We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing to require the Authority to improve its policies and procedures to ensure that capital funds, including replacement housing factor funds, are obligated and spent for eligible activities in a timely manner.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing to require the Authority to reimburse HUD $139,423 in replacement housing factor funds not disbursed by the expenditure deadline from its replacement housing factor funds or reduce its future capital funds.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing to require the Authority to provide documentation to show that $187,492 in 2013 and 2014 capital fund obligations or reimburse HUD from non-Federal funds for any amount that it cannot support.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing to require the Authority to provide training to its staff related to HUD and Federal procurement requirements, including the requirements for using intergovernmental agreements and preparing independent cost estimates and cost analyses.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing to require the Authority to provide documentation to show that the $217,403 paid for legal, fee accounting, management consulting, and auditing services was reasonable or reimburse its Capital Fund or Operating Fund from non-Federal funds for any amount that it cannot support or that is not considered reasonable.

We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Newark Office of Public Housing to require the Authority to provide documentation to show that the $800,439 paid for supplies and services purchased under the intergovernmental agreement for capital improvement projects was reasonable or reimburse its Capital Fund from non-Federal funds for any amount that it cannot support or that is not considered reasonable.

Restrict the Authority from administering other HUD-funded programs until it substantially improves its program administration to ensure compliance with applicable requirements based on the findings cited in this audit report, absent sufficient documentation provided by the Authority.

Review all of the remaining program household files to determine whether appropriate voucher sizes were provided and payment standards and utility allowances were applied and updated appropriately. The Authority should conduct special recertifications for the households with vouchers that do not comply with HUD’s requirements and the Authority’s administrative plan, issue the appropriate voucher sizes, and apply updated payment standards and utility allowances as appropriate.

Ensure that its staff is properly trained and familiar with HUD’s and its own requirements regarding program housing assistance calculations, applying appropriate voucher sizes, and when to apply changes to households’ payment standards and utility allowances.

Evaluate its quality control process to ensure that calculation, voucher size, payment standard, and utility allowance errors are identified and appropriately corrected.