Oregon Can’t Account for $426 Million in COVID-19 Funding
Jobob | 2 days agoA recently released audit on Thursday has uncovered significant discrepancies in the handling of COVID-19 emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds by Oregon’s Housing and Community Services (OHCS). The audit, conducted by the Oregon Audits Division, reveals that the state agency lost track of $426 million allocated for the ERA program.
According to the audit, OHCS was unable to determine the extent to which the $426 million was utilized for the intended rental assistance program. It also pointed out that the agency lacked oversight and controls, making it uncertain whether the spending adhered to federal guidelines or how much emergency funding reached eligible applicants. Moreover, OHCS failed to reliably determine the number of total applications that received payments or the households that were assisted.
“OHCS distributed $426 million in emergency rental assistance as of June 2023,” the audit states. “However, because of limited oversight and controls, OHCS cannot be certain spending met federal guidelines, or how much emergency funding went to eligible applicants. Also, the agency has not reliably determined how many total applications were paid, or households helped.”
Although the ERA program concluded after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2024, the funds’ mismanagement has left renters in the state without the intended relief. . . .
https://www.tpusa.com/live/report-oregon-cant-account-for-426-million-in-covid-19-funding
When this happens in the private sector, people go to prison for embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. When government does it, no one even gets charged.
