HAP)must correspond to HUD-50058. Condition/Context: No documentation of family income, composition, third-party verification, or HUD 50058 were provided for any of the twenty five tenants selected for testing for the required reexamination during the fiscal year. Our sample was not statistically valid. Questioned Costs: Housing assistance payments for all of the tenants noted above total $1,042,331 for the fiscal year. Cause: The lack of supporting documentation may be related to the Housing Authority changing voucher program administrators during fiscal year 2020. While the current administrator has access to tenant files, the eligibility determinations done in fiscal 2020 were done by a previous contractor. Also due to the Housing Authority falling behind on obtaining audits, the documents being requested by auditors are several years old. Effect: The Housing Authority may be making ineligible HAP payments on behalf of tenants. Recommendation: The Housing Authority should ensure their vendors properly maintain documentation regarding eligibility determinations. Views of Responsible Officials: WBHA is concerned that the current contract administrator for the HCV Program has failed to comply with providing the requested documentation. We are engaging with our current HCV Contract Administrator (Allegiant Property Management, LLC) on expectations for compliance currently and in the future. WBHA is also exploring other contract administrators or possibly opting out of the HCV Program altogether and working with WHEDA to administer WBHA’s HCV Program vouchers.