U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
September 22, 2014
MEMORANDUM NO:
2014-FW-1807
Memorandum
TO: Lorraine Walls
Director, Public Housing Programs Center, 6EPH
//signed//
FROM: Gerald Kirkland
Regional Inspector General for Audit, 6AGA
SUBJECT: The Beaumont Housing Authority, Beaumont, TX, Needs To Improve Controls
Over Its Housing Programs
INTRODUCTION
In accordance with our regional plan to review public housing programs, we reviewed the
Beaumont Housing Authority, Beaumont, TX. Our objective was to determine whether the
Authority’s controls over tenant and unit eligibility were sufficient to ensure that it administered
its low-rent public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs in accordance with U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations and guidance.
HUD Handbook 2000.06, REV-4, sets specific timeframes for management decisions on
recommended corrective actions. For each recommendation without a management decision,
please respond and provide status reports in accordance with the HUD Handbook. Please furnish
us copies of any correspondence or directives issued because of the audit.
METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE
The review generally covered the period January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2013. We
expanded the scope as necessary to meet the review objectives. We conducted the review at the
Authority’s administrative offices in Beaumont, TX, and the HUD field office and our office in
Houston, TX, from January through May 2014.
Office of Audit (Region 6)
819 Taylor Street, Suite 13A09, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone (817) 978-9309, Fax (817) 978-9316
Visit the Office of Inspector General Web site at www.hudoig.gov.
To accomplish our objectives, we performed the following:
• Reviewed relevant laws, regulations, contracts, and other HUD requirements and
guidance.
• Reviewed the Authority’s policies and procedures.
• Reviewed the Authority’s board meeting minutes for the review period.
• Selected and reviewed two samples of tenant files.
1. The first sample consisted of 23 tenant files, which included both the public housing
and Housing Choice Voucher programs. We reviewed the 23 files to determine
compliance with tenant and unit eligibility requirements. We selected a nonstatistical
sample of 10 public housing files from a universe of 1,027 public housing tenants and
13 Housing Choice Voucher tenant files from a universe of 2,230 Housing Choice
Voucher tenants who received assistance during the review period. We selected a
nonstatistical sample because we wanted to focus on certain items in the population
that were potentially problematic. Of the 23 sample items selected, 9 were selected
because they included repayment agreements between the tenant and the Authority.
We randomly selected the remaining 14 from a list of tenants provided by the
Authority.
2. The second sample consisted of 10 Housing Choice Voucher tenant files. We
reviewed the 10 files to determine whether the Authority provided vouchers for the
appropriate number of bedrooms based on family composition. Initially, we
compared the vouchers with the family composition for the 2,230 Housing Choice
Voucher tenants and determined that the Authority provided 85 families with
vouchers that exceeded the authorized number of bedrooms. From the 85 families,
we selected a nonstatistical sample of 10 families with high contract rents for review.
We selected a nonstatistical sample because we wanted to focus on items in the
population that were potentially problematic. During the review, we noted that the
Authority did not always use appropriate payment standards. We randomly selected
10 of 13 Housing Choice Voucher tenant files from the first sample and reviewed
them to ensure that the inappropriate payment standard use was not limited to tenants
whose voucher size exceeded their family size. Therefore, total testing for payment
standard use included 20 files.
• We used for our Performed LexisNexis reviews to search for potential conflicts of
interest and obtained independent background checks on the sample tenants.
• Analyzed data supporting tenant repayment agreements.
• Analyzed Authority records for subsidy standards and voucher sizes and conducted
limited rent recalculations to determine the effect of using incorrect standards and sizes.
• Interviewed selected HUD, Authority, and contractor staff.
• Performed driveby observations of two Authority-owned apartment complexes and two
scattered-site homes.
We used low rent and Housing Choice Voucher computer processed tenant lists to select our
samples. We did not rely on this data to base our conclusions, and therefore, did not assess the
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reliability of the data. We used computer processed aging reports to determine the number and
amounts of repayment agreements and their status. Since the reports were not voluminous, we
performed manual data validity tests and did not find any errors. We determined that the data
shown in the aging reports was sufficiently reliable for our review purposes.
BACKGROUND
The Authority was established in 1941 under the laws of the State of Texas to fulfill the need for
adequate affordable housing for low-income residents. The Authority is located at 1890 Laurel,
Beaumont, TX. During the review period, it owned 714 housing units. It managed 482 public
housing units and contracted with a management agent to manage the remaining 222 units at 3
mixed-finance projects. The Authority also administered 2,230 Housing Choice Voucher
program units.
The Authority is governed by a five-member board of commissioners appointed by the mayor of
Beaumont, who serve staggered multiyear terms. The board hires the executive director, who
serves as the board secretary and is responsible for the daily operations of the Authority.
HUD’s Public Housing Assessment Score rated the Authority as substandard management in
2011 and 2012, although the Authority was an overall standard performer at that time. There
was no rating during 2013.
RESULTS OF REVIEW
While the Authority generally had effective internal controls to ensure that public housing and
Housing Choice Voucher tenants and units were eligible for assistance, some of its controls need
to be strengthened. Specifically, (1) the Authority did not always use correct housing choice
voucher payment standards or require families to move to smaller units when reductions in
family composition warranted changes, (2) tenant files contained miscellaneous errors and were
missing documents, (3) the Authority did not have a form or formal process to identify tenant
conflicts of interest, and (4) the Authority did not consistently track and enforce its tenant
repayment agreements for public housing and housing choice vouchers or follow its policies for
reporting tenant fraud to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The Authority Did Not Always Use Correct Payment Standards or Reduce Voucher Sizes
When Reductions in Family Composition Warranted Changes
The Authority did not always use correct housing choice voucher payment standards when it
calculated housing assistance payments. In 14 of 20 cases reviewed, the Authority did not
follow HUD’s requirements in applying the correct payment standards, resulting in its paying
incorrect rent subsidies.
In addition, the Authority did not always adjust rent subsidies to the appropriate unit size when it
performed annual tenant recertifications. When changes in family composition warranted
changes to the number of authorized bedrooms, the Authority was required to adjust the families’
subsidies. In 7 of 10 cases reviewed, the Authority provided families subsidized units that did
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not have the appropriate number of bedrooms according to its occupancy plan and HUD
requirements.
These errors occurred because Authority staff was unfamiliar with HUD regulations regarding
subsidy and payment standards and the Authority lacked written procedures for applying the
payment standards. Further, the Authority’s internal monitoring, which should have detected
and prevented the improper payments, was not sufficient to do so.
As a result, the Authority overpaid $10,184 in rent subsidies for eight families and underpaid
$1,224 in rent subsidies for four families. If the Authority does not take corrective action, it will
overpay an additional $3,816 and underpay an additional $1,240, respectively, for these families
before their next annual recertification dates.
Housing Choice Voucher Tenant Files Contained Miscellaneous Errors and Were Missing
Documents
While the Authority generally correctly determined tenant and unit eligibility, 11 of 23 tenant
files reviewed had one or more of the following minor errors:
• 1 file did not contain sufficient documentation to verify that the Authority properly
determined tenant and unit eligibility during the first 2 years of the review period. The
Authority was unable to provide documents for 2011 and 2012 because it could not locate
one folder of a two-folder file.
• 4 files contained problems with criminal background checks. In 1 file, the Authority
could not provide copies of the required criminal background checks for 2011 and 2012.
3 files did not contain documentation of criminal background checks for 1 year; however,
the Authority was able to obtain a copy of 1 background check from other sources.
Further, 1 criminal background check was not approved by management.
• 6 files did not contain annual inspection reports for 1 year; however, the Authority was
able to obtain a copy of 4 of the inspection reports from other sources.
• 1 required annual inspection was not completed until after the recertification date and the
new lease had been signed.
• The required rent survey to assess the rental amount for 1 family was not performed until
5 months after the family moved into the unit.
• For 1 family, the Authority used an incorrect flat rent when it calculated the subsidy.
These errors occurred because the Authority’s procedures were inadequate to ensure that its staff
(1) appropriately maintained and filed pertinent documents in tenant files; (2) performed timely
inspections, rent surveys, and related reviews; and (3) properly calculated subsidies.
The Authority Did Not Have a Process To Identify Tenant Conflicts of Interest
The Authority’s internal policy states that the “PHA [public housing agency] must determine that
the applicant family is not a member officer or employee of the PHA who formulates policy or
influences decisions with respect to the Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) program.” It
further states, “Public officials or members of the local governing body or State legislators who
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exercise functions or responsibilities with respect to the Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher)
program are ineligible as well.” However, the Authority did not set up a process to identify such
tenants. According to Authority managers, the Authority intended to add a certification form to
its admission and recertification packages. In addition, the Authority should add a verification
process to ensure that the certifications are accurate. Although we did not identify any conflicts
of interest, the certifications and verifications should reduce the risk of such conflicts.
The Authority Did Not Consistently Enforce Its Tenant Repayment Agreements
The Authority executed repayment agreements with tenants who owed it money for special
claims (unpaid rent, damages, or vacancy loss) paid on their behalf by the Authority to landlords.
In addition, the Authority executed repayment agreements with tenants to reimburse the
Authority if it determined that a tenant was charged less rent than required by HUD’s rent
formula due to the tenant’s underreporting or failure to report income. In those cases, the tenant
was required to reimburse the Authority for the difference between the rent that should have
been paid and the rent that was charged. However, the Authority did not consistently track and
enforce the agreements. Appendix C is a summary of repayment agreements, including the
number of agreements, amounts owed, and amounts in arrears. Further, the Authority did not
refer potential fraud to HUD OIG in accordance with its policy.
Eight of Ten Public Housing Repayment Agreements Were Past Due
Eight of the ten active public housing repayment agreements that were on record as of December
31, 2013, were more than 30 days past due according to the Authority’s accounting system. The
eight repayment agreements totaled $5,137 and represented 96 percent of the total outstanding
account balances of $5,373. Further, the Authority was not initially able to identify all of its
public housing repayment agreements.
The Authority relied on its project managers and a management company to collect the payments
and update its computer system. If a tenant was behind on payments under the agreement, the
project managers and the management company were supposed to alert the Authority’s
administrative staff to begin enforcement action. However, the Authority did not ensure that the
delinquencies were reported.
Housing Choice Voucher Program Repayment Agreements Were Past Due
Thirty-two of the fifty-one active repayment agreements in the Housing Choice Voucher
program were in arrears with delinquent payments totaling $28,859. This amount represented 44
percent of the total outstanding balances of $65,396 as of December 31, 2013. Although some
tenants had made recent payments, their accounts remained delinquent. The 51 repayment
agreements were signed from March 2011 through October 2012. Management officials told us
that no agreements were executed for 2013 due to staffing shortages.
This condition occurred because the Authority did not have sufficient controls to track whether
the Housing Choice Voucher program tenants made timely payments. The only tracking tool for
Housing Choice Voucher repayments was an Excel spreadsheet that was maintained by a staff
member who left the Authority in November 2013. The spreadsheet was not updated between
August and December 2013. The Housing Choice Voucher program director kept copies of the
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tenant payments and updated the tracking tool in March 2014. Further, Housing Choice Voucher
staff members acknowledged that they had not always fully enforced the repayment agreements
due partly to tenant complaints of affordability.
As a result, funds due the Authority were not collected in a timely manner and could become
uncollectible. Further, the deterrent effect of requiring tenants to repay the funds or face
termination from the program for underreporting income is greatly reduced when the agreements
are not enforced.
The Authority Did Not Report Potential Fraud to OIG
The Authority’s Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy and Housing Choice Voucher
program Administrative Plan state that if a family owed an amount that equaled or exceeded
$2,500 as a result of program fraud, the Authority would refer the matter to OIG. We noted 21
tenant accounts with beginning balances ranging from $2,564 to $5,918, yet the Authority did
not report them to OIG. According to Authority management, it generally did not report a case if
the tenant agreed to execute a repayment agreement. The Authority should either enforce the
policy or change it.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend that the Director, Public and Indian Housing, Houston, TX, require the Authority to
1A. Develop and implement procedures to ensure that families are provided the appropriate
voucher based on family composition.
1B. Develop and implement procedures to ensure that it complies with the payment standards in
its Administrative Plan.
1C. Repay $10,184 in Housing Choice Voucher ineligible overpayments to its program.
Repayment must be from non-Federal funds.
1D. Repay $1,224 in Administrative Reserve funds to four families whose subsidies were
underpaid.
1E. Review all Housing Choice Voucher program families to determine whether their subsidies
are correct based on the payment standards and repay any overpayments to its program and
any underpayments to the affected families. Overpayments repaid to its Housing Choice
Voucher program must be made from non-Federal funds, while underpayments repaid to
tenants should be from the Authority’s Administrative Reserve.
1F. Develop and implement appropriate written procedures to reduce the risk of future
overpayments and underpayments in its Housing Choice Voucher program.
1G. Review its quality control system to determine why the tenant file errors went undetected and
implement appropriate controls to minimize the risk of future errors.
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1H. Implement procedures to identify tenant conflicts of interest, including requiring applicant
families to certify that they do not have any conflicts of interest and developing and
implementing a process to verify the certifications.
1I. Develop and implement a system to initiate, track, and enforce tenant repayment agreements
and payments under those agreements.
1J. Either enforce its policy to refer cases of tenant fraud to the OIG, or change the policy.
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APPENDIXES
Appendix A
SCHEDULE OF QUESTIONED COSTS
AND FUNDS TO BE PUT TO BETTER USE
Recommendation Funds to be put to better
Ineligible 1/
number use 2/
1C $10,184
1D $1,224
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/ Recommendations that funds be put to better use are estimates of amounts that could be
used more efficiently if an 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 this
instance, the amount represents funds that the Authority needs to remit to the tenants
because it overcharged them for their housing choice vouchers.
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Appendix B
AUDITEE COMMENTS AND OIG’S EVALUATION
Ref to OIG Evaluation Auditee Comments
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Comment 1
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OIG Evaluation of Auditee Comments
Comment 1 The Authority agreed with the audit memorandum and each of the
recommendations, and outlined the steps that it has taken or is taking to improve
the operation and control issues identified.
We acknowledge that the Authority said it has taken or is in the process of taking
action to improve the operations and controls. However, we have not evaluated
the improvements and do not have an opinion on their effectiveness. The
Authority will need to work with HUD to ensure that appropriate corrective
actions are taken.
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Appendix C
SUMMARY OF REPAYMENT AGREEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013
Program Active Outstanding Accounts Amount in Amount in
accounts balance more than 30 arrears Arrears
days past due (dollars) (percentage)
Public 10 $5,373 8 $5,137 96
housing
Housing 51 $65,396 32 $28,859 44
Choice
Voucher
Totals $70,769 $33,996
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The Beaumont Housing Authority, Beaumont, TX, Needs To Improve Controls Over Its Housing Programs
Published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General on 2014-09-22.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)