Press Release  State Audit finds improvements at Easton Housing Authority

Boston — State Auditor Suzanne Bump today issued an audit which found the Easton Housing Authority making strides toward improving its operations, but progress is still needed in some areas. Today’s audit follows up on a 2012 report that found several deficiencies at the public housing agency.

Auditors found that the Easton Housing Authority resolved 19 of the findings identified in the 2012 audit. Among the improvements are: correctly calculating rent redeterminations and a tenant selection process that complies with Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) regulations; properly securing confidential tenant records; improved controls over credit-card expenditures; compliance with the state sanitary code; and communicating and implementing a maintenance plan.

“The Easton Housing Authority administration should be proud of its progress,” said Auditor Bump. “This review highlights the commitment the Authority has made to providing quality services to the residents they serve.”

During the previous audit period, the Authority’s average turnaround time on vacant units was 127 days, contrary to the 21-day period outlined in DHCD guidelines. Auditors found that during this most recent two-year audit period, the average turnaround time had decreased to an average of 31 days, a 75 percent reduction.

Auditors also found the authority needs to strengthen aspects of its financial management. During the previous audit period, auditors recommended writing policies and procedures for former tenants’ uncollectible accounts after $13,419 was identified as uncollectible. While policies and procedures were developed during the intervening time, inadequate controls over these accounts resulted in $464 not being to be presented to the board for write-off approval. In addition, the EHA also incorrectly charged $3,746 in fees to its state-funded program.

Improvements at the Authority correspond to a change in leadership at the EHA, and with reforms passed by the legislature in 2014 that strengthened DHCD oversight of local housing authorities by creating a performance-based monitoring system with operational benchmarks for underperforming authorities.

In response to audit findings, the Authority stated it is taking steps to continue improving operations.

The Office of the State Auditor conducts performance audits of state government’s programs, departments, agencies, authorities, contracts, and vendors. With its reports, the OSA issues recommendations to improve accountability, efficiency, and transparency.

The Easton Housing Authority audit is available here.

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