We conducted an annual limited scope review of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) compliance with Presidential Executive Order (EO) 13520, Reducing Improper Payments. HUD was in general compliance with EO 13520 annual reporting requirements. We concluded that HUD's ongoing efforts in mitigating the risks of improper payments in the rental housing assistance programs were progressing in a positive direction....

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's ability to comply with the requirements of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-127, which was revised in January 2009 and became effective on October 1, 2009. We conducted the audit as a component of the audit of HUD's consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2010 under the Chief Financial Officer's Act of 1990. We found that HUD did not fully...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Inspector General audited HUD’s oversight of public housing agencies’ Section 8 Project-Based Voucher programs (program). The audit was part of the activities in our fiscal year 2010 annual audit plan and our strategic plan to help HUD resolve its major management challenges. Our objective was to determine whether HUD had adequate oversight of public housing agencies’...

In this report, we provide additional details to supplement our Report on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Fiscal Years 20010 and 2009 Financial Statements, which is included in HUD's Fiscal Year 2010 Agency Financial Report. In OIG's opinion, based on our audit and the reports of other auditors, the financial statements were presented fairly, in all material respects, in conformity with accounting...

We performed an audit of the selection of management and marketing contractors for single-family properties owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This audit was initiated based on a complaint to our hotline alleging possible mismanagement, political influence, and violations of law in the procurement strategy used to select firms for the third generation management and marketing (M&M III) contracts. Our...

This report presents the results Clifton Gunderson's (CG) audit of the fiscal year 2010 and 2009 financial statements of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The report on FHA's financial statements, dated November 3, 2010 includes an unqualified opinion on FHA's financial statements. The report contains two significant deficiencies in FHA's internal controls and one reportable instance of noncompliance with laws and...

This report presents the results of Carmichael, Brasher, Tuvell and Company's (CBTC) audit of the Government National Mortgage Association's (Ginnie Mae) financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. In CBTC's opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, Ginnie Mae's financial position as of September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 and the results of its...

HUD OIG conducted an evaluation of HUD's Departmental Enforcement Center (DEC), specifically, the Compliance Division. We wanted to know whether DEC processed suspension and debarment referrals in a timely manner. We also wanted to identify ways to improve case management for suspensions and debarments. Between October 1, 2006, and December 9, 2009, the Compliance Division received a total of 978 suspension and/or debarment referrals (cases)...

HUD OIG performed an audit of Nationwide Home Loans, Inc. (Nationwide), a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved direct endorsement lender located in Miami, Florida. The review was performed based on the lender’s high default rates. The purpose of the audit was to determine whether the lender followed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requirements when (1) originating and underwriting loans and (2)...

HUD OIG performed an audit of Nationwide Home Loans, Inc. (Nationwide), a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved direct endorsement lender located in Miami, Florida. The review was performed based on the lender’s high default rates. The purpose of the audit was to determine whether the lender followed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requirements when (1) originating and underwriting loans and (2)...

We audited the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP)-Ike as part of our ongoing commitment to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to implement oversight of Disaster Recovery funds to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. HUD used local public housing agencies (housing agencies) to administer DHAP-Ike rental assistance and provide case management services to families affected by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Our audit...

We audited the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer’s (procurement office) procedures for administering completed and expired contracts in compliance with applicable regulations. Our objective was to determine whether the procurement office performed contract closeout procedures on completed and expired contracts in a timely manner. We expanded our objective to determine whether the contract files were complete and properly maintained. We...

HUD OIG audited the Community Development Block Grant program (program) administered by the City of Deerfield Beach, FL (City). The objective of the audit was to determine whether the City administered its program in accordance with applicable U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD requirements. We selected the City for review because it had come under increased scrutiny when various newspaper articles and reviews highlighted...

We performed an audit of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) grant program for Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration (LHRD). Our audit was initiated based on a complaint to the hotline alleging that the managers of OHHLHC changed the scores assigned by the application review panel to award grants to applicants that were not ranked high enough to receive funding under the 2009 NOFA. Our objective was to determine...

HUD OIG audited the Community Development Block Grant program (program) administered by the City of Deerfield Beach, FL (City). The objective of the audit was to determine whether the City administered its program in accordance with applicable U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD requirements. We selected the City for review because it had come under increased scrutiny when various newspaper articles and reviews highlighted...

We evaluated HUD’s Credit Watch Termination Initiative (Credit Watch) to determine whether it was used effectively to deter deficiencies and substandard performance in Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family lending.  We also sought to determine whether Credit Watch could be manipulated, allowing lenders to avoid HUD’s scrutiny and program sanctions.  While we noted a past instance in which a lender manipulated the Credit...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Inspector General audited HUD’s Office of Lender Activities and Program Compliance, Quality Assurance Division. We did this review because during a prior audit, we saw instances in which indemnification agreements were not obtained from lenders under certain circumstances. Our objective was to determine whether the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD...

HUD OIG conducted this audit based on a confidential complaint submitted through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) hotline. The complaint alleged several improprieties involving the County’s NSP and HOME programs. Our objectives were to determine whether the County (1) complied with requirements in the procurement, award, and execution of its NSP administrative contract and (2)...

We audited HUD’s internal control structure for ensuring that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) recipient data are reported completely, accurately, and in a timely manner. We also determined whether material omissions and significant errors were identified correctly. We conducted this audit as part of a joint effort among the Inspector General community under oversight of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency...

We completed an audit of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Single Family Program Development Office’s automated underwriting process. We assessed whether HUD had in place appropriate and effective management controls over its automated underwriting process. The audit was performed as part of the HUD Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) fiscal year 2010 annual audit plan and supported the audit plan objective to contribute...