Finding Text
Finding 2022-001: Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and Mainstream Vouchers Programs Federal Catalog Numbers: 14.871 and 14.879 Noncompliance ? E. Eligibility ? Tenant Files Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Eligibility Criteria: Tenant Files. The PHA must do the following: As a condition of admission or continued occupancy, require the tenant and other family member to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). These files are required to be maintained and available for examination at the time of audit. Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority?s files and on discussion with management, there were documents that were unavailable for examination at the time of audit. Context: There are approximately 5,068 units. Of a sample size of fifty-nine (59) tenant files, the following was noted. ? HUD 9887 Form was missing in 4 files ? Annual HUD 50058 recertification form and verification of income and assets was missing in 1 file. Lead based paint disclosure form was missing in 1 file. Our sample size is statistically valid. Known Questioned Costs: $59,947 Cause: There is a significant deficiency in compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly maintained tenant files in compliance with program requirements following the expiration of HUD waivers as a result of insufficient staffing. Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and Mainstream Vouchers Programs are in non-compliance with the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement a corrective action plan that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement. Authority Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. Following the expiration of the COVID-19 HUD regulatory waivers, the Authority experienced a large backlog of reexaminations along with higher than usual rates of staff turnover and other staff capacity challenges related to the pandemic. Authority management has developed and implemented a plan to rapidly work through the backlog, bringing the program into compliance. Current HUD SEMAP data reflects that 96% of reexaminations have been completed in a timely manner, which is high enough to provide full points for this SEMAP indicator. Authority management will continue to monitor and strive towards 100% timely recertifications by the end of this fiscal year.