GAO comments on housing programs

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report suggesting that more efforts are needed in fair housing controls and toward improved access for non-English speakers in a key government housing program. The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) offshoot, MHA Outreach and Borrower Intake Project, includes a Treasury Department requirement that servicers monitor compliance with fair lending laws, but no assessment has yet been made of the extent to which servicers are meeting that requirement. Also, notwithstanding a 2000 Executive Order and a 2011 Attorney General's memorandum, says the report, Treasury has only recently developed guidelines and procedures for MHA programs relating to improving access for limited English proficiency persons.