We recommend that Director of the Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to Reimburse its low-rent operating fund $2,172 from non-Federal funds for the ineligible travel, training, and credit card expenditures.

We also recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing evaluate the reported actions the three commissioners took when procuring the legal services contract and, if warranted, pursue administrative sanctions or other corrective actions.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to update its policies to ensure the future commissioners obtain training on Texas’ Open Meetings Act requirements and HUD’s training for commissioners within 90 days after appointment, which will ensure Read More

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to ensure that no Federal funds are used to pay the remaining legal services invoices totaling $24,250, which will result in these funds being put to better use.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Houston Office of Public Housing require the Authority to reimburse its Public Housing Operating Fund $5,000 from non-Federal funds for the unrecovered remaining balance of the $20,000 that was paid to the attorney.

Work with the Authority to develop a plan to ensure that a third party reviews the initial tenant certifications and annual recertifications with an actual or potential conflict of interest.

Require the Authority to address actual or potential conflict-of-interest relationships in its Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy.

Monitor the Authority after the recommended training and tenant file reviews are complete to ensure that the executive director understands and properly implements public housing occupancy requirements.

Require the Authority to conduct a 100 percent review of its tenant files to ensure that tenants’ rents are accurate and the proper income, asset, and medical expenses are complete and documented in the tenant files.

Require the Authority to develop and implement detailed policies and procedures to address collections, tracking, and use of its laundry machine revenue.

Monitor the Authority to ensure that initial tenant certifications and annual recertifications with an actual or potential conflict of interest are appropriately handled.

Ensure that the Authority’s board of commissioners and staff receive HUD-approved training on conflicts of interest.

Require the Authority’s executive director to obtain appropriate training regarding public housing occupancy requirements.

Monitor the Authority to ensure compliance with its new laundry machine revenue policies.

Require the Authority to determine how much laundry machine revenue was not deposited into its accounts and used for eligible purposes and reimburse its program from non-Federal funds.

Ensure that its executive director obtains appropriate procurement training.

Work with the Authority to develop a formalized process, such as a checklist, to use when conducting initial certifications and annual recertifications, which would help to ensure that it follows HUD requirements for its public housing program.

Provide adequate documentation to support that the $71,034 spent for improperly procured goods and services was spent at the most competitive prices. For any amounts not supported, it should reimburse its program from non-Federal funds.

Develop and implement detailed operating procedures, including checklists, which fully implement its procurement policy and HUD requirements.

Provide adequate documentation to support $15,280 spent for maintenance activities. For any amounts not supported, it should reimburse its program from non-Federal funds.