Pulaski County, Arkansas

Criteria or specific requirement – Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are required to have written policies in its administrative plan for selecting applicants from the waiting list and documentation must show that the PHA follows these policies when selecting applicants for admission from the waiting list. Condition and Context – Pulaski County HCVP administrative plan was incomplete when provided, with placeholders inserted for various policies. Additionally, it was noted that some individuals were added to the wait list during the audit year, despite the fact that the wait list had been closed in October of 2021. This was a result of prior employees colluding with other prior employees as well as housing assistance applicants. This included, but was not limited to, directing applicants not to date their application Effect – Individuals who were previously on the waiting list for Housing Choice Voucher assistance were skipped as a result of Pulaski County Housing not having and/ or following their own policies. Cause – Improper documentation of policies and procedures along with collusion between prior employees and/or housing applicants to expedite the move into the program. Questioned Costs – None noted. Recommendation – Pulaski County Housing should update its administrative plan and waiting list requirements to ensure that applicants are selected from the waiting list in the proper order. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions – Management recognizes the deficiency and has worked with HUD officials, independent auditors, and legal counsel to examine the best course of action for the Housing Choice Vouchers program. Management has decided to relinquish all housing assistance programs, including the Housing Choice Vouchers Program, to another entity.

Condition and Context – Pulaski County HCVP administrative plan was incomplete when provided, with placeholders inserted for various policies. Although no tenant files tested resulted in the determination that the tenant was ineligible to receive assistance, various files were missing documentation that should have been present within the file. Additionally, criteria “d.” above was not met, as outlined in finding #2023-001. Effect – Without a complete administrative plan in place, tenant files are inconsistent in the documentation included that was used to verify eligibility for assistance and calculations of rent assistance to be paid. Cause – Improper documentation of policies and procedures along with collusion between prior employees and/ or housing applicants to expedite the move into the program. Questioned Costs – None noted. Recommendation – Pulaski County Housing should update its administrative plan and waiting list requirements to ensure that applicants are selected from the waiting list in the proper order. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions – Management recognizes the deficiency and has worked with HUD officials, independent auditors, and legal counsel to examine the best course of action for the Housing Choice Vouchers program. Management has decided to