Book excerpt: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided over $6.7 billion in fiscal year 2008 to housing agencies to operate, modernize, and develop about 1.2 million public housing units. It is important that HUD exercise sufficient oversight of housing agencies to help ensure that public housing funds are being used as intended and properly managed. This report examines HUD's oversight processes for detecting housing agencies at risk of inappropriate use and mismanagement of public housing funds. The auditor analyzed HUD financial data on about 3,300 housing agencies, compared HUD's oversight policies with program and agency objectives, and interviewed agency officials. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.