Housing Assistance Contract Administration Oversight

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The Office of Housing Assistance Contract Administration Oversight (HACAO) is responsible for the administration of the outsourcing of project-based Section 8 Contract Administration and for the administration of subsidy contracts under Multifamily rental subsidy programs. The Office monitors, oversees, and provides technical assistance to Performance-Based Contract Administrators (PBCAs), and assures that third-party contract administered project-based Section 8 subsidized properties continue to meet the Department's goal of providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing to low-income families. In addition, this Office assures that the Department meets its financial obligations to owners as specified in Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts, and coordinates the monitoring and oversight of PBCAs to guarantee that they properly manage the Department's project based Section 8 HAP contracts.

The Monitoring and Oversight Division coordinates activities related to evaluation of the PBCA performance, provides technical assistance to PBCAs, prescribes any remedial actions needed to improve PBCA performance, coordinates efforts between the PBCAs and the Multifamily field office staff. In addition, the Division is responsible for the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan, and coordination of field activities to execute the plan, as well as coordinating audit activities associated with project based Section 8 Contract Administration. While the principal focus of the Division is to monitor the Contract Administrator performance, some staff are tasked with routine project monitoring duties. However, all issues related to the physical and financial condition of the project is the responsibility of the Office of Asset Management. Further, issues related to Section 8 policy, contract renewals, tenant and occupancy, as well as comparability and rent determination is the responsibility of the Office of Housing Assistance Programs and Grant Administration.

The Financial Operations Division handles all budget and workload associated with the Section 8 Program, including both HUD-and third-party administered contracts. Funding for new Section 202/811 remains with the Office of Housing Assistance Programs and Grant Administration, which is responsible for grant management. This Division is also responsible for monitoring the timely payment of Section 8 housing assistance to administrators and project owners-in cooperation with the Section 8 Financial Mangement Center and the accounting staff in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. With input on PBCA performance from the Monitoring and Oversight Division, and through coordination with the Financial Management Center, this Division oversees the payment of administration fees to the PBCAs.