The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), assisted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Washington, DC, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida in a civil investigation of Financial Freedom Acquisition, a division of CIT Bank, N.A.  Financial Freedom was originally owned by IndyMac Bank until its failure in 2008, when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation…

We audited the multifamily project-based Section 8 program at the Beverly Place Apartments.  We selected Beverly Place because we received a complaint of potential fraud, suggesting that the complex did not have appropriate controls to ensure tenant and unit eligibility.  Our objective was to determine whether the owner administered its project-based Section 8 program in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development…

We audited the Weslaco Housing Authority, Weslaco, TX, because of issues noted in the Authority’s travel while reviewing its independent public accountant’s audited financial statements.  Our audit objective was to determine whether the Authority complied with Federal, State, and local requirements for its travel payments. The Authority paid its commissioners and employees for ineligible, unreasonable, unnecessary, and unsupported travel…

We audited the Loudoun County Department of Family Services’ Housing Choice Voucher program because (1) we received a complaint alleging housing quality standards problems with a housing unit participating in the County’s program, (2) the County had 688 vouchers and received more than $6.4 million in fiscal year 2016, and (3) we had not audited its program.  Our audit objective was to determine whether the County ensured that its Housing…

We audited the Yorkville Cooperative’s administration of its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-insured property and housing assistance contract based on a complaint alleging that the Cooperative (1) spent excessive amounts for maintenance and repairs and (2) did not recertify tenants in a timely manner.  Our objective was to determine whether the Cooperative administered its HUD-insured property and housing assistance…

In coordination with our Office of Investigations, we audited the Housing Authority of the City of Jasper, TX, because we received a complaint.  The complainant’s allegations included the executive director’s misuse of Authority vehicles and other issues.  Our audit objective was to determine whether the Authority operated its Public Housing programs in compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD)…

The Houston Housing Authority, Houston, TX, Needs To Improve Its Procurement and Financial Operations and Its Housing Choice Voucher Program Subsidy Determinations We audited the Houston Housing Authority’s public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs.  We selected the Authority for review in accordance with our audit plan and based upon risk analyses.  Our objectives were to determine whether the Authority (1) followed U.S.…

Based on the results of a prior audit, we reviewed Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS) and transactions with its related entity QuadCo Management Solutions, LLC (QuadCo) of Fort Worth, TX.  Our objectives were to determine whether FWHS (1) properly managed its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, specifically whether it improperly loaned $1.6 million in HUD funds to QuadCo; (2) paid management fees within HUD’s…

We audited Park View Care Center’s owner based on a referral from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Departmental Enforcement Center.  Our objective was to determine whether the property owner complied with the owner’s regulatory agreement and HUD requirements for the Section 232 program.  Park View’s owner did not comply with all the terms of its regulatory agreement and HUD requirements.  Specifically…

We audited the Harris County Community Services Department’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program based on our risk analysis and as part of our annual audit plan to review community planning and development funds.  The audit objective was to determine whether the Department properly administered and adequately documented its CDBG program activities in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)…

We reviewed the Malakoff Housing Authority, Malakoff, TX. The review was part of a joint initiative between the HUD Office of Inspector General’s Office of Audit and Office of Investigation. We completed the review and referred the former executive director’s improper use of Authority funds by hiring and contracting with family members to HUD’s Office of Program Enforcement for action under the Program Civil Fraud Remedies Act of 1986. On May…

We reviewed the City of Brackettville Housing Authority, Brackettville, TX. The review was part of a joint initiative between the HUD Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Office of Audit and Office of Investigation. We completed the review and referred the former executive director’s improper use of Authority funds for personal expenses to HUD’s Office of Program Enforcement for action under the Program Civil Fraud Remedies Act of 1986. On…

We audited the fees that the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority charged to its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing programs for central office cost center services based on issues identified during our prior audit of the Authority.  Our objective was to determine whether the Authority charged fees to its HUD housing programs for central office cost center services that were eligible, reasonable, and…

In accordance with the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) goal to ensure the integrity and soundness of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Public and Indian Housing programs and to follow up on weaknesses identified in another review, we reviewed the Housing Authority of the City of Pearsall, TX, to determine whether it followed Federal procurement and the State of Texas’ requirements when contracting for its interim…

We audited the Virginia Housing Development Authority’s implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Loss Mitigation program for loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  We conducted the audit because the Authority had the largest active portfolio and the largest number of delinquent loans for servicers located in Virginia as of October 31, 2014.  Our objectives were to determine…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General audited LoanCare, LLC, Virginia Beach, VA regarding its post-foreclosure activities as a single family master subservicer for the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).  Our objective was to determine whether LoanCare conveyed foreclosed-upon properties held on behalf of Ginnie Mae, filed claims with FHA, and remitted the funds to Ginnie…

We audited the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s public housing program based on a request from the Office of Public Housing in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Richmond, VA, field office.  The request was made after media inquiries noted possible fraud, waste, or abuse at the Authority.  Our audit objective was to determine whether the Authority complied with HUD procurement requirements.…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), assisted in an investigation into alleged violations by Reverse Mortgage Solutions, Inc., of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) regulations related to its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program.  The investigation began due to a qui tam filed under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. (United States Code) 3729, in the U.S. District Court for…

In accordance with our regional audit plan, we performed a number of reviews of very small and small housing agencies located in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Region 6 jurisdiction.  We worked with HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) and Departmental Enforcement Center and the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Office of Investigation to identify housing agencies with areas of concern. …

In accordance with our regional plan to review public housing programs and as part of our overall risk strategy, we reviewed the Housing Authority of the City of Victoria, TX.  Our objective was to determine whether the Authority operated its public housing and related grant programs in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requirements.  However, we limited our review to determining whether the…