We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to support or repay its program from non-Federal funds $1,020,121 for payments made (1) for work that the contractor(s) did not perform and excessive material costs; (2) that lacked adequate supporting documentation for change orders, independent cost estimates, and invoice documentation; or (3) for the 10 HOME-funded rehabilitated homes not brought up to code.
Publication Report
2018-FW-1001 | January 28, 2018
Jefferson Parish, Jefferson, LA, Did Not Always Properly Administer Its Rehabilitation Program
We audited the Jefferson Parish Community Development Department in response to a citizen complaint and in accordance with our annual audit plan to review the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) community planning and development… moreRelated Recommendations
Community Planning and Development
- Status2018-FW-1001-001-AOpenClosedClosed on July 20, 2020$216,663.00Funds 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.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to develop and implement a HUD-approved written plan and procedures and take actions that will correct and prevent the deficiencies noted in the finding, improve program administration effectiveness, strengthen the control environment, ensure compliance with HUD regulations and its own policies and procedures, and ensure that it has the continuing capacity to carry out its HOME program activities as required. Implementing this recommendation should ensure that the $216,663 in HOME funding allocated for the Parish’s property rehabilitation program is better used.
- Status2018-FW-1001-001-BOpenClosedClosed on February 08, 2022$9,849.00Questioned 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.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to Repay its program from non-Federal funds for $9,849 in payments made to contractors for duplicate payments and overpayments.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to establish and implement desk and onsite monitoring policies and procedures to ensure that documentation is maintained to support that (1) adequate supporting documentation for payments is filed, tracked, and maintained; (2) the necessity for all change orders is verified and reasonableness of the costs is assessed; (3) cost estimates are completed before the bidding process; (4) work is completed before pay requests are approved and payments are made to the contractor; and (5) contractors are properly monitored throughout the rehabilitation process, including progress and final inspections.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to correct the property deficiencies identified during the onsite inspections related to the 20 contracts as applicable.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to inspect the remaining 33 homes for compliance with the contract specifications and HUD requirements and correct deficiencies as applicable.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to establish and implement complaint policies and procedures and ensure that its staff is aware of the procedures to ensure that participant complaints are properly handled in a timely manner.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to review and adjust staffing levels as needed to ensure adequate coverage.
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New Orleans Office of Community Planning and Development require the Parish to provide training to staff members to ensure that they are aware of policies and procedures and their responsibilities related to expenditures, monitoring, and addressing participant complaints.