Provide training to its staff to ensure that it is familiar with all HUD documentation and reporting requirements.

We recommend that the Acting Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing instruct Authority officials to implement policies and procedures to ensure accountability for travel and training costs and require the Authority to maintain adequate supporting documents for travel, training, health coverage waiver incentives, supplies, food, decorations, and any other costs charged to the Capital Fund and Operating Fund to ensure that costs were actually incurred, necessary, reasonable and allowable.

We recommend that the Acting Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing instruct Authority officials to obtain retroactive approval from HUD for the pending litigation related to issues with the elevators. If approval is not obtained, the Authority should withdraw the lawsuit.

We recommend that the Acting Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing instruct Authority officials to collect $7,164 in outstanding rent from the resident commissioner and if past-due rent is not paid, take appropriate legal action.

We recommend that the Acting Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing instruct Authority officials to develop and implement an appropriate policy for program income, including the proper use, accounting, and reporting of program income in accordance with the Federal definition and treatment of program income.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New York Office of Public Housing require Authority officials to reimburse the public housing program from non-Federal funds for $15,020 in ineligible expenditures for executive staff travel, food, beverages, and musical entertainment.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New York Office of Public Housing require Authority officials to provide supporting documentation to justify the $13,329 in unsupported expenditures charged to the public housing program. Any amount determined to be ineligible should be repaid from non-Federal funds to the public housing program’s operating account.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s New York Office of Public Housing require Authority officials to establish and implement procedures and effective financial controls to ensure that costs charged to the public housing program are properly incurred and comply with applicable regulations.

Support that $1,432,222 in central office cost center expenses allocated to the public housing program projects were eligible, necessary, and reasonable costs of the program. Costs that cannot be supported, or were unnecessary, unreasonable, or for ineligible program costs should be reimbursed to the program from non-Federal funds.

Implement adequate procedures and controls, including but not limited to developing a plan to manage its central office cost center expenses and determining an appropriate fee structure with HUD’s approval that would allow it to operate its program within HUD’s requirements.

Implement adequate procedures and controls, including but not limited to providing training to its staff to ensure that the Commission fully implements asset management and operates its program in accordance with HUD’s requirements.

Require public housing agencies to run the Enterprise Income Verification existing tenant search during the admission process and retain the results in the tenant file, which would avoid unnecessary costs to HUD’s subsidy programs, allowing an estimated $935,283 to be put to better use.

Require public housing agencies to report the program admission date to any multifamily property listed on the Enterprise Income Verification existing tenant search during the admission process.

Require public housing agencies to maintain support for any communication with a multifamily property listed on the Enterprise Income Verification existing tenant search.

Require HUD staff to review Enterprise Income Verification reports from the last 12-month period during onsite housing agency reviews to ensure that any multiple subsidies have been resolved.

Implement recommendations 1A through 1D to ensure that $2.24 million in housing assistance funds will be put to better use.