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The Committee Against Spouse Abuse (CASA) Women’s Shelter is currently under investigation by the Arkansas State Police. This follows a series of audits and monitoring reviews conducted by both the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Department of Finance and Administration.
The findings, spanning multiple grant periods, have revealed significant financial discrepancies and administrative shortcomings, many of which are attributed to the shelter’s previous leadership. Below is a summary of the findings:
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) covid-19 program findings (Oct. 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2023):
No supporting documentation for payments: Salaries paid to employees and contractors in amounts ranging from $6,240 to $15,000, which lacked time sheets, case notes, paycheck stubs, or other supporting documents.
Conflict of interest violations: Payments to the spouse of an employee ($10,727 for covid cleaning and $6,013 for classroom equipment) were flagged due to his wife being a CASA employee.
Unaccounted bus tickets: $150 paid to Jefferson Partners LP lacked documentation of recipients.
Missing ice machine: $3,500 reimbursed to a company for an ice machine could not be verified.
Unverified classroom furniture: $907.69 paid to a person that lacked physical proof of purchase.
Ineligible lawn service expense: $90 paid to a person for lawn care at the thrift store was deemed unallowable.
Unperformed audit: $7,193.95 paid to a company for an audit that had not been conducted since 2019.
Unaccounted bus tokens: $500 paid to a company that lacked logs of recipients.
Missing security system: $3,520 reimbursed to a company for a new system that could not be verified.
Emergency Solutions Grant regular program findings (Oct. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023):
Ineligible expense: $38.50 reimbursed for thrift store expenses was deemed unallowable.
Ineligible domestic violence materials: $880 reimbursed for materials that violated ESG policy.
Expenses outside grant year: $1,969.95 reimbursed for services rendered before the grant period.
Non-itemized invoice: $1,029.25 reimbursed for supplies lacked itemized details.
Duplicate payments accusations (Oct. 1, 2022 – Jan. 26, 2023):
Payroll Overlap: $12,559.60 in payroll costs for an employee was billed to both DFA Victims of Crime Act and the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault Human Trafficking grants.
Corrective actions taken by CASA
Engaged a professional payroll company to ensure accurate tracking and processing.
Strengthened internal controls requiring dual signatures on checks.
Instituted procurement policies prohibiting conflicts of interest.
Implemented inventory tracking for purchased assets.
Mandated itemized documentation for all grant-related expenditures.
Repayment and appeals
CASA has acknowledged the findings and proposed repayment plans totaling $73,239.37 for ESG-related overpayments and $12,559.60 for duplicate payroll costs. The shelter has requested leniency and waivers from HUD and DFA, citing financial hardship and ongoing investigations into alleged forgery and embezzlement by former leadership.
Impact on services
CASA’s current leadership has emphasized the shelter’s commitment to transparency and compliance while working to rebuild trust and ensure uninterrupted services for survivors of domestic violence in Southeast Arkansas.
The shelter’s board and executive team continue to cooperate with state and federal agencies to resolve these issues and safeguard the organization’s future.
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Women’s shelter under investigation after financial discrepancies found – Pine Bluff Commercial News
