Archive for the ‘HUD Info’ Category

New CCR Regulations Posted

Friday, January 7th, 2011

If you own or manage a community that receives federal financial assistance you now have 60 days to make sure that this community is registered through the CCR (Central Contract Registration) government website. 

This new requirement, posted through RHIIP today, leaves little in the way of instructions on exactly how to do this, but is quick to send us to DUNS or CCR for further information.

 If you have already completed this process, we’d like to hear your feedback.  We’ve found it time consuming, but not difficult; and you need to have a lot of information at your fingertips to make the process quicker.

We suggest that the entire process is completed for one community so that you can find out exactly what information is necessary to complete the registration and then compile this information for future registrations.

Good luck!  Happy Registering…

CCR Registration and other musings…

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

I have had several days off and have not posted like I should!  I started wondering if anyone was even reading this so what was the point of posting everyday anyway?  After giving that some thought, I realized that I am writing as much for you all as I am for me, so it is ok if I take a few days off and it is probably just as OK if no one ever reads this information!

The lastest information that HUD has circulated is that all communities that are receiving HAP contract payments are required to be set up with a DUNS number and through CCR.  This is not particularly difficult, but it is time consuming – especially if you have a large number of communities!  I’m sure that this is just another way to streamline the payment process, but it sure seems like HUD has given us a lot of hoops to jump through lately.  If you aren’t sure how to complete this registration, you can certanily post here and I can help you through it.  It is not hard, but you’ll need to have some specific information close by to make registration a little easier.

 I have had some good questions come up lately as well, but I’ll save those for another day.  I’d hate to run out of things to say.  (For those of you who know me, you know that is highly unlikely!)

Toodles.

Helpful File Review Hints

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

I just finished up another file review for a community that is about to have an MOR and thought I would share some findings for the benefit of everyone.  This is a very basic list of some common findings from the files I looked at.

  • Don’t forget to look at your lease when preparing for an MOR – the most common errors are:  wrong lease dates, no signature, and incorrect recertification month in paragraph 15
  • Checking accounts use average 6 month balance and savings accounts use the current balance
  • All annual since June 2010 and all Interims since August 2010 MUST have EIV
  • All moves in should have an EIV Existing Tenant Search
  • Don’t forget that any addendum must have HUD approval or you can’t have it in the resident file
  • Make sure the application is thoroughly reviewed – more errors happen because something is not verified that was originally listed on the application

Having a successful MOR is a matter of reviewing your files on a regular basis.  You should not wait until you are notified of an MOR…before a file is put away every piece of paper in it should be reviewed to make sure you aren’t missing anything.

Take a few minutes every day to check a few files and before you know it you’ll be caught up.  It will save you heartache in the long run.

Good luck!

Frustrating REAC Experience

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

There are very few things in the life of a property manager more frustrating than the day REAC comes to visit.  In theory, the idea of REAC is a noble one.  Ensure that all affordable landlords that are getting money from HUD are maintaining decent, safe, and sanitary housing.  The devil is in the details.  Each inspector has his or her own quirks and interpretation.  Each community has its own set of problems and each manager has his or her own approach.  From experience, the best way to be prepared for a REAC inspection is to be inspect units on a regular basis and keep up with a preventative maintenance plan.  DELAY DOESN’T WORK.  There’s just no way around it.

 However, I can tell you one thing that is even more frustrating than an actual REAC experience and that is a manager’s lack of response to the deficiencies.  These inspections have to be taken seriously and have to be mitigated as quickly as possible.  Even if you don’t agree.  Even if you think they are absolutely ridiculous.  There is no way around it.  And there is nothing worse for a supervisor than when community personnel just don’t get it.

Let me give you some recommendations on what NOT to do:

 DON’T tell me the work has been completed when in fact it has not.

DON’T rely on service technicians to tell YOU whether or not the work has been completed.

DON’T bandaid a job that clearly needs stitches…bite the bullet and just get the work done.

DON’T expect the residents to lie…they WILL tell me whether or not you have been there to make repairs.

Bottom line…affordable housing means REAC inspections.  They aren’t going anywhere.  Pay attention and get it write the first time rather than having to deal with a low score or even a failed score.   Go out there and inspect some units today!

Great Child Support Question

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

I had a great question today about how to calculate income from child support and thought it was worth sharing.  I often find that child support is the most miscalculated source of income.  Whether this is due to lack of understanding or the huge variance in the way child support payments are actually made I can’t say; nevertheless mistakes abound when it comes to this.

 In the recent example that I reviewed today, the resident had a court order to receive child support in the amount of $230 per month.  The printout from the local courthouse showed that resident had acutally received a large variety of payments every month, none of them actually $230. 

The print out reflected the last 12 payments that were made to the custodial parent…beginning February 2010 and ending August 2, 2010.   The print out was created and effective September 1, 2010. 

Because this history did not reflect an entire year of payments,the best to way to calculate this would be to add up all of the payments received and divide it by the seven months of history provided (Feb – Aug).  Unfortunately, I found that the contract administrator wanted to actually use the print out as the entire annual income, when in fact it was not representative of an entire year of payments received. 

It is important to note that this file should be well documented to notate that the resident did receive any payments prior to the first date on the print out and that the September payment was not actually received at the time the printout was generated.

Don’t forget that when calculating annual income for Section 8 residents, we are obligated to anticipate annual income, but it should be based on the amount actually anticipated to receive.  Because child suport can so often vary in amounts and frequency, this is usually an example of annual income that has to based on actual amounts received.

 Always remember to make sure your calculations make sense, are well documented, and include a calculator tape.

 Happy file reviewing!

EIV is here…now what?

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

A recurring theme that was expressed by many attendees at the majority of the trainings I have been to this year has been…what do we do about EIV.  Even though HUD gave all of us plenty of warning that implementation and use of EIV would be mandatory at the end of January, many of us are still struggling to put the pieces together.  Here is a simple breakdown of what owners/agents are required to do:

·         First and foremost gain access to EIV

If your company does not already have an EIV Coordinator, this can be especially time consuming.  The recent EIV outstands have slowed the process down considerably.  Visit www.hud.gov/reac for specific information on how to gain access and take steps to get this done immediately.  If you have an EIV Coordinator, but your users are not set up, this process does not take much time and can be done by the current EIV Coordinator.  If you aren’t sure how to do this, please call someone to help. 

·         Maintain a complete EIV file 

This file is required to include the following information:

Coordinator Access Authorization Form (CAAF) with HUD approval (both initial and current)

                User Access Authorization Forms (UAAF) (both initial and current)

                Security Awareness Questionnaires for both Coordinator and all Users

Signed Authorization from the owner giving the EIV Coordinator permission to access the community

Signed Rules of Behavior forms for persons that review files that do not have access to EIV (i.e. auditors)

We strongly recommend that the annual Security Awareness testing is printed and saved as well.

·         Create comprehensive EIV Policies and Procedures 

These procedures should include at least the following: 

How staff members will gain access to EIV

How access (including user IDs and passwords) will be kept secure

How EIV will be used (including how often reports will be run)

Who will be responsible for recertification of users and should be notified of any breaches in security (usually this is the EIV coordinator)

Administrative, Technological, and Physical safeguards that are in place to secure information in EIV

Policy for destroying information obtained through EIV – this should include method of destruction as well as time frames for destruction of information

·         Begin using EIV on a consistent basis 

EIV is only as beneficial if it is used.  Your policies and procedures should determine what reports should be run and how often.  The following is a sample breakdown of available information and a recommendation of how often each report can be run.  Keep in mind that only senior management representatives should make changes to current policy and procedures.

  • Monthly – Print and Review

Identity Verification Reports (Failed EIV Pre-screening and Failed Verification Report)

  •  
    • Take action on any failed verifications and resubmit necessary corrections through TRACS
    • File in the office in a file labeled “EIV Reports”
    • If any residents are listed, also file in resident file with the documentation related to corrections processed

  • Quarterly – Print and Review

New Hire Report

  •  
    • Compare with resident files as necessary to confirm that all income has been accurately reported
    • Maintain copy in file labeled “EIV Reports”
    • File in resident file with the 50059 if one was created or in correspondence section

Multiple Subsidy Report

  •  
    • If any residents are listed immediately contact resident to determine necessary corrections
    • Maintain copy in file labeled “EIV Reports”
    • If any residents are listed, document actions taken on report and file a copy in the resident file

Deceased Tenants Report

  •  
    • Confirm that any resident listed has been removed from 50059 and subsidy has been terminated
    • Document actions taken on report and file in a file labeled “EIV Reports”
    • Maintain copy in resident file for any resident’s listed

  • Annually (at time of recertification)
  • At Interim
  • Within 90 days after move in– Print and Review:

Income Report

  •  
    • Use as documentation of employment or verification of social security income (for wage verification be sure to get additional documentation of income)
    • Compare to resident file to ensure that all sources of income have been accurately reported
    • File with Annual 50059

Income Discrepancy Report

  •  
    • Compare with resident file to see if there is a legitimate reason for discrepancy
    • Meet with resident to discuss discrepancy and take steps to verify income and create retroactive 50059 if necessary
    • File with Annual 50059 and with any additional 50059s created

No Income Report

  •  
    • Maintain copy in resident file – note:  a no income report does not mean the resident has no income, they just have no income that has been reported to EIV
    • File with Annual 50059

  • As needed (at the time of application processing)

Existing Tenant Search

  •  
    • Print and review on applicant household members during application processing
    • File with Application

Hopefully, with these tips, navigating EIV will not be as difficult or time-consuming and can become the helpful tool that HUD has intended for it to be.