HUD OIG: CEWRI projects 57 percent with defects; it is not the $179,761 release

On April 14, 2026, HUD's Office of Inspector General publishes report 2026-FW-1003 on PRDOH's CEWRI program, $395 million CDBG-DR/MIT. In DRGR as of August 21, 2025: $327,680,131 obligated, $178,918,376 disbursed. Statistical sample of 66 of 2,593 cases closed December 1, 2021 through May 9, 2024, 44 municipalities. It projects at least 57 percent, at least 1,489, with one or more deficiencies: rusted inverters, water intrusion, sun-exposed conduits, leaking tanks. Almost 33 percent of inverters or batteries off spec. More than $19 million in noncompliant installation services. This note is not the August 2024 release: $179,761 electrical. Separate pots.

PRDOH claimed 99 percent of repair cases needed electrical corrections; OIG found support for only 2 percent. It questioned $31,275,000 in contract amendments and $19,185,244 unsupported: $50,460,244 in all. It recommends remediating or repaying more than $19 million from non-federal funds and documenting more than $31 million. A recommendation is not a conviction. Obligated is not disbursed.

What remains is 57 percent projected, $19 million, and $31 million. A reader who wants 2026-FW-1003 has the HUD OIG PDF at the foot. This is not original reporting.

Source: HUD Office of Inspector General. https://www.hudoig.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/2026-kc-1003_508.pdf