We audited AmericaHomeKey, Inc., a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) direct endorsement lender in Dallas, TX. We selected AmericaHomeKey for audit because during our review of Gold Financial Services (2011-FW-1002), an AmericaHomeKey branch office, we identified three loans originated by one of its underwriters that contained underwriting and valuation deficiencies. Our objective was to determine whether AmericaHomeKey originated...

As a spinoff of a prior assignment and as part of our annual audit plan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General audited the Lafayette Parish Housing Authority’s (Authority) Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus Recovery Act funded grant. Our objective was to determine whether the Authority followed HUD and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requirements. Specifically, we wanted to...

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Wichita Falls’ Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus (formula) Recovery Act-funded activities. Specifically, our objectives were to determine whether the Authority followed Recovery Act rules and regulations when obligating and expending its Recovery Act capital funds and...

We reviewed the City of Beaumont’s (City) Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (Program). Our objective was to determine whether the City ensured that its Program complied with Recovery Act and U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program expenditure and reporting requirements. The City should strengthen its controls over its Program to better comply with Recovery Act requirements. Specifically, it should...

In response to a congressional and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) request to review allegations of corruption and mismanagement, we audited the Lafayette Parish Housing Authority’s (Authority) operations of its (1) public housing program and (2) Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP). Our objective was to determine whether the Authority operated in accordance with HUD’s and other requirements. Specifically, we...

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we audited the San Antonio Housing Authority’s (Authority) Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus Recovery Act-funded activities. We wanted to determine whether (1) the Authority obligated, expended, and reported on its Recovery Act funds within regulatory requirements and (2) its procurements were made in accordance with...

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we reviewed the City of Houston’s (City) Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (Homeless Program). Our objective was to determine whether the City ensured that its Homeless Program complied with Recovery Act and U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) laws, regulations, and requirements....

We audited the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (Authority), a $29.7 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP 2) grantee. We initiated the audit as part of the HUD Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) annual audit plan to review programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Our objective was to determine whether the Authority’s use of the NSP 2 funding...

We audited the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Supplemental II Disaster Recovery program funds, administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Specifically, we wanted to determine whether TDHCA monitored its program management firm (the Firm) to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulations and to ensure costs reimbursed for the Housing...

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Port Arthur’s (Authority) Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus (formula) Recovery Act Funded activities. We wanted to determine whether (1) Public Housing Capital Fund formula grant obligations made between January 30 and March 17, 2010, were appropriate, prudent, eligible...

We audited the Housing Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish's (Authority) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) Public Housing Capital Fund obligations. Our audit objective was to determine whether the Authority met HUD and Recovery Act requirements when obligating and expending funds it received under the Recovery Act. We initiated the audit as part of our audit plan and goal to review funds provided under the...

We performed an audit of WR Starkey Mortgage, LLP (WR Starkey), located in Plano, TX, a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) direct endorsement lender. We selected WR Starkey for audit because of its high default rate of nearly 4.5 percent as compared to the average default rate for all FHA loans in Fort Worth, TX, of 4.1 percent. Our objective was to determine whether WR Starkey complied with U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Inspector General audited ACORN Associates, Inc.’s (Associates) use of its fiscal years 2004 and 2005 Lead Elimination Action Program (program) grant funds. Associates was selected for audit based upon a request from HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control and multiple congressional requests. Our objective was to determine whether Associates expended program...

As part of our annual audit plan objective of improving the integrity of single-family insurance programs, we reviewed the independent public accountant’s working papers and the financial statements of Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corporation (Allied) for fiscal year 2009. The objective of the review was to determine whether Allied’s fiscal year 2009 financial statements submitted to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) accurately reported...

We audited the Jefferson Parish Housing Authority as part of our annual audit plan to review public housing programs. Our objective was to determine whether the Authority operated in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) and other requirements. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether the Authority (1) complied with procurement requirements and (2) ensured that its expenditures were eligible and...

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) performed an audit of Gold Financial Services, Inc. (Gold Financial), a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) direct endorsement lender and a branch of AmericaHomeKey, Inc., in San Antonio, TX. We selected Gold Financial for audit because its default rate was almost 10 percent for the audit period while the average default rate in the San Antonio area...

We audited the Housing Authority of the City of Shreveport (Authority) as part of our annual audit plan to review American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) funds. Our objective was to determine whether obligations the Authority made between January 30 and March 17, 2010, were appropriate, prudent, eligible, and supported and whether procurements were made in accordance with requirements. We determined that the Authority...

We reviewed 20 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans Alethes, LLC (Alethes), underwrote as a FHA direct endorser. Our review objective was to determine whether Alethes underwrote the 20 loans in accordance with FHA requirements. This review was part of Operation Watchdog, an Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiative to review the underwriting of 15 direct endorsement lenders, at the suggestion of the FHA Commissioner. The Commissioner...

As part of our strategic plan objective to assist the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) efforts to reduce rental assistance overpayments, we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Odessa’s (Authority) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (Voucher) and Section 8 New Construction (New Construction) programs. Based on review of the Authority’s financial statements, we also audited its transactions with one of its related...

We reviewed 19 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans Americare Investment Group (Americare) underwrote as an FHA direct endorsement lender. Our review objective was to determine whether Americare underwrote the 19 loans in accordance with FHA requirements. This review is part of Operation Watchdog, an Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiative to review the underwriting of 15 direct endorsement lenders at the suggestion of the FHA...