E8-11639. Research Plan for a Study of Rents and Rent Flexibility

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.

Survey a sample of housing authorities and households recently admitted or on the waiting list for public housing or Housing Choice Vouchers to assess inequities and inefficiencies in the current rent system relating to subsidizing rents, setting rents/payment standards, and verifying income. The information collected will provide the needed information regarding PHA and tenant perceptions of alternative rent structures and their feasibility/practicality of incorporating them at a later date. The information shall be collected, analyzed and evaluated to provide recommendations for effective reforms on topics including but not limited to: Setting income eligibility guidelines, reporting tenant income, setting minimum and flat rents, and relating the rents and waiting period of unassisted tenants to rent setting and term limit policy, setting payment standards, and evaluating factors for an allocation formula of incremental vouchers.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: June 23, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval Number (2577-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, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Lillian Deitzer at [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.

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: Research Plan for a Study of Rents and Rent Flexibility.

OMB Approval Number: 2577-NEW.

Form Numbers: None.

Description of the Need for the Information and Its Proposed Use: Survey a sample of housing authorities and households recently admitted or on the waiting list for public housing or Housing Choice Vouchers to assess inequities and inefficiencies in the current rent system relating to subsidizing rents, setting rents/payment standards, and verifying income. The information collected will provide the needed information regarding PHA and tenant perceptions of alternative rent structures and their feasibility/practicality of incorporation them at later date. The information shall be collected, analyzed and evaluated to provide recommendations for effective reforms on topics including but not limited to, setting income eligibility guidelines, reporting tenant income, setting minimum and flat rents, and relating the rents and waiting period of unassisted tenants to rent setting and term limit policy, setting payment standards, and evaluating factors for an allocation formula of incremental vouchers.

Frequency of Submission: Other one-time.

	Number of respondents	Annual responses	×	Hours per response	=	Burden hours
Reporting Burden	1,830	1		1.01		1,864

Total Estimated Burden Hours: 1,863.

Status: New Collection.

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

Dated: May 19, 2008.

Lillian L. Deitzer,

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