Evaluate the Authority’s email system and its computer, internet, and email use policy to determine whether they provide sufficient safeguards for transmitting and handling confidential information.

We recommend that the Director of the Office of Block Grant Assistance require the Texas General Land Office to implement appropriate cost controls, including limits for reconstruction and rehabilitation costs, to ensure that it uses limited government resources in a more economical and efficient manner. Those costs should not exceed the costs that would be incurred by a prudent person under similar circumstances.

We recommend that the Director of the Office of Block Grant Assistance require the Texas General Land Office to evaluate whether its programs would benefit from a longer affordability period and take appropriate actions to ensure that low- and moderate-income communities have access to affordable homes for an adequate period.

We recommend that the Director of the Office of Block Grant Assistance require the Texas General Land Office to ensure that the tax burden implications are a part of the determination of whether to spend significantly more than the damaged home’s appraised value to replace the home. This measure would include ensuring that participants are fully informed of the substantial and material property tax consequences that they could incur based on…

Revise HUD handbooks for forward and reverse mortgages to reflect that tax liens and judgments are no longer reported on credit reports.

Revise HUD handbooks for forward and reverse mortgages for uniformity in the treatment of delinquent tax debt and the existence of payment plans as only the forward mortgage handbook requires 3 months of payments.

Support that healthy homes assessment and data collection services were cost reasonable or reimburse its Program $361,850 from non-Federal funds.

Support that landlords gave preference in renting eight vacant units to families with children under 6 years of age or reimburse its Program $112,917 from non-Federal funds for the lead-based paint hazard control activities completed at these assisted units.

Support that lead-based paint hazard control activities were necessary at 19 assisted units or reimburse its Program $70,266 from non-Federal funds for the unsupported lead-based paint hazard control activities completed at these assisted units

Coordinate with HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to determine whether $51,930 in healthy homes supplemental funds used for four units in excess of $5,000 per unit was for eligible activities. If the activities are deemed ineligible, the Department should reimburse its Program the appropriate amount from non-Federal funds.

Support that one household residing in an assisted unit was income eligible or reimburse its Program $19,500 from non-Federal funds for the lead-based paint hazard control activities completed in the assisted unit.

Implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure that (1) documentation is maintained to support that contracted services are cost reasonable, (2) landlords give preference in renting assisted vacant units to families with children under 6 years of age, (3) lead inspection documentation properly supports lead-based paint hazard control activities, (4) HUD approval is obtained when more than $5,000 per unit in healthy homes supplemental…

Cancel the Section 8 Project-Based Voucher Program housing assistance payments contract for 90 units improperly converted under RAD. The owner should work with HUD and the Authority to protect the tenancy of the affected tenants at the time of contract cancellation.

Reimburse HUD’s Section 8 program administered by the Authority $485,475 in housing assistance payments from nonproject funds for the improper issuance of tenant protection assistance and an improper RAD conversion to the Project-Based Voucher Program for the 90 units.

Develop and implement procedures to ensure that when tenant protection assistance is requested as a result of a housing conversion action, the forms HUD-50059 and or tenant profiles is generated only based on a completed action and that the forms or profiles are provided to HUD instead of the Authority.

Provide adequate training to staff associated with administering tenant protection and project-based assistance to help ensure compliance with program requirements.

Take appropriate enforcement actions against the responsible parties and pursue civil action against the owner for improperly certifying to the eligibility of the project residents.

Pursue administrative actions, as appropriate, against the responsible parties for the improper certification included in form HUD-50059 and the Section 8 project-based voucher housing assistance payments contract.

Implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure that all required data are complete, accurate, and reported in a timely manner. These procedures and controls should include but not be limited to ensuring that all transactions are recorded and reported within the proper period and listing the source of each of the data elements, including how to obtain the source documentation from HUD’s various program offices or systems.

Implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure that all data elements are traceable to the source documentation.