Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Mainstream Vouchers, Emergency Housing Vouchers
Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.871, 14.879, 14.EHV (the “Housing Voucher Cluster”)
Noncompliance – E. Eligibility – Tenant Files
Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: Yes
Material Weakness 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 8,789 units. Of a sample size of eighty-seven (87) tenant files, the following was noted:
• HUD-9886 Authorization for Release of Information was missing in 8 files
• Annual 50058 form was missing in 7 files
• Verification of income and assets was missing in 10 files
• Annual inspection report was missing in 2 files
Our sample size is statistically valid.
Known Questioned Costs: $216,820
Cause: There is a material weakness in internal controls over the compliance for the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that assures the program is in compliance.
Effect: The Housing Voucher Cluster is in material non-compliance with the eligibility type of compliance related to the maintenance of tenant files.
Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures that will assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement.
Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor on the inspection of tenant files and has made arrangements to comply with the compliance requirements of the Housing Voucher Cluster. The added controls will consist of additional training that will be completed by Continued Eligibility staff related to the Electronic File Protocol and the procurment of an IT vendor that will develop reports to identify missing SharePoint attachments within electronic tenant files. Ingrid Layne, the Director of Assisted Housing will be responsible to implement this corrective action by March 31, 2024.