We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing update its COVID-19 Resources for Homeowners webpage to include information on the various COVID-19 loss mitigation options servicers may offer homeowners with FHA-insured forward mortgages who are exiting COVID-19 forbearance.
2023-NY-0001 | January 30, 2023
HUD’s Communication to Homeowners About COVID-19 Policies
Housing
- Status2023-NY-0001-001-BOpenClosedClosed on May 26, 2023
- Status2023-NY-0001-001-COpenClosedClosed on May 26, 2023
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing update its COVID-19 Resources for Homeowners webpage to include details about the protections and loss mitigation options available for homeowners with FHA-insured reverse mortgages. This information could include (1) instructions for requesting an extension, (2) a statement notifying homeowners that they should not be charged late fees or penalties, (3) a chart showing the extension periods and related deadlines, and (4) information on the various loss mitigation options available for homeowners with FHA-insured reverse mortgages who are exiting a COVID-19 HECM extension.
- Status2023-NY-0001-001-DOpenClosedClosed on May 26, 2023
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing update its COVID-19 Resources for Homeowners webpage to include relevant information on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund.
- Status2023-NY-0001-001-EOpenClosedClosed on May 26, 2023
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing work with the Office of Public Affairs, Office of Housing Counseling, and other offices within HUD to develop a detailed communication strategy for how and when it plans to use websites, letters, and other methods to proactively notify homeowners about relief programs, protections, and loss mitigation options during disasters and national emergencies. The strategy could include processes to ensure that (1) key information is provided or made available in a timely manner and kept up-to-date, (2) information is communicated clearly and consistently across mediums, and is linked together when possible, and (3) letters are mailed to struggling homeowners when needed. It could also articulate the methods HUD will use to reach homeowners without internet access.
2023-FO-0004 | November 17, 2022
Audit of HUD’s Fiscal Years 2022 and 2021 Financial Statements
Chief Financial Officer
- Status2023-FO-0004-001-AOpenClosedClosed on July 31, 2023
Develop and issue a departmental grant accrual validation policy or update the existing grant accrual policy to include the validation process. The policy should include 1) specific control activities over the grant accrual validation and outline all of the specific roles and responsibilities; 2) a periodic review of the grant accrual validation to evaluate and reassess its continued relevance and control effectiveness, and ensure any changes are designed and implemented appropriately; and 3) a clear communication plan that requires formal and documented communications between appropriate program offices and OCFO to ensure the validation results are used to update the grant accrual methodology and subsequent period’s estimate, as appropriate.
- Status2023-FO-0004-001-BOpenClosedClosed on August 10, 2023
Develop and document internal procedures to ensure the OCFO’s responsibilities specified within the new or updated grant accrual validation policy are addressed.
- Status2023-FO-0004-001-COpenClosedClosed on August 10, 2023
Develop and implement procedures to ensure that planning for the CPD grant accrual validation is done early in the accounting cycle to allow for: • Sufficient resources to be available to perform the validation of the prior year grant accrual. • Validation efforts to start earlier to allow for follow-up on non-responsive grantees or grantees that provided incomplete information. • Materiality risk to be considered when planning and evaluating the CPD grant accrual validation.
- Status2023-FO-0004-001-DOpenClosedClosed on February 02, 2023
Revise CPD Validation Review Instructions to specify documentation requirements similar to those provided to the grantee and specify verification of dates for when the costs were incurred.
- Status2023-FO-0004-001-GOpenClosedClosed on July 11, 2024
As part of the validation process for CPD’s accrued grant liabilities, review CPD’s accrued grant liabilities estimation methodology to ensure that it is based on verifiable grantee supporting documentation and all assumptions and variables used for the grant accrual estimate were properly established, supported, and documented.
- Status2023-FO-0004-003-AOpenClosedClosed on March 14, 2024
Establish a formal policy addressing HUD’s federal awarding agency responsibilities under 2 CFR § 200.513(c). The policy should identify those involved in the process and their roles in addressing this single audit oversight function. The policy should also address how it will be carried out and documented.
2023-FO-0003 | November 16, 2022
Audit of FHA’s Fiscal Years 2022 and 2021 Financial Statements
Housing
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-AOpenClosedClosed on August 02, 2023
Establish change management and periodic reviews of control activities to ensure regulatory changes, such as Fiscal Service updates to the USSGL, are identified, analyzed, and assessed for potential needed changes to FHA’s established processes.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-BOpenClosedClosed on August 03, 2023
Establish and ensure appropriate and effective communication protocols between OFAR, FHA, and HUD’s Office of Budget to ensure (1) funding type is clearly indicated within the SF 132 and clear communications are made in differentiating between definite and indefinite borrowing authority, (2) legislative changes in FHA’s borrowing authority are vetted with OMB to ensure appropriate treatment, and (3) – draft SF-133s are reviewed and vetted with HUD and FHA’s budget officers prior to OFAR’s finalization with Treasury and OMB.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-COpenClosedClosed on June 07, 2023
Establish internal control procedures around the borrowings process to include verifying sufficient borrowing authority exists within the SF 132, prior to executing the borrowing request. Such verification should also be included as part of the borrowing review and approval controls.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-DOpenClosedClosed on September 27, 2023
Receive a final opinion from HUD’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s Appropriation Law Division on whether FHA was in violation of the Antideficiency Act.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-EOpenClosedClosed on August 10, 2023
Implement procedures to enhance the review of all journal entries recorded in the general ledger by requiring a two-level review that includes the review of source documents for the journal entry (for example, the OMB approved SF 132).
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-FOpenClosedClosed on June 07, 2023
Strengthen controls over the preparation of the SF 132 to the SF 133 reconciliation by preparing such reconciliations (1) first, with the unadjusted trial balance and later, with the adjusted trial balance and (2) at the fund level, with detailed documentation of differences, and with sufficient detailed explanations that describe the general ledger impact of the differences.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-GOpenClosedClosed on June 07, 2023
Perform a thorough review of the SF 132 to SF 133 reconciliations and work with Financial Analysis and Controls Division and other divisions and groups to resolve material reconciling items timely.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-HOpenClosedClosed on August 01, 2024
Coordinate with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing and HUD’s Office of the Chief Procurement Office (OCPO) in developing effective communication channels between FHA’s NSC and OFAR, and in developing effective monitoring controls to ensure the timely identification and remediation of issues, such as unprocessed documentation and inaccurate records, which may impact the balances reported within FHA’s financial statements.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-IOpenClosedClosed on August 01, 2024
Develop effective detective controls to ensure HECM loan receivables are accurate and complete, exist, and FHA appropriately holds or controls the rights to any collateral property in connection with the receivable.
- Status2023-FO-0003-001-JOpenClosedClosed on September 29, 2023
Develop and implement procedures to review the reasonableness of the amounts included in the Missing Documents Report before recording the reclassification entry. Include steps to be followed if the amounts in the report do not appear reasonable.