The audit stated that collecting sensitive information and not securely storing it puts the division at risk of losing that information. “If that were to occur, the division may have to make time-consuming and expensive notifications to affected persons,” the audit said. Agency officials said about 25 percent of the information has been removed, and the agency has changed the application so as to not collect unnecessary information.
According to division chief Jim DeProsse, applications for a state program that subsidizes manufactured home community (MHC) rents no longer requests copies of SS cards.
The MHD inspects MH for safety, maintains records of ownership, investigates complaints between residents and community management as well as administers the rent subsidy program.
The audit also revealed the agency did not always re-inspect manufactured homes after they failed an initial state inspection, leaving homes vulnerable to health and safety issues. The division sells permits for repairing or remodeling MH, and leaves it up to the permit holder to notify the MHD when the work is complete. However, the audit revealed that in cases where MH failed an initial inspection, 58 percent were not re-inspected.
The audit suggested the agency needs to improve its monitoring processes and not depend upon permit holders to schedule a re-inspection. “Without a monitoring process, unsafe conditions may go unnoticed and occupants harmed as a result,” auditors wrote.
DeProsse says he has instituted policies to track all permits the agency sells. ##
(Photo credit: gfhomesandland–manufactured home)
