We recommend that HUD require the City to analyze the effectiveness of the Retrofit program and identify what improvements are needed to better benefit program participants and lessen their burden, to include obtaining input from program participants, and implement those improvements.
2024-FW-1002 | March 11, 2024
After More Than 6 Years, The City of New Orleans’ National Disaster Resilience Project Activities Had Made Little Impact on Resilience
Community Planning and Development
- Status2024-FW-1002-002-DOpenClosed
- Status2024-FW-1002-002-EOpenClosed$5,078Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that HUD require the City to support or repay, from nonfederal funds, $5,078 in the square footage overcharge for work not completed, according to the project design and invoice documentation.
- Status2024-FW-1002-002-FOpenClosed$99,347Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that HUD require the City to provide supporting documentation for the 4 program participants that did not have adequate income documentation. If the supporting documentation cannot be provided, repay, from nonfederal funds, $99,347.
- Status2024-FW-1002-002-GOpenClosed
We recommend that HUD require the City to since the property updates have been completed for the 24 program participants that did not receive the green infrastructure training, provide documentation that any subsequent program participants completed the green infrastructure training workshop before the grant agreement is signed and construction begins.
2024-FO-0004 | February 09, 2024
Financial Information Collected from CDBG Grantees Needs Improvement
Community Planning and Development
- Status2024-FO-0004-001-AOpenClosed
Develop comprehensive guidance and training for grantees on how to prepare the PR 29 report to ensure that the information collected is reliable, accurate, timely, and in compliance with the Uniform Administrative Guidance for Grants and Cooperative Agreements, specifically 2 CFR 200.302(a)(b) and 2 CFR 200.303
- Status2024-FO-0004-001-COpenClosed
Follow up with the four grantees without adequate supporting documentation and assess their compliance with the financial management requirements in 2 CFR 200.302(b)(3), which require the financial management system of each non-Federal entity to provide for records that adequately identify the source and application of funds for federally funded activities.
- Status2024-FO-0004-001-DOpenClosed
Update the CPD Monitoring Handbook to incorporate the review of the PR 29 report when performing financial monitoring reviews.
- Status2024-FO-0004-001-EOpenClosed
Develop written procedures on how to review PR 29 report submissions and monitor resubmissions, late submissions, and nonsubmissions.
- Status2024-FO-0004-002-AOpenClosed
Determine how often grantees’ requests for reimbursement contain cost outside the quarter and in coordination with OCFO, evaluate CPD’s grant accrual methodology and assumptions to ensure that it adequately considers the impact of these late cost reimbursements.
- Status2024-FO-0004-002-BOpenClosed
Develop guidance that encourages grantees to draw down funds for reimbursement on a regular schedule, not less than quarterly.
- Status2024-FO-0004-002-COpenClosed
Work with OCFO to ensure that CPD collects and reports to OCFO all of the information needed to properly account for all CPD activities in HUD’s financial statements in accordance with Federal financial reporting requirements and accounting standards.
- Status2024-FO-0004-002-DOpenClosed
Update Line 4 - Cash (grant funds) disbursed during the reporting period in the PR 29 report to allow grantees to report all CDBG grant funds disbursed, including funds that have not yet been drawn down from HUD for reimbursement.
- Status2024-FO-0004-003-AOpenClosed
Obtain the required approvals under PRA for the PR 29 report.
2024-IG-0001 | January 23, 2024
Management Alert: Action Is Needed From HUD Leadership To Resolve Systemic Challenges With Improper Payments
Deputy Secretary
- Status2024-IG-0001-001-AOpenClosedPriorityPriority
We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
Develop and execute a detailed plan and timeline for both testing and reporting estimates of improper payments in the PIH-TBRA and PBRA programs in compliance with Federal law and OMB guidance.
2024-FW-1001 | October 27, 2023
The Puerto Rico Department of Housing Should Enhance Its Fraud Risk Management Practices
Community Planning and Development
- Status2024-FW-1001-001-COpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs evaluate PRDOH’s risk exposure and tolerance as part of HUD’s program-specific fraud risk assessment for disaster grant programs.
- Status2024-FW-1001-001-DOpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs coordinate with HUD’s Chief Risk Officer to (1) provide training and technical assistance to PRDOH with a focus on the design, implementation, and performance of fraud risk assessments, and (2) establish a fraud risk management framework for the organization.
- Status2024-FW-1001-001-EOpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs assess whether grantees have mature fraud risk management programs within the disaster recovery and mitigation programs.
- Status2024-FW-1001-001-FOpenClosed
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs determine the fraud risk exposure in HUD's disaster recovery and mitigation programs and work with grantees to implement appropriate fraud mitigation activities.
2024-FW-0001 | October 24, 2023
Preventing Duplication of Benefits When Using Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recover and Mitigation Funds
Community Planning and Development
- Status2024-FW-0001-001-AOpenClosed
We recommend that the Director, Office of Disaster Recovery, perform monitoring of or otherwise review grantees’ detailed procedures for preventing duplication of benefits for each grant activity within the first year after HUD signs the grant agreement or before grantees process applications for assistance, whichever occurs first.
2023-FW-0003 | July 21, 2023
Disaster Recovery Data Portal
Policy Development & Research
- Status2023-FW-0003-002-AOpenClosed
We recommend that the General Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy Development and Research; the Deputy Chief Information Officer; and the Director, Office of Disaster Recovery, identify and incorporate at least one additional data source into the Disaster Recovery Data Portal to further assist grantees with duplication of benefits assessments.