Finding 8892 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-18
Audit: 12169
Organization: Lexington Housing Authority (NC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The PHA did not verify that owners corrected defects within the required timeframes after HQS inspections.
  • Impacted Requirements: Federal regulations mandate reinspection within 24 hours for life-threatening issues and 30 days for other defects.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a robust monitoring system to ensure compliance and improve documentation practices.

Finding Text

Criteria: Federal regulations (24 CFR section 982.404) states a Public Housing Agency (PHA) must verify that an owner has corrected any life threatening issue found during a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspection within no more than 24 hours. For other defects, the PHA must verify the owner corrected the defect within no more than 30 calendar days (or any PHA approved extension). The PHA must not make any housing assistance payments for a dwelling unit that fails to meet the HQS, unless the owner correct the defect with in the period specified by the PHA and the PHA verifies the corrections.Condition: We noted that the PHA identified defects during annual HQS inspections which require corrective action within 30 calendar days following the discovery of such conditions. However, the PHA was unable to provide documentation that it reinspected the dwelling residences to confirm corrective action had taken place within the correct corrective period. Context: During our testing, we noted that 4 out of 18 failed inspections reviewed did not receive a reinspection with 24 hours or 30 days. With 181 total failed inspections, the extrapolated error amount would be 40 inspections. Cause: The Authority failed to properly monitor the HQS process to ensure the PHA's reinspection policies were being followed.Effect: The Authority is non-compliant with the federal regulations over this federal program, this could potentially result in significant operating and financial penalties. Recommendations: We suggest the Authority structure a system capable of properly overseeing compliance with regulations relative to these grants as well as maintaining more accurate and complete documentation of adherence to compliance. Management Views: Management Agrees; See Management's Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The agency will place all of the administrative duties under the inspectors’ role and responsibilities. These duties were previously shared due to inspector capabilities making it much harder to track outcome. Effective immediately the inspector will place any failed units beyond (30) day re-inspection on abatement. The inspector will track when the unit passes inspection and then remove the house from the abatement once it passes reinspection. We will require inspectors to submit weekly inspection reports as well as visually track failed units on a wall calendar. The approach and results for tracking are as follows:  Require weekly inspection reports to be submitted for all failed units.  Place units on/off abatement as necessary. This process should create a stop gap measure for missing any units from abatement or re-inspection, released subsidy or failure to notify tenants and landlord of the agency’s actions. Anticipated Completion Date: Immediately

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 585334 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $3.72M
14.241 Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids $100,623
14.896 Family Self-Sufficiency Program $52,051