Public housing program. HUD Has Incorporated Relevant Requirements for Awarding Recent Lead Grants, but Could Better Document and Evaluate Grant Processes

		Lead Grant Programs Have Incorporated Statutory Requirements for Eligibility and Selection

HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant and the Lead Hazard  Reduction Demonstration grant programs have incorporated Title X  statutory requirements through recent annual funding notices and their  grant processes. However, HUD has not fully documented or evaluated its lead grant  processes in reviewing and scoring the grants and making award  decisions:  Documenting grant processes and award decisions. HUD Has Begun to Develop Analyses to Help More Fully Identify Areas at Risk for Lead Paint Hazards but Has Not Set Time Frames for Using Local-Level Data

HUD has begun to develop analyses and tools to inform its efforts to  target outreach and ensure that grant awards go to areas of the country  that are at risk for lead paint hazards. HUD Could Take Additional Steps to Monitor Compliance with Lead Paint Regulations

		HUD Has Taken Steps to Strengthen Compliance Monitoring for Lead Paint Regulations

In 2016, HUD began to incorporate new steps to monitor PHAs’  compliance with lead paint regulations for nearly 4,000 PHAs. Our review found that HUD does not have a plan to help mitigate and  address risks related to noncompliance with lead paint regulations by  PHAs (i.e., ensuring lead safety in assisted housing). Additionally, our  review found several limitations with HUD’s new compliance monitoring  approach, which include the following:
Reliance on PHA self-certifications. Lack of comprehensive data for the public housing program. HUD Lacks Detailed Procedures to Address Noncompliance and Make Enforcement Decisions

HUD does not have detailed procedures to address PHA noncompliance  with lead paint regulations or to determine when enforcement decisions  may be needed. Since this time,  HUD has used EPA’s 2001 lead hazard standards in its rental assistance  programs. By requesting and obtaining statutory authority to amend  the voucher program inspection standard, HUD would be positioned to  take steps to ensure that children in the voucher program are provided  better protection as indicated by analysis of the benefits and costs from  amending the standard. HUD Could Better Measure and Report on Performance of Lead Efforts

HUD has taken limited steps to measure, evaluate, and report on the  performance of its programmatic efforts to ensure that housing is lead- safe. According to Lead  Office staff, HUD provides information on its goals and performance  measures related to its lead efforts in the agency’s annual performance  reports. HUD has not reported on its lead efforts as required since  1997. Through its lead grant programs and oversight of  lead paint regulations, HUD is helping to address lead paint hazards in  housing. Overseeing compliance with lead paint regulations. HUD  could ensure that children in the voucher program are provided better  protection from lead by requesting and obtaining statutory authority to  amend the voucher program inspection standard as indicated by  analysis of the benefits and costs of amending the standard. Assessing and reporting on performance. The need for HUD to review the lead inspection standard for  the voucher program is underscored by the greater number of households  with children served by the voucher program compared to public housing,  as well as recent information indicating that more children with elevated  blood lead levels are living in voucher units than in public housing. Appendix II: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

This report examines the Department of Housing and Urban  Development’s (HUD) efforts to (1) incorporate statutory requirements  and other relevant federal standards in its lead grant programs; (2)  monitor and enforce compliance with lead paint regulations for its rental  assistance programs; (3) adopt federal health guidelines and  environmental standards for lead hazards in its lead grant and rental  assistance programs; and (4) measure and report on its performance  related to making housing lead-safe. In this report, we examine lead paint hazards in housing, and we focus on  HUD’s lead hazard control grant programs and its two largest rental  assistance programs that serve the most families with children: the  Housing Choice Voucher (voucher) and public housing programs. We also interviewed HUD staff about the  agency’s grant application review and award processes.
Why GAO Did This Study

Lead paint in housing is the most common source of lead exposure for U.S. children. HUD awards grants to state and local governments to reduce lead paint hazards in housing and oversees compliance with lead paint regulations in its rental assistance programs. The 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Joint Explanatory Statement, includes a provision that GAO review HUD’s efforts to address lead paint hazards. This report examines HUD’s efforts to (1) incorporate statutory requirements and other relevant federal standards in its lead grant programs, (2) monitor and enforce compliance with lead paint regulations in its rental assistance programs, (3) adopt federal health guidelines and environmental standards for its lead grant and rental assistance programs, and (4) measure and report on the performance of its lead efforts. GAO reviewed HUD documents and data related to its grant programs, compliance efforts, performance measures, and reporting. GAO also interviewed HUD staff and some grantees.

What GAO Found

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) lead grant and rental assistance programs have taken steps to address lead paint hazards, but opportunities exist for improvement. For example, in 2016, HUD began using new tools to monitor how public housing agencies comply with lead paint regulations. However, HUD could further improve efforts in the following areas:
Lead grant programs. While its recent grant award processes incorporate statutory requirements on applicant eligibility and selection criteria, HUD has not fully documented or evaluated these processes. For example, HUD’s guidance is not sufficiently detailed to ensure consistent and appropriate grant award decisions. Better documentation and evaluation of HUD’s grant program processes could help ensure that lead grants reach areas at risk of lead paint hazards. Further, HUD has not developed specific time frames for using available local-level data to better identify areas of the country at risk for lead paint hazards, which could help HUD target its limited resources.
Oversight. HUD does not have a plan to mitigate and address risks related to noncompliance with lead paint regulations by public housing agencies. We identified several limitations with HUD’s monitoring efforts, including reliance on public housing agencies’ self-certifying compliance with lead paint regulations and challenges identifying children with elevated blood lead levels. Additionally, HUD lacks detailed procedures for addressing noncompliance consistently and in a timely manner. Developing a plan and detailed procedures to address noncompliance with lead paint regulations could strengthen HUD’s oversight of public housing agencies.
Inspections. The lead inspection standard for the Housing Choice Voucher program is less strict than that of the public housing program. By requesting and obtaining statutory authority to amend the standard for the voucher program, HUD would be positioned to take steps to better protect children in voucher units from lead exposure as indicated by analysis of benefits and costs.
Performance assessment and reporting. HUD lacks comprehensive goals and performance measures for its lead reduction efforts. In addition, it has not complied with annual statutory reporting requirements, last reporting as required on its lead efforts in 1997. Without better performance assessment and reporting, HUD cannot fully assess the effectiveness of its lead efforts.

What GAO Recommends

GAO makes nine recommendations to HUD including to improve lead grant program and compliance monitoring processes, request authority to amend its lead inspection standard in the voucher program, and take additional steps to report on progress. HUD generally agreed with eight of the recommendations. HUD disagreed that it should request authority to use a specific, stricter inspection standard. GAO revised this recommendation to allow HUD greater flexibility to amend its current inspection standard as indicated by analysis of the benefits and costs.