Finding 972304 (2023-001)

Finding No. 2023-001; Federal Assistance Listing Number 14.157 Criteria Tenant lease files are required to be maintained and tenant eligibility determined in accordance with HUD Handbook 4350.3, Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs. Condition In connection with our lease file review, we noted that the use of the HUD Enterprise Income Verification ("EIV") to verify three out of four tenants' income tested, was not performed timely. Cause Management's policies with respect to recertifications and eligibility and the maintenance of tenant lease files in accordance with HUD Handbook 4350.3, Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs were not consistently followed. Effect or Potential Effect The procedures for determining tenant recertification eligibility and maintaining tenant lease files were not consistently applied in accordance with HUD Handbook 4350.3, Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs. This could result in units being rented to ineligible tenants or errors in the rent subsidies paid by HUD. Questioned Costs N/A Context Three out of four tenants' tenants tested did not have the EIV run timely. Identification as a Repeat Finding Yes 2022-001 Recommendation Management should establish procedures and monitor compliance with those procedures to insure that recertifications are performed timely and signed, tenant eligibility is correctly determined and that tenant lease files are properly maintained in accordance with the requirements of HUD Handbook 4350.3, Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs. Auditor Noncompliance Code: E - Eligibility for Uniform Guidance R - Section 8 Program Compliance Finding Resolution Status: Resolved Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: REACH has policies in place to complete certifications in a timely manner but due to staffing shortages and tenant noncompliance issues the property continued to have issues with timely completion of income certifications in 2023. As new staff are brought onboard training is provided and annual HUD training is completed by all staff. Additional procedures have been implemented in 2023 to coordinate and provide assistance to on-site staff to ensure that the properties are in compliance.