We assessed public housing agencies’ (PHA) management of the occupancy of public housing units.  Our audit objective was to (1) assess the occupancy of public housing units, and (2) determine whether HUD had adequate oversight of PHAs’ occupancy, particularly PHAs’ management of vacant units.We found PHAs had occupancy rates below HUD’s optimal level or a high number of long-term vacant units.  Further, although HUD monitors…

Our office is currently conducting three audits of crime prevention and eligibility determinations at Public Housing Authorities (PHA) in Washington, DC; Chicago; and Los Angeles.  The objective of our audits is to (1) determine whether the Authority complied with HUD’s and its own requirements for verifying eligibility of individuals for HUD-assisted housing based on criminal activity, citizenship, and immigration status, and (2…

As part of our mission to safeguard the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) programs from fraud, waste, and abuse, and to identify opportunities for HUD programs to progress and succeed, we selected Colorado for a review of potential improper payments.  Our audit objective was to determine whether Colorado made improper non-Federal match activity payments.  We also assessed whether the Office of Community…

We found that the photovoltaic systems (PV) and water tanks installed in participant’s homes had deficiencies.  Such deficiencies included inverters and batteries with signs of rust; water intrusion that could lead to electrical shorts; electrical conduits that were degrading due to direct exposure to the sun; electrical conduits with water; and water tanks that were leaking, overflowing, or both.  Based on statistical…

Fraud poses a significant risk to the integrity of federal programs and erodes public trust in government.  For the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) disaster recovery programs, fraud results in communities and individuals not receiving needed assistance to recover from and mitigate future disasters.  Departments are required by law to develop and maintain governance structures, controls, and processes…

In August 2024, we issued an audit report on the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) fraud risk management practices, finding that HCD was not adequately prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud due to the lack of focus it placed on fraud risks and establishing a robust fraud risk management framework for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act funding for the Emergency…

We recently issued an audit report on the City and County of Honolulu’s (City) fraud risk management practices, which determined the grantee did not adequately develop a fraud risk management framework for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding provided for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud (Audit Report No. 2024-LA-1002, issued August 6, 2024). This…

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) oversight of the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program.  We also reviewed three of the 39 initial MTW public housing agencies (PHA) for compliance with the MTW program’s statutory requirements.  We selected the three PHAs for review based on our analysis of risk factors for initial MTW PHAs.  Our objective was to (1) assess HUD’s monitoring of…

We have reviewed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Detailed Accounting Report and the related management assertions for National Drug Control Program activities for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. We also reviewed the Budget Formulation Compliance Report, which includes budget formulation information for fiscal year 2027, and the related management assertions for National Drug Control Program…

Beginning in 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted several audits to assess HUD’s anti-fraud efforts and to develop inventories of fraud risks for several of its programs.  Our previous work found that HUD’s fraud risk management program was in its early stages of development and we recommended that HUD perform program-specific fraud risk assessments and…

We audited the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration’s management of lead‐based paint in its public housing program based on our assessment of the risks of lead‐based paint in public housing.  The risk factors assessed included the age of buildings, the number of units, and reported cases of childhood lead poisoning.  The Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (Authority) is the second largest public housing agency (…

We audited New York City (NYC) Department of Social Services (DSS) with the objective of evaluating DSS’ fraud risk management practices for its Emergency Solutions Grants Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (ESG CARES Act) funded activities and assessed the maturity of its efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud.  Fraud within activities funded by the ESG CARES Act can lead to significant financial losses…

This disaster recovery biannual report and subsequent annual reports will provide curated information regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and its grantees’ use of the more than $109 billion in disaster recovery funds approved by Congress since the 2001 World Trade Center attack, as well as information on new or completed HUD OIG oversight work related to HUD’s disaster recovery program.  HUD’s…

Beginning in 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), conducted several audits to assess HUD’s anti-fraud efforts and to develop inventories of fraud risks in HUD programs. Our previous work found that HUD’s fraud risk management program was in its early stages of development, and we recommended that HUD perform program-specific fraud risk assessments and incorporate these…

We audited New York State’s Hurricane Sandy disaster procurement processes.  Our audit objective was to determine whether the State conducted its Hurricane Sandy-funded disaster recovery procurements using full, fair, and open competition methods.  By continuing to use a November 2012 Governor-issued temporary waiver, the State did not foster open competition and ensure that it obtained the best services at the best prices.…

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Public and Indian Housing’s (PIH) Housing Choice Voucher Program to assess public housing agencies’ (PHA) controls to prevent and combat source of income discrimination.  In limited circumstances, Federal law and regulations prohibit source of income discrimination in certain HUD-assisted housing.  As of January 2025, 23 states and the District…

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to determine whether HUD had adequate oversight of the physical condition of the public housing units that converted to non-Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured project-based vouchers (PBV) under RAD.We found HUD needs to improve its oversight of the physical condition of converted projects.  Before the implementation of its PBV monitoring pilot program…

This report was issued from a series of six reports taking an in-depth look at how six communities used the pandemic funding they received to address a wide range of needs. This report focused on Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation in New Mexico with a detailed look at six of the 42 pandemic programs that provided funding to the community. This report was led by the Pandemic Relief Accountability Committee (PRAC) in coordination with…

This inaugural disaster recovery biannual report and subsequent reports will provide curated information regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and its grantees’ use of the more than $109 billion in disaster recovery funds approved by Congress since the 2001 World Trade Center attack, as well as information on new or completed HUD OIG oversight work related to HUD’s disaster recovery program.HUD’s…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers billions in presidentially declared disaster recovery grants through its Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program.  We audited five non-State grantees to assess whether they are on track to spend their remaining grant funds on eligible activities that benefit program participants within a reasonable amount of time.  We also wanted to…