GAO Urges HUD to Improve Oversight of PHAs' Spending

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is urging HUD to improve how it assesses the use of program funds by public housing agencies (PHAs). In its report, “HUD's Oversight of Housing Agencies Should Focus More on Inappropriate Use of Program Funds,” the GAO says that the current system used by HUD “is limited in its ability to detect potential mismanagement.”

The GAO's recommendations include: (a) regular and systematic evaluation of OIG and single audit results, which would be disseminated to field offices and housing agencies, and their auditors; and (b) the development of financial indicators to identify PHAs at risk.