Supervisor and Employee of City of Trenton Bureau of Environmental Health Charged with Receiving Illegal Overtime Payments
TRENTON, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man and a Mercer County, New Jersey, man made their initial court appearances today on charges of participating in a conspiracy to obtain overtime payments from the city of Trenton for work they did not perform, by fraudulently inflating the overtime Read More
September 09, 2024
News
Press Release
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Reporting of Elevated Blood Lead Levels in HUD-Assisted Multifamily Properties Receiving Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance
HUD OIG is conducting an evaluation of HUD’s reporting of elevated blood lead levels (EBLL) in HUD-assisted Multifamily properties receiving Section 8 project-based rental assistance. Our objective is to (1) determine how the Office of Multifamily Housing tracks and reports EBLL cases in HUD- Read More
September 01, 2024
Work Start Notification
#2024-OE-0005
New York City Department of Social Services ESG CARES Act Improper Payments
HUD OIG is auditing a New York-based grantee's Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG-CV) program. The CARES Act provided nearly $4 billion in special ESG funds to grantees to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic and Read More
September 01, 2024
Work Start Notification
#LA 24 0017
Clarksville Felon Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Over $125,000 in Federal Benefits After Prior Conviction for a Similar Scheme
NEW ALBANY—Willie D. Watts, 42, of Clarksville, has been sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to theft of federal benefits from the Section 8 Housing Voucher, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and Social Security Read More
August 19, 2024
News
Press Release
City of Los Angeles Agrees to Pay $38.2M to Resolve False Claims Act Suit for Alleged Misuse of Department of Housing and Urban Development Grant Funds
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $38.2 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly failed to meet federal accessibility requirements when it sought and used Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds for multifamily affordable housing.HUD provides grant funds to Los Read More
August 26, 2024
News
Press Release
Quincy Landlord Agrees to $15,200 Settlement for False Claims Act Violations
BOSTON – A Quincy landlord has agreed to a settlement for a False Claims Act violation. Mario Bianco, 79, of Quincy has agreed to pay a $15,200 settlement for submitting false claims to the government after receiving side payments in excess of approved monthly rent from a low-income tenant Read More
August 26, 2024
News
Press Release
The Boston Housing Authority Did Not Always Comply with HUD’s Requirements for Its Housing Choice Voucher Program Units
HUD OIG found that the Authority did not always ensure that its HCV Program units met HUD’s housing quality standards and did not consistently stop payments to owners who failed to correct unit deficiencies. We also found the Authority did not comply with HUD’s monitoring and data collection Read More
August 27, 2024
News
Press Release
The Boston Housing Authority Did Not Always Comply With HUD’s Requirements for Its Housing Choice Voucher Program Units
We audited the Boston Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. We initiated this audit based upon our assessment of risks associated with public housing agencies' HCV Program units, as well as recent media attention and public concern about the conditions of subsidized Read More
August 23, 2024
Report
#2024-CH-1004
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles Did Not Adequately Manage Lead-Based Paint in Its Public Housing
HUD OIG found that the Authority did not adequately manage lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in its public housing, including failing to perform timely lead‐based paint visual inspections in an estimated 4,762 units.
August 20, 2024
News
Press Release
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles Did Not Adequately Manage Lead-Based Paint in Its Public Housing Units
We audited the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles’ management of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in its public housing units. We selected the Authority based on our assessment of the risks of lead‐based paint in public housing agencies’ (PHA) housing developments, Read More
August 20, 2024
Report
#2024-CH-1003
Challenges FHA Borrowers Face in Foreclosure
HUD OIG is auditing barriers impacting borrowers who were attempting to avoid FHA foreclosures. There were 85,000 FHA foreclosures started in 2022 following the conclusion of the COVID-19 foreclosure moratorium. Our audit objective is to assess the challenges facing FHA borrowers trying to avoid Read More
July 01, 2024
Work Start Notification
#KC 24 0008
HUD Oversight of Lead Grants
We are auditing HUD’s oversight of Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control (LBPHC) and Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration (LHRD) grant programs. Between fiscal years 2020 to 2024, HUD committed more than $200 million in grant funds as part of addressing lead based in targeted communities. Our objectives Read More
August 01, 2024
Work Start Notification
#LA 24 0016
Justice Department Secures Agreement in Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Ohio Landlord for Sexually Harassing Tenants
The Justice Department announced today that Kevin Martin, an owner and manager of residential rental properties in and around Athens, Ohio, has agreed to pay $170,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants and housing applicants in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Read More
August 15, 2024
News
Press Release
HUD OIG Review of Puerto Rico’s Electrical System Enhancement Efforts
The review found the Puerto Rico Department of Housing budgeted most of its $1.93 billion disaster recovery funds for its two main electrical grid programs which were launched in 2023. Both programs are in their early implementation stages. As of July 12, 2024, PRDOH had spent less than 1 Read More
August 13, 2024
News
Press Release
The Changing Hazard Insurance Market and FHA
HUD OIG is auditing the changing hazard insurance market on FHA borrowers and FHA. Our review will involve the review of hazard insurance cost data from January 1, 2018, through July 31, 2024, in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and California overlayed with FEMA high-risk disaster maps and risk exposure Read More
August 01, 2024
Work Start Notification
#KC 24 0009
Review of HUD's Monetary Closed Audit Recommendations
HUD OIG is reviewing monetary audit recommendations that were closed by HUD under the new Closed Collection process. Upon receipt of a valid repayment agreement, HUD closes the recommendation but is still responsible for maintaining repayment documentation and ensuring adherence to the repayment Read More
August 12, 2024
Work Start Notification
#FO 24 0012
Former Attorney Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison on Embezzlement and Fraud Charges in Connection With Collapse of Washington Federal Bank
CHICAGO — A former attorney has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for embezzlement and fraud in connection with the failure of Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Chicago.ROBERT M. KOWALSKI served a key role in an embezzlement scheme at Washington Federal. The bank, which was Read More
August 14, 2024
News
Press Release
Status of Puerto Rico Electrical System Enhancements Efforts
We reviewed the Puerto Rico Department of Housing’s (PRDOH) Electrical Power System Enhancements and Improvements programs to provide (1) background and funding information, (2) an update on the status of the programs and their progress, and (3) other relevant program information for interested Read More
August 09, 2024
Report
#2024-FW-1004
HUD Addressed Multifamily Mortgage Application Processing Delays, but Additional Action Is Needed To Manage Future Backlogs
We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Multifamily Housing Programs’ efforts to address multifamily mortgage application processing delays. When applications for these loans are delayed, it slows the production and availability of affordable Read More
August 09, 2024
Report
#2024-NY-0002
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Columbus, OH, Did Not Always Comply With HUD's Requirements for Its Housing Choice Voucher Program Units
Provide evidence that the owners corrected the 248 deficiencies for the 48 units with outstanding deficiencies. If the owners fail to make corrections, the Authority should implement its stop payment procedures and provide supporting documentation to HUD.
Open Recommendation