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Yolo County Housing Authority approves write-off of uncollected public-housing debt after collections update
Summary
Staff reported $585,638 in total delinquencies across current and past public-housing households and the board approved writing off $143,762.51 of uncollectible debt from past residents in accordance with HUD reporting rules.
The Yolo County Housing Authority reviewed public-housing collections and approved an uncollected-debt write-off at its May 21 meeting.
Housing Program Manager Anissa Vallejo presented a delinquency overview. Staff began periodic delinquency reporting in March 2023; the authority’s real estate services department has experienced turnover, which Vallejo said contributed to collection challenges. Staff captured additional utility charges beginning February 2025 after implementing new finance software, which temporarily increased reported balances.
Vallejo reported that as of April 2025 the authority was tracking about $585,638 in delinquent charges across current and former public-housing households, including approximately $320,000 in rent, about $252,000 in solar charges and roughly $13,000 in utilities. The delinquency total represented 337 households (238 current residents and 79 former residents). Vallejo said 120 current households owed more than $1,000 and that 52 residents were on repayment agreements totaling about $81,000.
Vallejo asked the board to approve a write-off for delinquent amounts from past households that are deemed uncollectible and which HUD management guidance allows housing authorities to remove from receivables while continuing collection efforts. She told the board the total amount shown for past tenants on March 31, 2025 was $143,762.51 and staff requested approval to write off that amount for accounting purposes. Vallejo said written-off amounts remain owed and that the authority will continue to pursue collections, use HUD’s Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system to record debts owed to housing authorities, and refer recoverable accounts to collection agencies when appropriate.
Vallejo credited recent improvements to having a stable real-estate-services supervisor, Liz Vittell, and implementation of RentCafe for online payments and electronic communications. She said staff are interviewing collection vendors (two finalists, including FCO and a local Sacramento firm) and are working with eviction counsel — eviction work is referred to attorney Brant Bordeson of Fuchs Bordeson — when legal action is necessary.
Board members asked about how sold-off debt is handled and about how other housing authorities use the EIV record; Vallejo said other PHAs can view the EIV entry during eligibility reviews and often deny applications when applicants owe another authority. Vallejo said the authority will continue using repayment agreements and pursue evictions only as a last resort.
The board voted to approve the recommended write-off in accordance with HUD financial reporting requirements. The motion carried by voice vote.
Ending: Staff will continue internal collection efforts, pursue repayment agreements for residents with large balances, refer uncollectible accounts to a collection agency, and report results back to the board.
