Healthy Homes Program Audit

Findings
(1) The Program generally responds to and schedules complaint inspections in a timely manner.

(2) Delayed Board appointments have prevented implementation of required appeals and advisory functions, limiting independent oversight of the Healthy Homes Program.

(3) Informal policies related to tenant eviction resulted in inconsistent enforcement outcomes.

(4) The Program has not implemented required health and safety inspections on reports, reducing the assurance that minimum standards are met.

(5) The Program does not conduct random inspections, reducing assurance that violations are proactively identified.

Recommendations
(1) The Office of the Mayor should consider appointing members to the Rental Housing Appeal Board to carry out the powers and duties set by Code.

(2) Program management should formalize the revised complaint-handling process by updating all Healthy Homes policies, procedures, training materials, forms, and related guidance to ensure complaints are processed consistently, regardless of a tenant's eviction status.

(3) Program management should train Program staff on the revised requirements to ensure complaints involving civil eviction proceedings receive the same intake, inspection, and enforcement processes required by the Code.

(4) Program management should require applicants and existing permit holders to submit health and safety inspection reports as part of the permit issuance and renewal processes in accordance with Code requirements.

(5) Program management should establish procedures to review, retain, and monitor submitted inspection reports and ensure staff is provided with training regarding updated procedures.

(6) The director should establish and implement a percentage of random annual routine inspections, including documented procedures for selecting, scheduling, conducting, tracking, and reporting random inspections.