We audited the City of Bayonne, NJ's (City) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) economic development activities in response to a complaint (HL- 09-1015) that contained four allegations. Our audit objectives were to determine whether the City (1) disbursed CDBG economic development funds efficiently and effectively in accordance with its submission to HUD and with the applicable rules and regulations, (2) used CDBG economic development…

We audited the Jersey City Housing Authority's (Authority) administration of its capital fund programs. We selected the Authority because of the size of its capital fund programs and because of its US, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) risk rating. Our audit objectives were to determine whether the Authority (I) obligated and expended funds under the Public Housing Capital Fund program (CFP) and Capital Fund Financing…

We conducted a review of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans underwritten by Security Atlantic Mortgage Company, Inc. (Security Atlantic), an FHA direct endorsement lender. This review was conducted as part of the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Operation Watchdog initiative to review the underwriting of 15 direct endorsement lenders at the suggestion of the FHA Commissioner. The Commissioner expressed concern regarding the…

We reviewed the Housing Authority of the City of Wilson (Authority) because it was granted $9.2 million for Public Housing Capital Fund projects (capital funds) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). In addition, we received a citizen’s complaint alleging that the Authority used unethical procurement practices and did not plan to use Recovery Act funds effectively. Our objectives were to evaluate the Authority…

We completed an audit of the City of Jersey City’s (City) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) float loan activity. Our audit objective was to determine whether the City ensured that CDBG funds used for the float loan complied with applicable rules and regulations. The City did not comply with applicable regulations and failed to take timely action when the float loan defaulted. Specifically, it did not (1) make a good faith effort to…

HUD OIG performed a review of selected transactions at the Wilmington Housing Authority (Authority) in conjunction with our review of a citizen’s hotline complaint. Among other concerns, the complainant alleged that the Authority misused U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds in conjunction with its purchase of Eastbrook Apartments in September 2005. Our objective was to determine whether the Authority misused HUD funds…

We audited Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc. (Infinity Home Mortgage), a nonsupervised lender approved to originate Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family mortgage loans. We selected Infinity Home Mortgage because its default rate for the State of Pennsylvania was significantly higher than the average default rate for the State. Our objective was to determine whether Infinity Home Mortgage complied with U.S. Department of Housing…

We completed an audit of the City of Jersey City's (City) capacity to administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Our objectives were to evaluate the City’s capacity in the areas of internal controls, eligibility, financial controls, procurement, and output/outcomes in administering CDBG funds. The City generally had adequate financial…

We completed an audit of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the City of Paterson (City). Our audit objectives were to determine whether the City (1) disbursed CDBG funds efficiently and effectively in accordance with its submission to HUD and applicable rules and regulations and (2) had a financial management system in place to adequately safeguard the funds. The City did not always disburse CDBG funds efficiently…

We completed an audit of Ark Mortgage, Incorporated (Ark Mortgage), a nonsupervised direct endorsement lender located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The audit objectives were to determine whether Ark Mortgage officials (1) originated insured loans in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Federal Housing Administration (HUD/FHA) requirements and (2) developed and implemented a quality control plan that complied with…

We completed an audit of Jersey Mortgage Company (Jersey Mortgage), a nonsupervised lender located in Cranford, New Jersey. The audit objectives were to determine whether Jersey Mortgage (1) approved Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loans in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/FHA, which include adherence to prudent lending practices, and (2) developed and implemented a…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem (Authority) $3.9 million in formula-based capital funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). HUD’s Office of Inspector General evaluated the Authority’s capacity to administer these funds. We found that the Authority generally has the capacity to administer these funds but needed to improve some…

HUD OIG performed an audit of the High Point Housing Authority’s (Authority) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program pursuant to a citizen’s complaint. Our objectives were to determine whether the Authority properly (1) enforced HUD’s housing quality standards, (2) calculated Section 8 administrative fees, and (3) determined housing assistance subsidies and issued vouchers to qualified…

We completed an audit of the Union County Consortium's (County) administration of its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to determine whether the County (1) disbursed CDBG funds efficiently and effectively in accordance with its submission to HUD and in compliance with HUD rules and regulations, (2) maintained a financial management system to adequately safeguard funds, and (3) established adequate controls to ensure that…

We audited the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the City of Durham, North Carolina (City). The objective of the audit was to determine whether the City administered its program in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements. We selected the City for review based on HUD's risk assessment and previous monitoring reviews. The City did not administer its CDBG program in…

We audited the City of Camden's (City) asset control area (ACA) program following a request from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Single Family Asset Management for a review of the City's compliance with its ACA agreement with HUD. Our objective was to determine whether the City complied with specific requirements in the ACA agreement pertaining to the resale of properties it acquired from HUD…

We completed an audit the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administrated by the Township of South Orange Village (Township), a subgrantee of the Essex County Consortium (County). Our audit objectives were to determine whether the Township disbursed CDBG funds efficiently and effectively in accordance with its submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and with applicable rules and regulations, had a…

We completed an audit of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the Economic Development Corporation (Corporation), a subgrantee of Essex County Consortium (the County). Our audit objectives were to determine whether the Corporation adequately administered its CDBG program in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. Specifically, whether it efficiently and effectively disbursed CDBG funds, had a financial…

We audited the City of Durham (City), North Carolina's HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program. Our audit objective was to determine whether the City complied with applicable federal procurement requirements with respect to its homeowner rehabilitation activity. This is the second of two audits of the City's program. The City did not advertise for homeowner rehabilitation contractors as required. Also, it did not take necessary…