Review of Community Services Block Grant Costs for the Period October 1, 2007, Through September 30, 2010, Claimed for the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc.

Of the $1.6 million in claims by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (State agency) for the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc. (GLCAC), we found that $1.4 million met the terms of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), CSBG Recovery Act grant, and applicable Federal requirements. However, the State agency overstated its claim to the CSBG and CSBG Recovery Act grants by a total of $157,000.

In addition, the documentation from GLCAC was inadequate for us to determine whether $67,000 in compensation, occupancy, and rent costs were allocated correctly under the terms of the grants and applicable Federal requirements. We are deferring the questionable allocation to the State agency to determine the correct allocation or make a financial adjustment to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

These deficiencies occurred because GLCAC did not have adequate policies and procedures and related internal controls to ensure that it claimed costs that met the terms of the grants and applicable Federal requirements.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. No. 111-5, enacted February 17, 2009, ACF received an additional $1 billion for the CSBG program for States to alleviate causes and conditions of poverty in communities.