The Wausau Community Development Authority, Wausau, WI, Generally Complied With HUD’s and Its Own Requirements Regarding Housing Quality Standards Inspections

We audited the Wausau Community Development Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program based on our analysis of risk factors related to the public housing agencies in Region 5’s jurisdiction (States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin). The audit was part of the activities in our fiscal year 2019 annual audit plan. Our audit objective was to determine whether the Authority administered its program in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) and its own requirements. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether the Authority ensured that its program units met HUD’s housing quality standards. The Authority generally complied with HUD’s and its own requirements regarding housing quality standards inspections of its program units. However, it did not always ensure that housing quality standards deficiencies were corrected in a timely manner. As a result, program participants were subjected to living in units that may not have been decent, safe, and sanitary. We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Milwaukee Office of Public Housing require the Authority to develop and implement adequate enforcement procedures that support its policy and ensure that housing quality standards deficiencies are corrected in a timely manner.