Assuming that the notice of decision is interpreted to uphold the termination based solely on Johnson's failure to timely notify the housing authority of her eviction, contrary to Johnson's argument, the decision comports with the requirements of due process. Johnson is correct that a "hearing officer's failure to make any findings, coupled with his failure to indicate any awareness that he was explicitly authorized by HUD to exercise his discretion to take into account relevant circumstances" is contrary to established law. ( Carter v. Lynn Hous. Auth. (2008) 450 Mass. 626, 880 N.E.2d 778, 786-787.) Here, however, the second paragraph of the *616decision quoted above demonstrates that the hearing officer was aware of the housing authority's discretion to excuse the violation but nonetheless chose not to exercise that discretion in Johnson's favor. As the hearing officer noted, Johnson did not attempt to justify or excuse her failure to notify the housing authority of her eviction. Nor did she offer any evidence or argument regarding mitigating circumstances. Although the termination of services undoubtedly may result in a significant hardship for Johnson, nothing in the *696record suggests that the hardship is significantly different from the hardship that most other recipients of housing assistance suffer when their benefits are terminated. Nothing in the record demonstrates that the hearing officer abused its discretion in refusing to excuse the violation.