The pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has dramatically impacted Americans and our economy. Congress has provided over $12 billion through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 and over $10 billion through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist homeowners, renters, landlords, impacted communities, and individuals.
Early in the pandemic, the HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) developed a framework of five key oversight areas to help us prioritize timely COVID-19 related work, and have since initiated and completed several audits, evaluations, investigative initiatives, and other innovative reviews in alignment with these oversight areas.
HUD OIG we will continue to conduct oversight of HUD’s management of programs intended to help those impacted by the pandemic to ensure those programs are not undermined by fraud, waste, or abuse.
Publication Views
HUD Can Improve Oversight of Its Temporary Endorsement Policy for Loans in COVID-19 Forbearance
We audited the U.S.
Fraud Risk Inventory for the Tenant- and Project-Based Rental Assistance, HOME, and Operating Fund Programs’ CARES and ARP Act Funds
In coordination with the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, we conducted an audit to identify potential fraud schemes that could affect HUD’s pandemic funds. We reviewed the funds appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), HOME Investment Partnerships,
Challenges Faced by Section 232 Nursing Homes During the Pandemic
We conducted a limited review of nursing home owners to identify their operational challenges and needs of nursing homes in responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our objective was to determine the biggest challenges operators of Section 232 nursing home facilities face related to the COVID-19 pandemic and whether nursing homes are prepared
HUD Did Not Always Comply With Its Internal Guide When Transitioning Offices From Mandatory to Maximum Telework During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We audited the U.S.
FHA Borrowers Did Not Always Properly Receive COVID-19 Forbearances From Their Loan Servicers
The U.S.
Public Housing Agencies’ Experiences and Challenges Regarding the Administration of HUD’s CARES Act Funds
We conducted a limited review of the U.S.
Lessons Learned and Key Considerations From Prior Audits and Evaluations of the CDBG Disaster Recovery Program
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act made available $5 billion in supplemental CDBG funding for grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic (CDBG-CV grants). Because of similarities, we reviewed 132 CDBG-DR program audits and evaluations issued from May 2002 to March 2020 to summarize the common CDBG-DR program weaknesses and risks
Fraud Risk Inventory for the CDBG and ESG CARES Act Funds
We conducted this engagement in coordination with the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) to gain an understanding of the U.S.
COVID-19 Forbearance Data in HUD’s Single Family Default Monitoring System Generally Agreed With Information Maintained by Loan Servicers
We audited lender reporting of COVID-19 forbearances for Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loans in the Single Family Default Monitoring System (SFDMS). We compared default reporting data from SFDMS to loan data provided by five sampled servicing lenders that serviced a third of the FHA single-family portfolio.
Limited Review of HUD’s Office of Chief Procurement Officer Pandemic-Related Procurement Accommodations and Challenges
We conducted a limited review of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of the Chief Procurement Officer’s (OCPO) administration of five procurement activities under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act and related Office of Management and Budget memorandums gave HUD flexibility in modifying existing contracts and required rapid delivery of CARES Act funds.
HUD Did Not Fully Comply With the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019
We audited the U.S.
HUD’s Use of, Accounting for, and Reporting on CARES Act Funding
As of March 31, 2021, HUD had disbursed $3.4 billion and obligated $7.4 billion of its $12.4 billion in CARES Act funds. Meanwhile, HUD has more than $1.6 billion in CARES Act funds unobligated. These funds have various expiration dates. For example, HUD has until September 30, 2021, to obligate $28 million of the remaining management and administration CARES Act funds and until September 30, 2022, to
HUD and its CDBG-DR grantees have experienced challenges related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The U.S.
Key Considerations From Prior Audits of the Single Family Default Monitoring System and the Partial Claim Loss Mitigation Option
We prepared this memorandum to provide the Office of Housing at the U.S.
Interim Audit Memorandum – The HUD Single Family Insurance Operations Division Should Take Additional Action To Inform Homeowners of Changes to Its FHA Refund Process Resulting From the COVID-19 Pandemic
We initiated an audit of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) oversight of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) refunds to determine whether HUD appropriately, effectively, and efficiently tracked, monitored, and issued FHA refunds owed to homeowners with terminated loans.
Drawdown Levels for the Initial Round of CARES Act Emergency Solutions Grants Were Minimal
We conducted this limited review to identify the U.S.
Opportunities Exist To Improve HUD’s Communication to Renters About Eviction Protections
As part of the Office of Inspector General’s effort to provide oversight of the U.S.