We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) information technology (IT) infrastructure to support mandatory telework. During mandatory telework, more employees simultaneously needed remote access to HUD’s network and agency resources for an extended period, which presented unique risks and security requirements. While HUD is no longer operating under mandatory telework, understanding the challenges it faced...

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Native American Programs’ (ONAP) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to identify drawdown levels for its block grant programs and assessed information ONAP made publicly available. As of October 4, 2022, grantees had drawn $231.6 million of the $300 million in CARES Act block grant funds and $135.8...

HUD OIG is reviewing a housing authority in Ohio. The authority owns and manages public housing units to serve low-income families. The review objective is to determine whether the Authority adequately managed lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in its public housing.

HUD OIG is reviewing a housing authority in California. The authority owns and manages public housing units to serve low-income families. The review objective is to determine whether the Authority adequately managed lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in its public housing.  

HUD OIG is auditing the Office of Single Family Housing's FHA appraiser roster, which is the list of individuals approved to conduct valuations for FHA-insured properties. HUD’s appraiser roster is the foundation for these valuations and consists of approximately 40,000 different appraiser IDs. The audit objective is to determine whether the appraiser roster is accurate and contains only eligible appraisers.  

HUD OIG is auditing the fair housing complaint intake process of a Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agency located within HUD's Region IV geographical jurisdiction. FHAP agencies intake housing discrimination complaints and conduct investigations to determine whether the alleged discrimination occurred. Our objective is to (1) determine the extent that the FHAP agency processed fair housing complaints within 30 days, (2) evaluate...

The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) requires all Federal agencies to conduct independent penetration tests and vulnerability assessments on a sampling of information systems annually.  In conjunction with our fiscal year 2022 FISMA evaluation (2022-OE-0001), we conducted a targeted penetration test and vulnerability assessment of sample systems that resulted in a Topic Brief.  The objective of...

We performed a corrective action verification review of the actions taken by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) to implement the recommendations cited in Audit Report 2016-KC-0002, issued September 21, 2016. The HUD Handbook places the responsibility on HUD’s Office of Inspector General to perform selected corrective action verifications of significant audit recommendations when final actions have been completed...

HUD OIG is conducting the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 evaluation of the HUD's information security program and practices, as required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). The objectives are to (1) assess the maturity level of HUD’s IS programs and practices based on the annual IG FISMA reporting metrics. The assessment will include 20 core IG metrics that are evaluated annually and group 1 of the...

We contracted with the independent public accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to audit the financial statements of HUD as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and to provide reports on HUD’s 1) internal control over financial reporting; and 2) compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements and other matters, including whether financial management systems complied substantially...

We contracted with the independent public accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to audit the financial statements of FHA as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and to provide reports on FHA’s 1) internal control over financial reporting; and 2) compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements and other matters.  Our contract with CLA required that the audit be performed in...

We determined that FHEO could provide more guidance related to FHEO’s performance assessment process to improve its oversight of State and local fair housing enforcement agencies participating in FHAP.  The FHAP Division has provided guidance that FHEO regional staff responsible for monitoring and overseeing FHAP agency performance (HUD reviewers) does not consistently follow.  Additionally, although all HUD reviewers work...

We contracted with the independent public accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to audit the financial statements of Ginnie Mae as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and to provide reports on Ginnie Mae’s 1) internal control over financial reporting; and 2) compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements and other matters. Our contract with CLA required that the audit be...

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Title VIII complaint intake data and jurisdictional determinations recorded in the HUD Enforcement Management System (HEMS).  We initiated this audit to assist HUD with identifying opportunities to improve its data collection and jurisdiction determination process.  Our audit objective was to assess HUD’s Title VIII fair housing complaint intake process...

The Office of Evaluation is initiating an evaluation of HUD’s employee retention. Our objectives are to: 1. To determine whether HUD has a high voluntary separation rate relative to similar agencies, and which program offices or demographic groups, if any, have high rates relative to HUD’s overall rate or to equivalent groups in similar agencies. 2. To determine what retention-relevant programs HUD employs and the extent to which...

HUD OIG is auditing the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity's (FHEO) timeliness of investigations for Title VIII complaints.  Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 requires that HUD complete investigations of each complaint within 100 days of the date it was filed unless it is impracticable to do so.  Our objective is to assess challenges faced by FHEO in meeting the 100-day investigation requirement for Title...

HUD OIG is auditing Puerto Rico's Homebuyer Assistance Program (HBA).  HUD awarded Puerto Rico more than $20 billion in CDBG-DR funding to address the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, of which $295 million was budgeted to the HBA program. Our objective is to determine the impact that the program had in increasing homeownership rates in Puerto Rico post Hurricanes Irma and Maria and whether it is on track in delivering the...

HUD OIG is auditing Puerto Rico's Community Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.   HUD awarded Puerto Rico over $20 billion dollars in  CDBG-DR funding for the 2017 disasters.  Our objective is to conduct an assessment of Puerto Rico’s fraud risk management practices that encompasses control activities to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud when administering programs funded by CDBG-DR grants associated...

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) fraud risk management program at the enterprise and program-office levels and assessed its overall maturity.  Our objective was to determine HUD’s progress in implementing a fraud risk management framework at the enterprise and program-office levels that encompasses control activities to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud. The Antifraud Playbook...

We performed a review of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) monitoring and tracking of Continuum of Care (CoC) grantees that have been slow to spend their grant funds.  Our objectives were to determine whether HUD was effectively tracking and monitoring CoC grant spending and to determine the impact of COVID-19 on CoC grantee spending.HUD generally tracked and monitored its grantees; however, it did not...