Develop and implement a fraud analytics strategy using available data, including but not limited to data and information collected during the grantee risk assessment and monitoring processes, to begin conducting data analyses to identify potential fraud risks for further review.
2022-FO-0801 | October 12, 2021
Fraud Risk Inventory for the CDBG and ESG CARES Act Funds
Community Planning and Development
- Status2022-FO-0801-001-FOpenClosed
2021-FW-1003 | September 29, 2021
The Bay City Housing Authority, Bay City, TX, Did Not Follow Requirements for Its Legal Services Contract, Administrative Costs, and Board Meetings
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2021-FW-1003-001-AOpenClosed$5,000Questioned 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.
Closed on March 23, 2023We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to reimburse its Public Housing Operating Fund $5,000 from non-Federal funds for the unrecovered remaining balance of the $20,000 that was paid to the attorney.
- Status2021-FW-1003-001-BOpenClosed$24,250Funds 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.
Closed on January 26, 2022We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to ensure that no Federal funds are used to pay the remaining legal services invoices totaling $24,250, which will result in these funds being put to better use.
- Status2021-FW-1003-001-COpenClosedClosed on January 26, 2022
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to update its policies to ensure the future commissioners obtain training on Texas’ Open Meetings Act requirements and HUD’s training for commissioners within 90 days after appointment, which will ensure that future commissioners understand the requirements for board meetings and procurement actions.
- Status2021-FW-1003-001-DOpenClosedClosed on February 08, 2023
We also recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing evaluate the reported actions the three commissioners took when procuring the legal services contract and, if warranted, pursue administrative sanctions or other corrective actions.
- Status2021-FW-1003-002-AOpenClosed$2,172Questioned 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.
Closed on March 23, 2023We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to Reimburse its low-rent operating fund $2,172 from non-Federal funds for the ineligible travel, training, and credit card expenditures.
- Status2021-FW-1003-002-BOpenClosed$4,469Questioned 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.
Closed on January 18, 2022We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to reimburse its low-rent operating fund $4,469 from its Housing Choice Voucher Program fund for the expenses that should have been paid from its Housing Choice Voucher Program fund.
- Status2021-FW-1003-002-COpenClosed$704Questioned 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.
Closed on March 23, 2023We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to reimburse its Housing Choice Voucher Program fund $704 from non-Federal funds for the ineligible travel and training expenditures.
- Status2021-FW-1003-002-DOpenClosed$31,327Questioned 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.
Closed on March 23, 2023We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to support or repay $31,327 to its low-rent operating fund from non-Federal funds for the various unsupported expenditures.
- Status2021-FW-1003-002-EOpenClosed$584Questioned 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.
Closed on March 23, 2023We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to support or repay $584 to its Housing Choice Voucher Program fund from non-Federal funds for the unsupported travel, training, and phone expenses paid with Housing Choice Voucher Program funds.
- Status2021-FW-1003-002-FOpenClosedClosed on October 24, 2022
We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to update and implement its policies and procedures, including creating a policy for recording expenses, a cost allocation plan, and a travel policy, to ensure that the Authority appropriately pays and accurately reports its costs.
- Status2021-FW-1003-003-AOpenClosedClosed on January 26, 2022
We recommend that the Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority’s new board to complete HUD’s “Lead the Way” online training and Texas’ Open Meetings Act training.
- Status2021-FW-1003-003-BOpenClosedClosed on December 23, 2022
We recommend that the Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority’s new board to review the board minutes during our audit period, determine which board decisions were invalid, and take action to address the invalid decisions.
- Status2021-FW-1003-003-COpenClosedClosed on September 23, 2022
We recommend that the Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority’s new board to revise its bylaws to agree with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
2021-CH-0001 | September 15, 2021
HUD Remains Challenged To Serve the Maximum Number of Eligible Families Due to Decreasing Utilization in the Housing Choice Voucher Program
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2021-CH-0001-001-AOpenClosedClosed on January 31, 2022
Establish and implement a plan to assist public housing agencies in optimizing leasing potential to maximize the number of assisted families and prevent additional vouchers from becoming unfunded. The plan should include but not be limited to (1) addressing the circumstances that prevent public housing agencies from leasing vouchers and assessing whether legislative, policy, or funding changes are needed to optimize voucher use and (2) establishing timeframes to lease vouchers for those public housing agencies that can lease vouchers and determining appropriate corrective actions for those public housing agencies that do not increase their leasing to prevent additional vouchers from becoming unfunded.
- Status2021-CH-0001-001-BOpenClosedPriorityPriority
We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
Closed on March 15, 2023Establish and implement a plan for the unused and unfunded vouchers to mitigate or prevent additional vouchers from becoming unused and unfunded […]
Corrective Action Taken
HUD established and implemented a plan for the unused and unfunded vouchers, aiming to mitigate or prevent additional vouchers from becoming unused and unfunded. PIH's plan included the following, among other actions:
- Determining the scope of HUD's statutory and regulatory authority to offset and reallocate vouchers.
- Issuing Office of Public and Indian Housing Notice 2020-29, titled Guidance for Running an Optimized Housing Choice Voucher Program.
- Continuing the work of HUD's landlord taskforce, engaging in listening sessions with major PHA industry groups, and conducting outreach to increase landlord participation in the HCV Program.
- Developing research by HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research on the best methods for adjusting fair market rents and addressing specific challenges in local communities to increase utilization in the HCV Program.
2021-KC-0003 | July 26, 2021
HUD’s Major Program Offices Can Improve Their Preparedness To Respond to Upcoming Natural Disasters
Community Planning and Development
- Status2021-KC-0003-003-AOpenClosedClosed on November 09, 2021
Establish and implement a process to ensure that CPD’s supervisory controls are effective related to its staff’s requirement to contact grantees following a disaster. This process should also integrate with other HUD program offices as appropriate to improve consistency with HUD’s overall disaster response and to ensure the effectiveness of disaster controls.
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2021-KC-0003-004-AOpenClosedClosed on July 26, 2022
Establish and implement a process to ensure that ONAP’s policies and procedures are effective. This process should address the identification of presidentially declared disaster areas and the requirement to contact disaster-affected housing entities. This process should also integrate with other HUD program offices as appropriate to improve consistency with HUD’s overall disaster response and to ensure the effectiveness of disaster controls.
- Status2021-KC-0003-005-AOpenClosedClosed on January 13, 2022
Improve the Office of Public Housing’s procedures with written guidance to ensure that its staff formally tracks outreach to PHAs.
2021-FW-1002 | June 21, 2021
The City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department, Houston, TX, Did Not Always Ensure That Its Program Followed Procurement Requirements
Community Planning and Development
- Status2021-FW-1002-001-AOpenClosed$9,736,636Funds 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.
Closed on October 13, 2022We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development require the City to provide documentation, including but not limited to showing that it (1) notified and allowed a response from bidders regarding the bidding and scoring processes; and (2) awarded home repair master agreement contracts without restriction and were in line with the bid evaluation requirements, or provide a documented re-evaluation of the procurement showing that it provided the best advantage to it and HUD, thereby putting the remaining $9,736,636 award amount to better use.