Finding Text
2022-001 - Direct Program Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Financial Assistance Listing #14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program Special Tests and Provisions: Housing Quality Standards Failed Inspections Material Weakness Criteria: As a condition of receiving Federal awards, non-Federal entities agree to comply with laws, regulations, and the provisions of grant agreements and contracts, and to maintain internal controls to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with these requirements. The Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) grant requires that recipients perform inspections of properties where tenants receiving HAP reside and when inspections fail, re-inspections must be performed within 30 days for non-life-threatening issues. Condition: Metro West Housing Solutions did not perform re-inspections of 6 failed inspections within the prescribed 30-day HAP requirement during 2022. Cause: Controls over inspections that are a part of special tests and provisions were not properly designed to ensure that re-inspections of properties occurred within 30 days of a failed inspection, thus resulting in a deficiency of internal control. Effect: Metro West Housing Solutions could be issuing HAP for properties that are not up to code or potentially dangerous for their recipients if inspections fail and re-inspections are not occurring timely. Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: We initially tested 10% of the failed inspections during 2022 but expanded our sample to cover 20% of the failed inspections based on maximum risk of material noncompliance resulting from the 3 errors identified. We noted an additional 3 errors from our expanded sample. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): No Recommendation: We recommend management revisit controls over inspections and special tests and provisions to correct this matter and ensure no further findings occur. Views of Responsible Officials: Agree