Issue Date
May 15, 2009
Audit Report Number
2009-NY-1011
TO: Mirza Negron Morales, Director, Office of Public Housing, 2APH
FROM: Edgar Moore, Regional Inspector General for Audit, New York Region, 2AGA
SUBJECT: North Hempstead Housing Authority, Great Neck, New York, Had Weaknesses
in Its Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self-Sufficiency Programs
HIGHLIGHTS
What We Audited and Why
We audited the North Hempstead Housing Authority’s (Authority) administration
of its Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self-Sufficiency programs as part of
the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) strategic plan goals to improve the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) fiscal accountability
regarding its rental assistance programs. We selected the Authority because it
was designated as troubled by HUD and did not have a Section 8 management
review since March 2000.
The audit objectives were to determine whether the Authority administered its
Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self Sufficiency programs in compliance
with HUD regulations. Specific objectives were to assess whether the Authority
properly (1) determined tenant eligibility and rental subsidy calculations,
(2) administered its project-based vouchers, (3) accounted for portable vouchers,
(4) implemented a housing quality standards inspection process, and (5)
calculated and funded Family Self-Sufficiency program participants’ escrow
amounts.
What We Found
The Authority generally administered its Housing Choice Voucher program in
accordance with HUD regulations. Specifically, the Authority properly
determined Section 8 tenant eligibility and accurately calculated rental subsidies.
However, the Authority did not properly administer its project-based voucher
program, in that it improperly selected both units and tenants for project-based
voucher assistance. In addition, the Authority incorrectly accounted for portable
administrative fees, did not adequately administer its housing quality standards
quality control inspection process, and improperly calculated and funded Family
Self-Sufficiency program participants’ escrow accounts.
What We Recommend
We recommend that the Director, Office of Public Housing, New York, instruct
Authority officials to develop an allocation plan to ensure that project-based
vouchers are issued in accordance with regulations and that tenants for project-
based voucher assistance are properly selected; pay portable administrative fees
due to receiving authorities and provide documentation to support fees paid;
strengthen controls over its housing quality standards quality control inspection
process; and fund current Family Self Sufficiency program participants’ escrow
accounts that are underfunded, reimburse escrow funds owed to graduated
participants, and recoup funds from overfunded accounts.
For each recommendation without a management decision, please respond and
provide status reports in accordance with HUD Handbook 2000.06, REV-3.
Please furnish us copies of any correspondence or directives issued because of the
audit.
Auditee’s Response
We discussed the contents of this report with Authority officials during the audit
and provided them with a copy of the draft report on April 10, 2009. We held an
exit conference on April 17, 2009, and received the Authority’s written comments
on May 1, 2009. The Authority generally agreed with our findings and has
initiated corrective action in response to our recommendations. The complete text
of the auditee’s response, along with our evaluation of that response, can be found
in appendix B of this report.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background and Objectives 4
Results of Audit
Finding 1: The Authority Did Not Properly Administer Its Project-Based 5
Vouchers
Finding 2: The Authority Had Weaknesses in Its Financial and Management 8
Controls
Finding 3: The Authority Had Weaknesses in the Administration of Its Family 13
Self-Sufficiency Program
Scope and Methodology 18
Internal Controls 20
Appendixes
A. Schedule of Questioned Costs and Funds to Be Put to Better Use 22
B. Auditee Comments and OIG’s Evaluation 23
C. Schedule of Participant Escrow Account Balances as of November 28, 2008 30
3
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The North Hempstead Housing Authority (Authority) was established in 1946 as a not-for-profit
public corporation to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for low-income families. The
Authority is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners. The executive director, who
supervises the daily management operations of the Authority, was appointed in 2002. The
Authority’s main office is located at Pond Hill Road, Great Neck, New York.
The Authority administers Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self-Sufficiency programs
funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During the audit
period, April 1, 2006, through March 31, 2008, the Authority received $5.5 million in Housing
Choice Voucher program and Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator funding, $5.43 million and
$75,250 respectively.
The purpose of the Housing Choice Voucher program is to provide assistance to low- and
moderate-income families seeking decent, safe, and sanitary housing by subsidizing rents with
owners of existing private housing. The purpose of the Family Self-Sufficiency program is to
assist families in obtaining employment that will allow them to become economically
independent. As of March 31, 2008, the Authority administered 175 housing choice vouchers
and had 17 participants enrolled in the Family Self-Sufficiency program.
In July 1998, the State of New York enacted legislation authorizing the Authority to sell or lease
all or part of its 286 New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal public
housing units contained in four developments: (1) Pond View Homes, a 52-unit family
development; (2) Laurel Homes, a 66-unit family development; (3) Harbor Homes, a 66-unit
family development; and (4) Spinney Hill, a 102-unit family development. The purpose of the
legislation was to secure private capital to rehabilitate the developments and ensure a continued
source of housing for low-income families. Each development is owned and operated by one of
five1 distinct limited partnerships sponsored by the Authority and in which its not-for-profit
housing development fund corporation has a one percent ownership interest. In 2001 and 2002,
the Authority selected a total of 24 units for project-based voucher assistance from among two of
the privatized developments.
We initiated the audit to determine whether the Authority administered its Housing Choice
Voucher and Family Self Sufficiency programs in compliance with HUD regulations. Specific
audit objectives were to assess whether the Authority properly (1) determined tenant eligibility
and rental subsidy calculations, (2) administered its project-based vouchers, (3) accounted for
portable vouchers, (4) implemented a housing quality standards inspection process, and (5)
calculated and funded Family Self-Sufficiency program participants’ escrow amounts.
1
The limited partnerships and not-for-profit housing development fund corporations are named for the
developments, for example Spinney Hill Limited Partnership’s sole general partner is Spinney Hill Development
Fund Corporation. Furthermore, Spinney Hill has two limited partnerships and two sole general partners (I and II).
4
RESULTS OF AUDIT
Finding 1: The Authority Did Not Properly Administer Its Project-
Based Vouchers
The Authority had administration weaknesses in its project-based voucher program that caused
improper selection of both units and tenants for project-based voucher assistance, and rent
reasonableness determinations to not be completed. As a result, the Authority inappropriately
disbursed $695,797 on units and tenants not properly selected or determined to have reasonable
rents. This occurred because Authority officials were unfamiliar with HUD regulations.
Proposals for Project-Based
Vouchers Not Solicited
Authority officials inappropriately provided project-based voucher assistance to
24 Authority-owned units. Regulations at 24 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations)
983.51(e) provide that an authority-owned unit may be assisted under the project-
based voucher program if the HUD field office or a HUD-approved independent
entity reviews the selection process and determines that the authority-owned units
were selected based on the selection procedures specified in the authority’s
administrative plan. Further, regulations at 24 CFR 983.51 provide that an
authority’s administrative plan must describe procedures for submission and
selection of owner project-based voucher proposals.
Authority officials did not comply with regulations regarding the selection of
these project-based voucher units. First, the Authority’s Section 8 administrative
plan does not specify a process for soliciting and selecting project-based voucher
proposals. Second, Authority officials selected the 24 project-based voucher units
from two of its previously administered New York State low-income
developments without soliciting project-based voucher proposals, documenting an
allocation plan, or obtaining HUD approval as required. This noncompliance
occurred because Authority officials believed that, since two of its former New
York State low-income developments were privatized and fully renovated, they
were not required to solicit project-based voucher proposals. As a result,
Authority officials inappropriately disbursed $695,797 in housing assistance
payments during the period reviewed, and will continue to inappropriately
disburse the current annual subsidy of $281,196.
5
Improper Selection of Project-
Based Voucher Tenants
Authority officials selected six applicants for project-based voucher assistance
from a waiting list that the Authority administered for its New York State low-
income housing.2 Regulations at 24 CFR 983.251(c)(1) require that applicants for
project-based voucher-assisted units be selected from an authority’s Section 8
waiting list. During the period April 2006 through December 2008, Authority
officials disbursed $135,915 in housing assistance payments for these units. We
do not regard these costs as ineligible since the tenants met eligibility
requirements for housing assistance; however, potentially eligible applicants on
the Authority’s Section 8 waiting list were not offered project-based voucher
assistance and continued to wait for tenant-based assistance. This condition
occurred because Authority officials provided the wrong waiting list to the
management agent.
Independent Rent
Reasonableness Determinations
Not Obtained
While Authority officials arranged for inspections by an independent entity, they
did not ensure that the entity conducted rent reasonableness determinations for its
Authority-owned units. Regulations at 24 CFR 983.59(b) require that both rent
reasonableness determinations and housing quality standards inspections for
authority-owned units be performed by an independent entity approved by HUD.
However, the entity merely documented unit rental postings from newspapers. As
a result, HUD lacked assurance that the rents charged monthly for project-based
voucher-assisted units were reasonable.
Conclusion
The Authority generally administered its Housing Choice Voucher program in
compliance with HUD regulations; however, there were weaknesses in the
administration of its project-based voucher program. As a result, the Authority
disbursed $695,797 in housing assistance payments for project-based voucher
units that were not properly selected, waiting list applicants were improperly
chosen, and project-based voucher-assisted rents may not have been reasonable.
These weaknesses occurred because Authority officials were unfamiliar with
various HUD regulations.
2
While the Authority selected 24 applicants for project-based voucher assistance, 18 resided in the development
before its privatization and renovation. Such “in place families” are given preference to avoid displacement and,
thus, were provided assistance in accordance with regulations.
6
Recommendations
We recommend that the Director, Office of Public Housing, New York, instruct
Authority officials to
1A. Ensure compliance with regulations by establishing and incorporating into
its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program administrative plan,
procedures for the solicitation and evaluation of proposals for project-
based voucher-assisted units before any future selections of such units.
1B. Obtain HUD approval for the designation of the 24 project-based
vouchers, or convert them to tenant-based vouchers, thereby ensuring that
the annual subsidy payment of approximately $281,196 will be used on
units that are properly approved for project-based vouchers.
1C. Develop procedures and implement controls to ensure that future vouchers
are distributed to applicants on the Authority’s Section 8 waiting list.
1D. Have an independent entity conduct rent reasonableness determinations
for Authority-owned units receiving project-based voucher assistance to
ensure that unit rents are reasonable as required by 24 CFR 983.59(b).
7
Finding 2: The Authority Had Weaknesses in Its Financial and
Management Controls
There were weaknesses in the Authority’s financial and management controls. These
weaknesses resulted in (1) $2,467 in unpaid portable administrative fees to receiving authorities
and $9,724 in portable administrative fees without supporting documentation, (2) $3,530 in
unsupported contract costs and procurement actions, (3) the allocation of costs based upon an
outdated allocation plan, (4) the disbursement of $50,237 in housing assistance payments to an
ineligible owner, and (5) the improper selection and inadequate tracking of housing quality
standards quality control inspections. These weaknesses occurred because of the Authority’s
unfamiliarity with program requirements and errors in the implementation of its policies.
Unpaid Portable Administrative
Fees and Fees Paid for Former
Port-Outs
The Authority had not paid $2,467 in portable administrative fees due to three
receiving authorities for four port-out tenants. These fees had been unpaid from 4
to 24 months. Regulations at 24 CFR 982.355(e)(1)-(3) require that 80 percent of
an initial authority’s ongoing administrative fee be promptly paid when it receives
a bill from a receiving authority for port-out tenants. Authority officials believed
that the payments had been made because it issued separate checks for housing
assistance payments and portable administrative fees and checks for the housing
assistance payments had been remitted. In addition, the Authority lacked bills
from a receiving authority to support $9,724 in portable administrative fees paid
from April 1, 2006, through March 31, 2008. These deficiencies occurred
because the Authority lacked controls over the reconciliation of portable
administrative fees payable.
Unsupported Contract Costs and
Procurement Actions
After the Authority was unsuccessful in hiring a replacement when its bookkeeper
resigned in May 2007, it contracted with that bookkeeper without soliciting bids,
documenting board approval, or executing a formal contract. Section 2.1(D) of
the Authority’s procurement policy requires three quotes and board approval to
execute any contract in excess of $5,000. However, during the period July 2007
through November 2008, the former employee was compensated $20,308, based
upon a rate of $46.43 per hour, for these services, which represents a 21 percent
increase over the $38.36 hourly rate for salary and fringes that the bookkeeper
earned as an employee. Consequently, without evidence of solicitation of bids to
justify that the services were procured at a reasonable rate, we regard $3,530 (the
difference between the amount the bookkeeper earned as an employee and
8
received as a contractor) as an unsupported expense. Additionally, in July 2008
after the Authority received one response to a request for proposals for
bookkeeping services, it outsourced some services to the company that managed
the Authority’s privatized units. However, an Authority official stated that the
company had not been paid and an evaluation was ongoing to determine the
amount of work and to set the contract price.
In addition, the Authority lacked documentation for the procurement of the family
self-sufficiency coordinator and improperly renewed the contract. Section 1.4(B)
of the Authority’s procurement policy requires contracts to be supported by
sufficient documentation regarding the history of any procurement, and
regulations at 24 CFR 85.36(i)(11)3 require the retention of procurement records
for three years after final payment is made. A coordinator contract in the amount
of $43,800 annually, initially awarded in June 2002, and effective August 1, 2002,
was renewed four times and will expire on December 31, 2009. Due to the lack
of records, the Authority could not provide assurance that the procurement of the
contract family self-sufficiency coordinator was conducted in full compliance
with applicable requirements and that the most economical price was obtained.
Further, upon its expiration in December 2009, the contract will have been in
effect for six years and five months4. While the initial contract did not include an
option for renewal or extension, the Board of Commissioners continued to
authorize contract extensions without HUD approval. Contracts that exceed a
total of five years are viewed as restrictive of competition and in violation of 24
CFR 85.36(c). Handbook No. 7460.8 REV 2, Chapter 10.8 C2, provides that
contracts shall not exceed a period of five years, including options for renewal or
extension. While HUD may approve contracts in excess of five years if it
determines there is no practical alternative, the Authority had not sought HUD
approval.
Cost Allocation Plan
Outdated
The Authority did not properly document the allocation of costs among its
programs. It allocated its employee salaries and general administrative costs
among its New York State housing, low-rent, and Section 8 programs, as well as
its nonprofit entities. However, the Authority’s cost allocation plan was last
revised in March 2006. The plan is outdated as it contains the names of former
Authority employees who resigned from their positions in September 2006 and
May 2007. Further, as of December 22, 2008, the Authority’s remaining New
3
The Authority’s procurement policy indicates compliance with the procurement standards provided by 24 CFR
85.36.
4
Authority officials did not renew the contract upon its expiration on December 31, 2005 because the Authority did
not receive HUD funding for a family self-sufficiency coordinator in fiscal year 2006. The following year funding
resumed and the contract was renewed on January 1, 2007.
9
York State development had been privatized, and the Authority was no longer
responsible for its day-to-day management. Consequently, the Authority’s cost
allocation plan, which is based on the number of units in each program, needs to
be redeveloped to reflect current employees and program units.
Ineligible Housing Assistance
Payments
During the period November 1, 2002, through July 1, 2007, the Authority
erroneously disbursed $50,237 in housing assistance payments for a unit owned
by the father of assisted family members who were not disabled. Regulations at
24 CFR 982.306(d) prohibit approving a unit when the owner is the parent, child,
grandparent, grandchild, sister, or brother of any member of the assisted family,
unless approving such a tenancy would provide reasonable accommodations for a
disabled family member. Authority officials said that they were unaware of the
prohibited owner-family relationship. Authority procedures provide that during
an applicant’s initial certification process, inquiry is made about whether owner-
family relationships exist when both the tenant head of household and the owner
have the same last name, which was not applicable in this case. Further, the
owner certified on the housing assistance payments contract and the request for
tenancy approval that a prohibited owner-family relationship did not exist. While
the Authority exercised due diligence during the certification process and had
established adequate controls in its tenant certification process, the owner was
erroneously paid.
Improper Selection and
Tracking of Quality Control
Inspections
The Authority did not always properly select or adequately track the results of
housing quality standards quality control inspections. Regulations at 24 CFR
985.3(e)(3) require that the quality control inspection sample be made from
inspections performed during the past three months. However, the eight
inspections drawn in 2008 for quality control inspections had been completed
between seven and twelve months earlier. In addition, the Authority did not
always provide written notification to landlords and tenants for all failed items
resulting from housing quality standards quality control inspections conducted in
2007 and 2008. Also, it did not maintain a system for tracking and recording the
results of the quality control inspections. For instance, Authority officials did not
formally document with a reinspection report that 9 of 20 units that failed the
quality control inspections in 2007 and 2008 were reinspected to verify correction
of the deficiencies. In addition, officials did not maintain copies of all prior
recertification inspection reports. Chapter 10.9, Indicator 6, of HUD’s Housing
Choice Voucher Program Guidebook 7420.10G requires the Authority to have a
10
system for tracking and recording the results of the housing quality standards
quality control inspections that, at a minimum, documents the date of original
failed inspection and the date and result of reinspection. Authority officials were
not aware of this tracking requirement; hence, HUD lacked assurance that
reinspections always occurred and units met housing quality standards.
Conclusion
Weaknesses in financial and management controls existed because the Authority
was unfamiliar with program requirements and experienced errors in the
implementation of its policies. As a result, (1) $2,467 in portable administrative
fees were not paid to receiving authorities, (2) $9,724 in unsupported portable
administrative fees were paid to a receiving authority, (3) $3,530 in unsupported
contract costs were incurred, (4) the allocation of costs was based upon an
outdated allocation plan, (5) the Authority disbursed $50,237 in housing
assistance payments to an ineligible owner, and (6) housing quality standards
quality control inspections were improperly selected and inadequately tracked.
Recommendations
We recommend that the Director, Office of Public Housing, New York, instruct
Authority officials to
2A. Pay $2,467 in portable administrative fees due to receiving authorities on
behalf of its port-out tenants.
2B. Provide documentation for $9,724 in unsupported portable administrative
fees paid, and if support cannot be provided, the Authority should recoup
the fees paid from the receiving authority.
2C. Strengthen controls over the reconciliation and payment of portable
administrative fees.
2D. Provide support for or reimburse $3,530 paid in consulting fees for
bookkeeping services.
2E. Strengthen controls over the procurement process to ensure compliance with
HUD’s procurement regulations, including the requirement that contracts be
for a finite period, including options, which does not exceed a five-year
period unless HUD approval is obtained.
2F. Revise its cost allocation plan to reflect current employees and program
units to ensure that allocated costs are properly supported.
11
2G. Seek repayment of $50,237 in ineligible housing assistance payments.
2H. Strengthen controls over the housing quality standards quality control
inspection process to ensure that inspection samples are properly selected,
landlords and tenants are notified of deficiencies, and failed units are
reinspected.
2I. Establish and maintain a system for tracking, recording, and monitoring the
results of housing quality standards quality control inspections.
12
Finding 3: The Authority Had Weaknesses in the Administration of Its
Family Self-Sufficiency Program
The Authority had weaknesses in the administration of its Family Self-Sufficiency program.
Specifically, Authority officials did not properly calculate or fund escrow credits, distribute an
escrow account, or comply with administrative requirements for its program. These weaknesses
occurred because Authority officials were unaware of applicable program requirements.
Consequently, 10 active participant accounts were underfunded by $32,325, three accounts were
overfunded by $3,666, three graduated participant accounts were underpaid by $3,279, and one
was overpaid by $4,807. In addition, one participant had not been paid $6,904 and $19,193 in
forfeited escrow funds was not deposited into the Authority’s general account. Further, the
Authority’s program did not comply with program approval, minimum size, and program
coordinating committee requirements.
Escrow Amounts Incorrectly
Calculated and Funded
Authority officials’ failure to consistently deposit and correctly calculate escrow
deposits caused the underfunding of 10 active participant accounts by $32,325
and the overfunding of three accounts by $3,666 (see appendix C). In addition,
three graduates were underpaid by $3,279, and one was overpaid by $4,807. The
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook 7420.10G, section 23.5,
provides that escrow credits result when increases in the family’s earned income
cause the family’s total tenant payment to increase. The difference between the
family’s increased current total tenant payment and the total tenant payment on
the effective date of the contract of participation represents an escrow credit to be
deposited. Regulations at 24 CFR 984.305(a) provide that Family Self-
Sufficiency program participant escrow funds should be deposited into a single
depository account invested in one or more HUD-approved investments, and the
Authority’s policy provides for monthly deposits of earned escrow. Nevertheless,
Authority officials failed to consistently make the required monthly deposits into
escrow accounts.
Officials stated that deposits were not made during the period February 2006
through March 2007 because they suspended the program when the Authority did
not receive HUD funding for a family self-sufficiency coordinator in fiscal year
2006. Consequently, Authority officials did not renew their coordinator contract,
through which all essential supportive services were provided, upon its expiration
on December 31, 2005. Further, rather than forfeit participant funds and void all
participant contracts, Authority officials informed the participants that the
program would be suspended. However, while funding for a coordinator resumed
effective October 1, 2006, Authority officials did not make escrow deposits until
April 2007. Deposits were also not made during the period June through October
2008, although a lump sum catch-up deposit was made in November 2008.
13
Authority officials attributed this lapse in deposits to the transition to outsourced
bookkeeping services. In addition, an escrow account was not opened until
January 2009 for a participant for whom escrow funds should have been deposited
starting in November 2008. This lapse in funding was due to delays in processing
the paperwork.
Authority officials also incorrectly calculated escrow credits for 16 of 23
participants because they incorrectly applied participants’ earned income, total
tenant payment, and HUD income limits when calculating the escrow credits.
Further, when the program resumed after its suspension, officials incorrectly
calculated escrow credits for 11 of the 12 active participants by using the current
earned income rather than the earned income on the effective date of the contract
of participation or by using the incorrect total tenant payment on the effective date
of the contract of participation. Further, the remaining active participant’s escrow
credits were not calculated during the next two reexaminations of income,
resulting in an underfunded escrow account balance.
In addition, for three participants, Authority officials used the participants’ earned
income from the wrong period when they initially executed contracts of
participation, and they incorrectly calculated two participants’ escrow credit
because they applied the wrong income limits. In the first case, they applied
income limits for a family of eight, rather than ten. In the second case, they
applied the previous year’s income limits, which caused the participant’s adjusted
income to exceed the very low-income limit, thereby reducing the escrow credits
calculated. There were also a number of instances in which incorrect income
limits were applied with no effect. These errors occurred because Authority
officials failed to manually update their system in a timely manner to reflect the
changes in HUD’s annual income limits.
Escrow Amounts Not
Distributed
Authority officials did not distribute earned escrow funds to one participant.
Chapter 23.5 of Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook 7420.10G also
provides that a family is eligible to receive its escrow account when 30 percent of
the family’s monthly adjusted income equals or exceeds the fair market rent for
the family, regardless of whether all planned goals in the contract of participation
have been achieved. One participant met this requirement, effective May 1, 2008,
and was terminated from the Housing Choice Voucher program on November 1,
2008, in accordance with program regulations.5 However, while the participant
was eligible to receive escrow account funds on May 1, 2008, the Authority had
not disbursed the $6,904 to which the participant was entitled.
5
Regulations provide that the housing assistance payment contract automatically terminates after 180 days since the
last housing assistance payment to the owner.
14
In addition, $19,193 in forfeited funds should have reverted to the Authority.
Chapter 23.5 of Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook 7420.10G provides
that escrow funds are forfeited if a contract of participation is terminated.
Forfeited funds revert to the Authority and are treated as program receipts
available to pay approved program expenses. As of November 28, 2008, funds
amounting to $19,1936 that should have been forfeited by three participants upon
termination of their contract in September and October 2005, and May 2008,
respectively, remained on deposit in the escrow accounts.
Noncompliance with Program
Administrative Requirements
Authority officials did not provide participants with annual reports on their
escrow accounts as required. Section 23.5 of Housing Choice Voucher
Guidebook 7420.10G requires that each participant receive a report on the
participant’s escrow account at least annually, including the beginning balance,
any amount credited or deduction made during the period, the interest earned on
the account, and the ending balance. While participants were provided reports,
the reports were not always provided annually and did not include all required
information. The contract coordinator acknowledged the deficiency and said that
action would be taken to ensure that reports complied with the requirements.
In addition, the Authority’s program did not comply with HUD requirements for
approval, program size, and program coordinating committee composition.
Regulations at 24 CFR 984.201(a) provide that an authority must have a HUD-
approved action plan that complies with the requirements before it implements its
Family-Self Sufficiency program. On April 5, 2001, Authority officials submitted
a program action plan to HUD, which HUD did not approve because it did not
include incentives to encourage participation, outreach efforts to recruit minority
and nonminority families, and an assurance that a family’s decision not to
participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency program would not affect its
participation in the Section 8 program. While the plan was resubmitted on July
21, 2003, there was no documentation showing that it had been approved.
The Authority’s program did not comply with mandatory minimum program
participant requirements. The Authority’s family self-sufficiency action plan
requires that the Authority operate a program with 50 participants; however, the
Authority had never met that mandatory minimum number. Regulations at 24
CFR 984.105(d) require HUD approval to operate a Family Self-Sufficiency
program with less than the required minimum number of participants. During the
audit period, April 2006 through March 2008, the number of participants ranged
from a low of 12 to a high of 17 and was at 17 at the end of the audit period.
Despite its outreach efforts to increase participation, Authority staff cited a lack of
6
As of November 28, 2008, $16,150 was the sum of the three escrow account balances ($7,001 + $749 + $8,400).
However, the balance was understated by a net of $3,043, since two escrow account balances were underfunded by
$3,792 and one was overfunded by $749 (see appendix C).
15
family interest for low participation in the program. However, Authority officials
had not requested approval from HUD to administer a smaller program. This
condition occurred because Authority officials were unaware that they needed to
request HUD approval.
Furthermore, the Authority’s program coordinating committee did not comply
with HUD requirements. Regulations at 24 CFR 984.202(a), (b)(1)(ii), and (2)
require that a program coordinating committee be established to assist an
authority in obtaining public and private resource commitments for the operation
of its Family Self-Sufficiency program. The committee should include
representatives from the authority; a Section 8 participant; and representatives
from local government, local job training programs, employment agencies, public
child welfare agencies, public/private education or training institutions, child care
providers, nonprofit service providers, and private businesses. Although the
Authority’s contract family self-sufficiency coordinator established a program
coordinating committee, the committee was located outside the Authority’s
jurisdiction, and neither representatives from the Authority nor a Section 8
participant were members of the committee. This condition occurred because
Authority officials were unaware of the committee membership requirements.
Conclusion
As a result of weaknesses in controls and unfamiliarity with administrative
requirements in the operation of its Family Self-Sufficiency program, Authority
officials improperly funded escrow accounts, incorrectly calculated escrow
credits, and did not comply with administrative requirements. Consequently, the
Authority lacked assurance that its program met requirements and operated
effectively.
Recommendations
We recommend that the Director, Office of Public Housing, New York, instruct
Authority officials to
3A. Fund current participants’ escrow accounts $32,325, due to failure to deposit
required funds, and recoup $3,666 from participants’ escrow accounts that
were overfunded due to errors in escrow credit calculations.
3B. Recoup $4,807 overpaid to a graduated participant from the Authority’s
administrative fee equity account, reimburse $3,279 in escrow deposits
owed to graduated partipants, and pay $6,904 to the graduated participant
that was not paid.
16
3C. Transfer $19,193 in forfeited escrow funds to its general account for the
payment of approved program expenses as allowed by regulations.
3D. Strenghten controls over the administration of escrow accounts to ensure that
escrow credits are properly calculated and deposited into participants’ accounts
in a timely maner.
3E. Implement controls to ensure that participants receive annual reports on
escrow account activity.
3F. Submit the revised family self-sufficiency action plan to HUD for approval
to ensure that all required information is included and provide greater
assurance that the Authority's program will be properly administered.
3G. Strengthen controls over program administration to ensure that the required
program size is maintained and if not, request approval to operate a smaller
program.
3H. Establish a program coordinating committee as required or become a member
of an existing committee that is in compliance with regulations.
17
SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
To accomplish our objectives, we
Reviewed applicable laws; HUD regulations at 24 CFR Parts 982, 983, and 984;
HUD’s Public and Indian Housing Notices 2006-03, 2006-05, 2007-14, and 2008-15;
and HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook 7420.10G.
Reviewed the Authority’s Section 8 administrative plan, family self-sufficiency local
action plan, family self-sufficiency coordinator contract, and board meeting minutes
to obtain an understanding of the policies, procedures, and internal controls affecting
the Authority’s programs.
Analyzed HUD field office monitoring reports and independent public accountant
audit reports for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to identify internal control weaknesses
and financial trends.
Interviewed officials at the HUD field office and the Authority, as well as its family
self-sufficiency coordinator and independent fee accountant.
Analyzed the Authority’s bank reconciliations, bank statements, cancelled checks,
check registers, and general ledgers pertaining to its Housing Choice Voucher
program and the bank statements and cancelled checks pertaining to the Family Self-
Sufficiency program. We also analyzed the Authority’s cost allocation plan to ensure
that it was properly supported.
Selected a sample of 10 tenant files to assess whether the Authority properly
determined tenant eligibility and rental subsidy calculations and ensured that voucher-
assisted units complied with HUD housing quality standards. We examined 20
housing quality standards quality control inspection reports from 2007 and 2008 to
determine compliance with HUD regulations and to assess the inspector’s
performance.
Conducted inspections for a sample of 10 Section 8 housing choice voucher units to
determine the Authority’s compliance with housing quality standards.
Reviewed three contracts to evaluate the Authority’s compliance with applicable
procurement requirements.
Reviewed monthly reports on Section 8 units leased during the period April 1, 2006,
through March 31, 2008, to determine whether administrative fees were correctly
earned and excess fees were credited to a net unrestricted asset account, also referred
to as an administrative fee equity account.
18
Selected the months of April 2006 and March 2008 to determine whether the
Authority made portable administrative fee payments to the receiving authorities in a
timely manner.
Reviewed files for the 23 Family Self-Sufficiency program participants during the
period March 2003 through November 2008 to verify that contracts of participation
were properly executed; escrow funds were properly calculated; and terminations,
graduations, and escrow payments complied with the regulations.
Recalculated a number of escrow credits and escrow account balances, which
included an estimation of interest earned.
We performed on-site work from June 2008 through April 2009 at the Authority’s main office,
located at Pond Hill Road, Great Neck, New York. The audit period was April 1, 2006, through
March 31, 2008, and was expanded as determined necessary.
We conducted the audit in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate
evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit
objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings
and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
19
INTERNAL CONTROLS
Internal control is an integral component of an organization’s management that provides
reasonable assurance that the following controls are achieved:
Program operations,
Relevance and reliability of information,
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and
Safeguarding of assets and resources.
Internal controls relate to management’s plans, methods, and procedures used to meet its
mission, goals, and objectives. They include the processes and procedures for planning,
organizing, directing, and controlling program operations as well as the systems for measuring,
reporting, and monitoring program performance.
Relevant Internal Controls
We determined that the following internal controls were relevant to our audit
objectives:
Program operations - Policies and procedures that management has
implemented to reasonably ensure that a program meets its objectives.
Compliance with laws and regulations - Policies and procedures that
management has implemented to reasonably ensure that resource use is
consistent with laws and regulations.
Safeguarding resources - Policies and procedures that management has
implemented to reasonably ensure that resources are safeguarded against
waste, loss, and misuse.
Validity and reliability of data - Policies and procedures that management has
implemented to reasonably ensure that valid and reliable data are obtained,
maintained, and fairly disclosed in reports.
We assessed the relevant controls identified above.
A significant weakness exists if management controls do not provide reasonable
assurance that the process for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling
program operations will meet the organization’s objectives.
20
Significant Weaknesses
Based on our review, we believe that the following item is a significant weakness:
The Authority lacked adequate procedures and controls to ensure compliance
with HUD regulations regarding the selection of Authority-owned units and
tenants for project-based voucher assistance, and the administration and financial
management of its Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self-Sufficiency
programs (see findings 1 through 3).
21
APPENDIXES
Appendix A
SCHEDULE OF QUESTIONED COSTS
AND FUNDS TO BE PUT TO BETTER USE
Recommendation Ineligible 1/ Unsupported 2/ Funds to be put
number to better use 3/
1B $281,196
2A 2,467
2B $9,724
2D $3,530
2G $50,237
3A 3,666 32,325
3B 4,807 10,183
3C _______ ______ 19,193
Total $58,710 $13,254 $345,364
1/ Ineligible costs are costs charged to a HUD-financed or HUD-insured program or activity
that the auditor believes are not allowable by law; contract; or federal, state, or local
policies or regulations.
2/ Unsupported costs are those costs charged to a HUD-financed or HUD-insured program
or activity when we cannot determine eligibility at the time of the audit. Unsupported
costs require a decision by HUD program officials. This decision, in addition to
obtaining supporting documentation, might involve a legal interpretation or clarification
of departmental policies and procedures.
3/ Recommendations that funds be put to better use are estimates of amounts that could be
used more efficiently if an Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommendation is
implemented. These amounts include reductions in outlays, deobligation of funds,
withdrawal of interest, costs not incurred by implementing recommended improvements,
avoidance of unnecessary expenditures noted in preaward reviews, and any other savings
that are specifically identified. In these instances, if HUD ensures that project-based
units and tenants are properly selected and the Authority establishes and implements
procedures to properly fund participant escrow accounts and transfers forfeited funds to
its account for program use, the annual subsidy of $281,196 for properly approved units,
the $2,467 due receiving authorities for port-out tenants, the $32,325 due current
participant escrow accounts, the $10,183 due graduated participants, and the $19,193 to
be credited to the Authority will represent funds to be put to better use.
22
Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
Evaluation of Auditee Comments
Evaluate each comment (as concisely as possible) referenced in the first part of
this appendix where the comments are presented.
23
Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
Evaluation of Auditee Comments
24
Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
Comment 1
Evaluation of Auditee Comments
Evaluate each comment (as concisely as possible) referenced in the first part of
this appendix where the comments are presented.
25
Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
Comment 2
Comment 3
26
Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
Comment 4
Evaluation of Aud
27
Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
Comment 5
Evaluation of Auditee Comments
Evaluate each comment (as concisely as possible) referenced in the first part of
28
OIG Evaluation of Auditee Comments
Comment 1 Authority officials determined rent reasonableness using a market rental analysis
prepared by an independent fee appraiser for the Authority’s first privatized
project; however, a similar analysis was not prepared for the second privatized
project. In addition, an independent entity approved by HUD neither established
the initial contract rents nor redetermined the rents at the annual anniversary of
the housing assistance payment contracts as required by 24 CFR (Code of Federal
Regulations) 983.59(b)(1).
Comment 2 While Authority officials stated that the Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator
procurement was conducted through the Program Coordinating Council, the
Authority could not provide records to document the procurement process as
required by 24 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 85.36(i)(11).
Comment 3 While the Authority obtained Board approval to extend the family self-sufficiency
coordinator contract each year the family self-sufficiency grant was funded, HUD
approval was not requested as required by HUD Handbook 7460.8 REV 2,
Chapter 10.8 C2 even though the contract exceeded five years.
Comment 4 The Authority’s proposed procedures are responsive to the recommendation but
given the planned quarterly sample, the Authority will need to ensure that its
sample size complies with the minimum sample size requirements specified by 24
CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 985.2(b).
Comment 5 Although Authority officials maintain that its Family Self-Sufficiency
Coordinator provided year end escrow update letters, these letters were not always
documented in the participants’ file. In addition, documented letters did not
always include all required information, such as the beginning balance, any
amount credited or deducted during the period, and interest earned on the account.
29
Appendix C
SCHEDULE OF PARTICIPANT ESCROW ACCOUNT
BALANCES AS OF NOVEMBER 28, 2008
Balance Balance
calculated by calculated by Amount Amount
Participant Authority HUD OIG underfunded overfunded
Active:
1 $ 5,501 $14,029 ($ 8,528)
2 135 1,340 (1,205)
3 1,774 11,708 (9,934)
4 3,995 8,360 (4,365)
5 19,064 18,526 538
6 315 1,166 (851)
7 117 3,544 (3,427)
8 1,287 4,991 (3,704)
9 1,678 0 1678
10 1,474 24 1,450
11 1,577 1,774 (197)
12 465 558 (93)
13 0 21 (21)
14 0 0
15 0 0
Total active $37,382 $66,041 ($32,325) $3,666
Inactive:
1@ $ 6,440 $1,633 $4,807
2* 7,001 7,330 ($329)
3* 749 0 749
4* 8,400 11,863 (3,463)
5@ 1,486 4,285 (2,799)
6@ 2,739 2,771 (32)
7@ 5,430 5,878 (448)
8 6,679 6,904 (225)
Total inactive $38,924 $40,664 ($7,296) $5,556
Grand total $76,306 $106,705 ($39,621) $9,222
* Escrow account forfeited.
@ Graduate
30
North Hempstead Housing Authority, Great Neck, New York, Had Weaknesses in Its Housing Choice Voucher and Family Self-Sufficiency Programs
Published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General on 2009-05-15.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)