The Housing Authority of Plainfield, NJ, Did Not Always Comply With Requirements When Administering Its Public Housing Programs
Correct the reporting and use of proceeds received from the current lease, thereby putting $1,278,260 to better use.
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Correct the reporting and use of proceeds received from the current lease, thereby putting $1,278,260 to better use.
Execute and record the release of the current lease with the third party and ensure that the declaration of trust is returned to the first priority position.
Terminate the current lease and pay for any fees needed to terminate the lease from non-Federal funds.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs ensure that personnel receive training on how to conduct the civil rights front-end reviews, including a review of PHAs reasonable accommodation policies and procedures.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs review the joint agreement between HUD PIH and FHEO, including the Section 504 checklist, and modify, update, or recommit to it to ensure that the role of PIH and the responsibility for conducting civil rights front-end reviews is clearly defined.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs require that PHAs track requests for reasonable accommodation, including the date of the request, the type of request, and the disposition and date of any action taken that should be made available to HUD at its request.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs conduct additional outreach efforts to educate tenants and PHAs on their rights and responsibilities related to requests for reasonable accommodation, including technical assistance, webinars, and external communications to inform PHAs about their responsibilities and how to evaluate requests for reasonable accommodation, and help families understand their rights.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs update and consolidate requests for reasonable accommodation policies and procedures to ensure that there is centralized guidance available for the field offices and PHAs.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs update its compliance monitoring guidance to include a requirement for personnel to review PHAs reasonable accommodations policies and procedures.
If the Authority does not follow through on its asset repositioning plans, misses deadlines, or it otherwise becomes clear that the plan is no longer feasible, work with the HUD’s Special Applications Center, Office of Recapitalization, and other offices as appropriate, to consider and use available remedies such as revoking approval and enforcing required conversion.