U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

2007 Presidential Award for Management Excellence

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Improved Financial Performance
Innovative and Exemplary Practices

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development' s (HUD) mission is to encourage homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination.  To fulfill this mission, HUD forges new partnerships that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level. 

HUD embraces high standards of ethics, management and accountability.  To address a substantial level of improper payments within HUD's rental assistance programs, the Bureau of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) created the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System.  This innovative system obtains income data from Federal agencies via a monthly computer matching program.  The EIV System displays information program administrators use to determine the level of rental subsidy a family is eligible to receive. 

HUD's EIV program has produced exemplary results, proving to be effective in reducing improper payments.  Previously, improper payments were $3.2 billion of which $978 million was attributed to tenants under reporting income.  Data from Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 indicates HUD surpassed its FY 2005 goal for a 50 percent reduction in net subsidy overpayments with a 69 percent reduction ($1.370 billion) from FY 2000 through FY 2005.  HUD also reduced gross improper payments by 60 percent ($1.932 billion) during the same period.  

The Office of Management and Budget credited the Enterprise Income Verification System with these results.  This and other accomplishments led the Government Accountability Office to remove HUD from its “High Risk” list.

The techniques used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve this financial system can be shared across Government.