E7-6767. Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Survey of HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

The survey will gather information on the organizational characteristics of all HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, including the type of services they provide, number and characteristics of their staff, size of their budget for counseling services and sources of funds, the characteristics of their counseling service delivery process and opinions regarding key policy issues facing the industry. This survey is part of a broader study to help inform HUD's efforts to support the housing counseling industry by providing more systematic information and it will lay the groundwork for an impact evaluation of pre-purchase housing counseling.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: May 11, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval Number (2528-NEW) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lillian Deitzer, Departmental Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail [e-mail] or telephone [phone]. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Deitzer or from HUD's Web site at http://www5.hud.gov:63001/​po/​i/​icbts/​collectionsearch.cfm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice informs the public that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB a request for approval of the information collection described below. This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

This notice also lists the following information:

Title of Proposal: Survey of HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies.

OMB Approval Number: 2528-NEW.

Form Numbers: None.

Description of the Need for the Information and Its Proposed Use: The survey will gather information on the organizational characteristics of all HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, including the type of services they provide, number and characteristics of their staff, size of their budget for counseling services and sources of funds, the characteristics of their counseling service delivery process and opinions regarding key policy issues facing the industry. This survey is part of a broader study to help inform HUD's efforts to support the housing counseling industry by providing more systematic information and it will lay the groundwork for an impact evaluation of pre-purchase housing counseling.

Frequency of Submission: Other one time.

	Number of respondents	Annual responses	x	Hours per response	=	Burden hours
Reporting Burden	2,200	0.8		1		1,760

Total Estimated Burden Hours: 1,760.

Status: New Collection.

Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35, as amended.

Dated: April 5, 2007.

Lillian L. Deitzer,

Departmental Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.