We audited the Harris County Housing Authority, Houston, TX, at the request of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fort Worth Office Director of Public and Indian Housing.  The request followed a series of news articles alleging mismanagement and extravagant spending at the Authority, the removal or replacement of various former managers and board of commissioners members, and concerns expressed by the new managers…

To meet the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) objective to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and at HUD's suggestion, we reviewed the Housing Authority of the City of Mineral Wells Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus (formula) Recovery Act funded activities. Specifically, our objectives were to determine whether the Authority followed the Recovery Act rules and regulations when obligating and…

We audited the Gonzales Housing Authority’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Public Housing Capital Fund formula grant because it met the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) most recent audit plan objective to contribute to the oversight objectives of the Recovery Act and the San Antonio Office of Public Housing recommended it for audit. Our objectives were to determine whether the Authority (1) properly obligated and spent its…

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, we audited the Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus (formula) Recovery Act-funded activities of the Corpus Christi Housing Authority in Corpus Christi, TX. Our objective was to determine whether the Authority expended Recovery Act funds in accordance with Recovery Act rules and regulations and submitted timely Recovery Act performance…

Based on a referral from the Fort Worth, TX Office of Audit, HUD sought civil penalties and assessments against a former employee of the Plano Housing Authority, Plano, TX, who participated in its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Homeownership Option Program. As the Authority’s HCV Homeownership manager, the employee was responsible for overseeing its homeownership program; thus, she was aware of or should have been aware of program requirements…

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Wichita Falls’ Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus (formula) Recovery Act-funded activities. Specifically, our objectives were to determine whether the Authority followed Recovery Act rules and regulations when obligating and expending its Recovery Act capital funds and…

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we audited the San Antonio Housing Authority’s (Authority) Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus Recovery Act-funded activities. We wanted to determine whether (1) the Authority obligated, expended, and reported on its Recovery Act funds within regulatory requirements and (2) its procurements were made in accordance with…

In accordance with our goal to review funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Port Arthur’s (Authority) Public Housing Capital Fund Stimulus (formula) Recovery Act Funded activities. We wanted to determine whether (1) Public Housing Capital Fund formula grant obligations made between January 30 and March 17, 2010, were appropriate, prudent, eligible…

As part of our strategic plan objective to assist the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) efforts to reduce rental assistance overpayments, we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Odessa’s (Authority) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (Voucher) and Section 8 New Construction (New Construction) programs. Based on review of the Authority’s financial statements, we also audited its transactions with one of its related…

We audited the Georgetown Housing Authority (Authority) due to a congressional request. Our objectives were to determine (1) whether the Authority and/or its nonprofit affiliates used U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding for recent developments and if so, whether they followed HUD regulations and (2) whether the Authority used HUD funds only for eligible expenditures. The Authority’s nonprofit related entities did…

As part of the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) directive to determine whether safeguards exist to ensure that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) funds are used for their intended purposes, we audited the Dallas Housing Authority’s (Authority) Recovery Act Public Housing Capital Fund formula grant (grant). Our objective was to evaluate the Authority’s capacity in the areas of internal controls, eligibility,…

We audited the Housing Authority of Travis County (Authority) due to several problem indicators including the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) rejecting the Authority’s 2005 and 2006 audited financial statements and noting that the Authority’s 2007 financial statements contained $4.1 million in interprogram transfers and a negative $579,783 administrative fee reserve. Our objectives were to determine (1) whether the…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) Office of Inspector General has issued a memorandum on the Travis County (Texas) Housing Authority’s (Authority) capacity to administer Recovery Act funds. The memorandum reports that the Authority lacks capacity to administer ARRA public housing capital funds. The OIG recommended that HUD increase monitoring and oversight of the Authority’s financial and program activities, and either…

As part of our strategic plan objective to assist the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) efforts to reduce rental assistance overpayments, we audited the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso's (Authority) Housing Choice Voucher program (program). The purpose of our audit was to determine whether the Authority properly administered its overall program. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether the Authority properly…

Based on a congressional request, we performed an audit of the Housing Authority City of El Paso's (Authority) procurement process and board of commissioners (board) activities. Our objectives were to determine whether the Authority properly followed procurement requirements and whether the executive director was selected in accordance with applicable procedures. The Authority did not follow its procurement policies or the U. S. Department of…

As part of our strategic plan objective to assist the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) efforts to reduce rental assistance overpayments, we audited the Dallas Housing Authority's (Authority) Housing Choice Voucher program (voucher program). Our objective was to determine whether the Authority properly administered its overall voucher program. The Authority acknowledged its longstanding weaknesses, as previously reported…

As part of our strategic plan objective to assist the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) efforts to reduce rental assistance overpayments, we audited the Dallas Housing Authority's (Authority) financial management of its Housing Choice Voucher program (voucher program). Our objective was to determine whether the Authority had the necessary financial controls in place to operate its voucher program in an efficient,…

Based on a hotline complaint, we audited the Housing Authority of the City of McKinney (Authority). Our objective was to determine whether the Authority's transactions with its affiliated nonprofit, the McKinney Housing Opportunity Corporation (Corporation), complied with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements. In violation of its annual contributions contract, the Authority inappropriately provided $915,487 in…

As part of our strategic plan objective to assist the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) efforts to reduce rental assistance overpayments, we audited the portability features of the Dallas Housing Authority's (Authority) Housing Choice Voucher program. Our objective was to determine whether the Authority administered portability in accordance with HUD requirements. The Authority mismanaged its portable vouchers and failed…