The Boston Housing Authority Did Not Always Comply With HUD’s Requirements for Its Housing Choice Voucher Program Units
Oversight Area: Housing Health and Safety
2024-CH-1004-001-A
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Provide evidence to support that the owners corrected the 46 deficiencies for the 20 units with outstanding deficiencies. If the owners fail to provide evidence that they made the required corrections, HUD should require the Authority to implement its HAP enforcement procedures and provide supporting documentation to HUD evidencing that it did so.
2024-CH-1004-001-B
Better Funds Used: $34,487,989
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Improve its quality control process for monitoring its inspectors to enhance the effectiveness of its unit inspections and ensure that all units meet HUD’s and its own requirements to prevent more than $34 million in Program funds from being spent on units that do not meet HQS over the next year. This process should include but not be limited to procedures (1) requiring its staff to use the quality control inspection results to evaluate and monitor the performance of the Authority’s inspectors, along with maintaining adequate supporting documentation on feedback provided to the inspectors for recurring inspection deficiencies and (2) for evaluating the training provided to its inspectors to determine what improvements are needed to ensure that unit deficiencies are detected.
2024-CH-1004-002-A
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $106,477
Closed
Pursue collection from the applicable owners or reimburse its HCV Program from non-Federal funds $106,477 ($180,309 - $73,832) in inappropriate HAP
2024-CH-1004-002-B
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Provide evidence to HUD that it has improved its controls and procedures for its stop payment process to ensure that (1) payments to owners comply with its HCV Program administrative plan and HUD requirements and (2) it maintains documentation to support stop payments and resumption of those payments for each unit as applicable.
2024-CH-1004-002-C
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Provide documentation to support that HAP was appropriately paid to the owners for the 66 units that had more than one stop payment. If additional HAP was inappropriately paid, the Authority should pursue collection from the applicable owners or reimburse its HCV Program from non-Federal funds.
2024-CH-1004-003-A
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Review its records to confirm whether it had cases of children with EBLLs during our audit period and work with the owner(s) of the HCV Program units to provide required documentation to HUD.
2024-CH-1004-003-B
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Update publications and educational materials to owners to ensure that they understand their reporting responsibilities to HUD regarding confirmed cases of children with EBLLs.
2024-CH-1004-003-C
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Develop and implement procedures and controls for coordinating with public health departments and managing cases of children with EBLLs, including monitoring owners for compliance with the requirements of the LSHR.
2024-CH-1004-003-D
Better Funds Used: $0
Questioned Costs: $0
Closed
Work with HUD’s OLHCHH to provide technical assistance to the Authority’s staff to develop and implement procedures and controls for monitoring owners for compliance with HUD’s EBLL requirements and attempting to collaborate with local health departments to identify cases of EBLL in children under 6 years of age under its HCV Program.