Ensure that its staff is appropriately trained and familiar with HUD’s requirements and its program action plan regarding the administration of its program to ensure that (1) participants’ contracts of participation and individual training and services plans are properly updated and contain the necessary signatures; (2) changes in participants’ files are properly identified and notated; and (3) participants are notified of changes in their monthly escrow deposits, total escrow balances, or both.
Publication Report
2017-CH-1002 | July 07, 2017
The Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, Youngstown, OH, Did Not Always Comply With HUD’s and Its Own Requirements Regarding the Administration of Its Housing Choice Voucher Program
We audited the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher program based on the activities included in our 2016 annual audit plan and our analysis of risk factors related to the public housing agencies in Region 5’s jurisdiction.… moreRelated Recommendations
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-AOpenClosedClosed on November 18, 2019$58,457.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Reconcile the $58,457 difference among its system report and subsidiary ledger and the information reported in HUD’s system ($1,944 in monthly escrow deposits $521 difference in monthly escrow deposits between HUD’s system and the amount reported in the Voucher Management system the average difference of $55,992 in total escrow account balances) to ensure that the monthly escrow deposits and total escrow balances are appropriately reported in HUD’s system and provide the supporting documentation to HUD.
Reconcile the current program participants and related information in its internal systems with the current participants listed in HUD’s systems.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-COpenClosedClosed on November 18, 2019$4,684.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Transfer $4,684 from its Housing Choice Voucher program account to its program account for the 12 participants with underfunded escrows.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-DOpenClosedClosed on December 10, 2019$17,266.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Support or transfer $17,266 from its program account to its Housing Choice Voucher program for the 11 unsupported escrow calculations cited in this finding.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-EOpenClosedClosed on November 18, 2019$7,574.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Transfer $7,574 from its program account to its Housing Choice Voucher program account for the five participants with overfunded escrows.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-FOpenClosedClosed on December 10, 2019$6,839.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Support or reimburse its Housing Choice Voucher program $6,839 from non-Federal funds for the one unsupported interim disbursement and five unsupported graduation disbursements cited in this finding.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-GOpenClosedClosed on December 10, 2019$23,475.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Reimburse its Housing Choice Voucher program $23,475 from non-Federal funds for the two ineligible interim and three ineligible graduation disbursements cited in this finding.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-HOpenClosedClosed on December 03, 2019$7,076.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Reimburse two participants $7,076 from its Housing Choice Voucher program account for the underfunded graduation payments cited in this finding.
Ensure that it obtains a separate interest-bearing depository account for its program participants’ escrow funds in accordance with HUD’s requirements.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-KOpenClosedClosed on November 02, 2018$127,544.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Develop and implement procedures and controls to ensure that (1) documentation required by HUD and its own action plan is correctly completed, documented, and updated; (2) escrow account balances are correctly calculated and disbursed; and (3) escrow accounts and disbursements are fully supported to ensure that $127,544 in coordinator grant funds is appropriately used over the next year.
- Status2017-CH-1002-001-LOpenClosedClosed on March 28, 2019$387,507.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Determine the amount of the $387,507 in coordinator grant funds that was appropriately earned by the Authority for meeting requirements. The funds that are determined to be unearned should be reimbursed to HUD from non-Federal funds.
Review the Authority’s graduate documentation and adjust the Authority’s minimum program size as necessary.
Review the Authority’s Section Eight Management Assessment Program scores for the Family Self-Sufficiency program and adjust as necessary.
Provide technical assistance and guidance to the Authority to ensure that it properly administers its Family Self-Sufficiency program.
- Status2017-CH-1002-002-AOpenClosedClosed on December 10, 2019$34,666.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Reimburse its program $34,666 from non-Federal funds ($21,990 $12,676 in administrative fees) for the overpayment of housing assistance due to inappropriate calculations of housing assistance.
- Status2017-CH-1002-002-BOpenClosedClosed on November 18, 2019$1,265.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Reimburse the appropriate households $1,265 from program funds for the underpayment of housing assistance due to inappropriate calculations.
- Status2017-CH-1002-002-COpenClosedClosed on December 10, 2019$9,644.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Pursue collection from the applicable households or reimburse its program $9,644 from non-Federal funds for the overpayment of housing assistance due to unreported or underreported income.
- Status2017-CH-1002-002-DOpenClosedClosed on December 10, 2019$1,666.00Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A] resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B] that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost]; or (C] that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Support or reimburse its program $1,666 from non-Federal funds for the unsupported payments of housing assistance cited in this finding.
- Status2017-CH-1002-002-EOpenClosedClosed on November 20, 2018$322,550.00Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure that (1) housing assistance payments are appropriately calculated and supported, (2) repayment agreements are created to recover overpaid housing assistance when unreported income is discovered during the examination process, and (3) annual reexaminations are completed in a timely manner to ensure that $322,550 in program funds is appropriately used for future payments.