2012-20420. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: 2013 American Housing Survey

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: October 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David A. Vandenbroucke at [phone] (this is not a toll-free number), or Joe Huesman, Bureau of the Census, Demographic Surveys Division, Washington, DC 20233, [phone] (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department will submit the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).

This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected 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: 2013 American Housing Survey.

OMB Control Number: 2528-0017.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The American Housing Survey (AHS) provides a periodic measure of the size and composition of the country's housing inventory. Title 12, United States Code, Sections 1701Z-1, 1701Z-2(g), and 1710Z-10a mandates the collection of this information.

Like the previous surveys, the 2013 AHS will collect data on subjects such as the amount and types of changes in the inventory, the physical condition of the inventory, the characteristics of the occupants, housing costs, the persons eligible for and beneficiaries of assisted housing, and the number and characteristics of vacancies. There are plans to collect additional data on people who had to temporarily move in with other households, neighborhood conditions, working from home, ability to travel via public transportation, bicycling, or walking, energy efficiency, and emergency preparedness. Questions about potential health and safety hazards and home modifications made to assist occupants living with disabilities that were added to the 2011 survey will not be included in the 2013 survey. A supplemental sample of housing units will be selected for approximately 31 metropolitan areas. The supplemental sample will be combined with existing sample in these areas in order to produce metropolitan estimates using the National data.

Policy analysts, program managers, budget analysts, and Congressional staff use AHS data to advise executive and legislative branches about housing conditions and the suitability of public policy initiatives. Academic researchers and private organizations also use AHS data in efforts of specific interest and concern to their respective communities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs the AHS data for two important uses.

1. With the data, policy analysts can monitor the interaction among housing needs, demand and supply, as well as changes in housing conditions and costs, to aid in the development of housing policies and the design of housing programs appropriate for different target groups, such as first-time home buyers and the elderly.

2. With the data, HUD can evaluate, monitor, and design HUD programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Members of affected public: Households.

Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response:

Number of Respondents	194,000.
Estimate Responses per Respondent	1 every 2 years.
Time (minutes) per respondent	45.
Total hours to respond	145,500.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Status of the proposed information collection: Pending OMB approval.

Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 9(a), and Title 12 U.S.C. Section 1701z-1 et seq.

Dated: August 14, 2012.

Erika Poethig,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.