95-19597. Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 40640-40686]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-19597]
    
    
    
    
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    Part II
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Housing and Urban Development
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Office of Policy Development and Research
    
    
    
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    Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Notice
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 9, 1995 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 40640]]
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
    
    Office of Policy Development and Research
    [Docket No. FR-3917-N-14]
    
    
    Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB
    
    AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    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.
    
    DATES: Comments due date: August 23, 1995.
    
    ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
    this proposal. Comments must be received within 14 days from the date 
    of this notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and 
    should be sent to: Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., OMB Desk Officer, Office of 
    Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
    20503.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Kay F. Weaver, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and 
    Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone 
    no. (202) 708-0050. This is not a toll free number.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that the 
    Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB for 
    processing an information collection package related to the National 
    Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (hereinafter 
    ``survey''). HUD is requesting a review of this information collection 
    on or before September 8, 1995.
        The survey will provide estimates of the number and characteristics 
    of service providers and an assessment of the types of programs and 
    services available to people who are homeless. It will also provide 
    detailed characteristics of persons using services. Under the auspices 
    of the Interagency Council on the Homeless, the survey is being co-
    sponsored by 11 Federal agencies:
    
    Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Department of Health and Human Services
    Department of Veterans Affairs
    Department of Agriculture
    Department of Commerce
    Department of Education
    Department of Energy
    Department of Labor
    Department of Transportation
    Social Security Administration
    Federal Emergency Management Agency
    
        The survey includes two phases: the collection of information on 
    service providers and the collection of information on service users 
    (clients). In Phase 1, the Census Bureau will:
        (1) Select a sample of geographic areas;
        (2) Development a comprehensive list of service providers in the 
    survey sample areas;
        (3) Collect basic information from all service providers within the 
    sample areas on programs offered, via a computer-assisted telephone 
    interview; and
        (4) Select a subsample of providers and collect detailed 
    information on programs and services by mail, with telephone follow-up.
        Phase 1 of the national survey is planned to be conducted starting 
    in October 1995 and conclude by January 1996.
        In phase 2, the Census Bureau will:
        (1) Select a sample of service users (clients) within the sample 
    areas:
        (2) Select a sample of providers in designated programs; and
        (3) Select clients and conduct personal visit interviews at 
    selected service provider facilities.
        This request is for clearance to conduct Phase 1 of the survey. A 
    second package will be submitted to OMB later for Phase 2.
        This request is for the following questionnaires:
         NSHAPC-100A Service Provider Core Data.
         NSHAPC-100B Emergency Shelter Programs; 100C Transitional 
    Housing Programs; 100D Voucher Programs; and 100E Permanent Housing for 
    the Homeless Programs. Note: Each of these surveys is identical except 
    for its title and modest wording differences under the Voucher 
    instrument.
         NSHAPC-100F Alcohol/Drug Programs; 100G Mental Health Care 
    Programs; 100H Physical Health Care Programs; 100I Drop-In Center 
    Programs; 100J HIV/AIDS Programs; and 100L Other Programs. Note: Each 
    of these surveys is a shortened version of the Emergency Shelter 
    Program survey and each is identical to the other.
         NSHAPC-100K Outreach Program.
        NSHAPC-100M List of Providers Offering Homeless Programs.
        A pre-test of the survey was conducted in April 1995 in three 
    areas: Atlanta, GA; Pittsburgh, PA (including Allegheny, Fayette, 
    Washington, and Westmoreland Counties); and the Armstrong County 
    Community Action Agency Catchment area (a rural Community Action Agency 
    service area outside Pittsburgh). The survey instruments have been 
    revised to reflect the experience gained in the pre-test. The Census 
    Bureau sought and obtained substantial expert input over a two-year 
    period to develop the survey instruments.
        The Department has submitted the proposal for the collection of 
    information, as described below to OMB for review, as required by the 
    Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35):
        (1) The title of the information collection proposal;
        (2) The office of the agency to collect the information;
        (3) The description of the need for the information and its 
    proposed use;
        (4) The agency form number, if applicable;
        (5) What members of the public will be affected by the proposal;
        (6) How frequently information submission will be required;
        (7) An estimate of the total number of hours needed to prepare the 
    infromation submission including numbers of respondents, frequency of 
    response, and hours of response;
        (8) Whether the proposal is new or an extension, reinstatement, or 
    revision of an information collection requirement; and
        (9) The names and telephone numbers of an agency official familiar 
    with the proposal and of the OMB Desk Officer for the Department.
    
        Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 
    U.S.C. 3507; Section 7(d) of the Department of Housing and Urban 
    Development Act, 42 U.S.C. 3535(d).
    
        Dated: July 27, 1995.
    Michael A. Stegman,
    Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy Development and Research.
    
    Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB
    
        Proposal: National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and 
    Clients (NSHAPC).
        Office: Policy Development and Research.
        Description of the Need for the Information and its Proposed Use: 
    This national survey would provide up-to-date information about the 
    providers of homeless assistance and the characteristics of homeless 
    persons who use services. The survey will be conducted in 76 areas 
    including metropolitan and nonmetropolitan settings. The data will:
    
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        (1) be compared with the findings of a 1987 Urban Institute survey 
    of homeless characteristics to understand reported changes in the 
    nature of homelessness, especially those related to families with 
    children;
        (2) provide a basis for assessing local efforts to construct 
    ``continuums of care'' for homeless people;
        (3) be used to develop measures to assess the impact and 
    performance of current homeless programs;
        (4) will assist local governments and nonprofit organizations in 
    designing more effective local programs; and
        (5) provide a baseline for examining the effects on the homeless 
    population of proposed changes to the McKinney homeless assistance 
    programs, and America's ``safety net'' programs for the poor (e.g., 
    Section 8, AFDC, JTPA, and Medicaid programs).
        Form Number: None.
        Respondents: Homeless service providers and homeless persons.
        Frequency of Submission: One-time.
        Reporting Burden: See attachment.
        Total Estimated Burden Hours: Phase 1, Provider Surveys 17,500.
        Status: New Survey.
        Contact: James E. Hoben, HUD, (202) 708-0574 X132, George A. 
    Ferguson, HUD, (202) 708-1480, Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., OMB, (202) 395-
    7316.
        Date: July 27, 1995.
    
    Supporting Statement
    
    A. Justification
    1. Necessity of Information Collection
        The National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients 
    (NSHAPC) includes two phases: the collection of information on service 
    providers (providers) and the collection of information on service 
    users (clients).
        Phase 1: In Phase 1, the Census Bureau will:
        (1) Select a sample of geographic areas
        (2) Develop a comprehensive list of service providers in the survey 
    sample areas.
        (3) Collect basic information from all service providers within the 
    sample areas on programs offered, via a computer-assisted telephone 
    interview.
        (4) Select a subsample of providers and collect detailed 
    information on programs and services by mail, with telephone follow-up.
    
        Note: Steps 1 and 2 must be completed if Phase 2 is conducted.
    
        Phase 2: In Phase 2, the Census Bureau will:
        (1) Select a sample of service users (clients) within the sample 
    areas in two other stages.
        (2) Select a sample of providers in designated programs.
        (3) Select clients and conduct personal visit interviews at 
    selected service provider facilities.
        This request is for clearance to conduct Phase 1 of the survey. A 
    second OMB package will be submitted later for Phase 2. This request is 
    for the following questionnaires listed by title and code number.
        Data to be collected from all providers:
         NSHAPC--100A, Service Provider Core Data Questionnaire.
        Data to be collected from major shelter providers: (Note: Each of 
    these instruments is essentially identical, except for the title. 
    Therefore, review of one satisfies review of the others.)
         NSHAPC-100B, Emergency Shelter Programs.
         NSHAPC-100C, Transitional Housing Programs.
         NSHAPC-100D, Voucher Programs.
         NSHAPC-100E, Permanent Housing for the Homeless Programs.
        Data to be collected from special service providers: (Note: Each of 
    these instruments is essentially identical, except for the title. 
    Therefore, review of one satisfies review of the others.)
         NSHAPC-100F, Alcohol/Drug Programs.
         NSHAPC-100G, Mental Health Care Programs.
         NSHAPC-100H, Physical Health Care Programs.
         NSHAPC-100I, Drop-In Center Programs.
         NSHAPC-100J, HIV/AIDS Programs.
         NSHAPC-100L, Other Programs.
        Data to be collected from homeless outreach programs:
         NSHAPC-100K, Outreach Programs.
        Instrument for updating list of providers in a geographic area:
         NSHAPC-100M, List of Providers Offering Homeless Programs.
        The national survey will provide estimates of the number and 
    characteristics of service providers, and an assessment of the types of 
    programs and services available to people who are homeless. The survey 
    will also provide (in Phase 2) detailed characteristics of persons 
    using services.
        The national survey is being sponsored by the following Federal 
    agencies:
         Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
         Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
         Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
         Department of Agriculture (USDA).
         Department of Commerce (DOC).
         Department of Education (ED).
         Department of Energy (DOE).
         Department of Labor (DOL).
         Department of Transportation (DOT).
         Social Security Administration (SSA).
         Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
        Data will be collected under HUD's data collection authority.
        As part of the 1990 Census, the Census Bureau enumerated persons 
    residing in homeless shelters and pre-identified street locations. 
    However, this operation was not designed to provide the full range of 
    information needed for guiding policy decisions related to 
    homelessness. With this understanding, in September of 1993, the Bureau 
    of the Census convened a conference of researchers, representatives of 
    public interest groups, and government representatives to discuss ways 
    of improving data collection on the homeless population. The consensus 
    among this group was that the decennial census is not the appropriate 
    vehicle for gathering information on the homeless population. They 
    suggested that a new national survey using updated methodologies to 
    obtain an accurate and useful picture of those homeless people who use 
    services in the United States is needed.
    2. Needs and Uses
        The information the new survey would provide is critical for 
    developing the kinds of effective public policy responses needed to 
    break the cycle of homelessness, both through targeted programs and the 
    leveraging of mainstream resources. This survey would provide up-to-
    date information about the characteristics of today's providers of 
    homeless services and the homeless population who use services. The 
    last comparable national study was in 1987 when the Urban Institute 
    completed a survey of homeless persons. Also, included in the NSHAPC 
    would be the first national examination of the characteristics of 
    homelessness in rural America, fulfilling a Congressional mandate for a 
    report on this subject.
        The national NSHAPC survey would:
        1. Provide information on the types of programs and services 
    available to homeless persons, including population groups primarily 
    served (e.g., veterans, people with mental illness); days of operation, 
    occupancy levels, and sources of funding.
        2. Provide national information on the types of services available 
    to homeless persons in both urban and rural communities.
        3. Provide information not addressed by the last national study in 
    1987 such 
    
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    as: What are the triggering events that precipitate homelessness? Where 
    were homeless people living before they became homeless? How prevalent 
    is AIDS among homeless persons? What impact does rural homelessness 
    have on urban homelessness? What differences are there among homeless 
    persons found in cities, suburbs, and rural areas?
        4. Tell us what characteristics of the homeless population have 
    changed since the 1987 study.
        5. Collect additional information related to drug use, mental 
    illness, AIDS, tuberculosis, and previous episodes of homelessness.
        6. Include smaller cities, nonmetropolitan and rural areas in order 
    to more accurately and fully reflect homelessness in the United States. 
    The survey would interview a sufficient number of people using services 
    in 76 geographic areas to ensure reliability of the national estimates. 
    Of these 76 geographic areas, 28 would be large metropolitan areas, 24 
    would be medium and small metropolitan areas, and 24 would be 
    nonmetropolitan areas (small cities and rural areas).
    Discussion of Phase 1 Activities
        Phase 1 will be on-going from October 1, 1995 through January 1996. 
    Three steps occur in Phase 1.
    
    Step 1: Completing the CATI Interview
    
        1. Beginning on October 1, 1995, Census Bureau staff will use a 
    computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) to contact all service 
    providers in the 76 sample communities. Service providers interviewed 
    would include those with programs specifically targeted to the homeless 
    (e.g., homeless shelters, soup kitchens, homeless outreach programs) as 
    well as other community service providers with programs for which 
    homeless individuals are eligible. The purpose of the survey of service 
    providers would be to assess the types of programs and services 
    available to homeless persons in these metropolitan, suburban, and 
    rural areas. All service providers in the areas will be asked about the 
    types of programs offered and basic information about each program 
    offered, such as source of funding, days of operation, and population 
    group primarily served (e.g., veterans, people with mental illness). 
    Prior to the CATI calls, an advance letter, NSHAPC L(1)l, will be 
    mailed to each provider.
        Providers will be asked via the CATI the questions contained in the 
    NSHAPC Form 100A, Service Provider Core Data Questionnaire. The 
    following information about the service provider and programs offered 
    at that address will be collected:
         Name.
         Contact for the facility.
         Address.
         Telephone number.
         Type of facility.
         Programs provided.
        The following information will be collected for each program 
    offered:
         Average number of adults and children participating in 
    programs on a daily basis, and percent homeless.
         Average number of adults and children the facility serves 
    on a daily basis.
         Familial status of persons the facility serves on a daily 
    basis.
         Public or private affiliation.
         Source of funding.
         If the program is targeted to a specific subpopulation 
    group.
         Number of facilities under contract to, or accepting 
    vouchers.
         Expected days of operation for each program in February, 
    1996.
         Contact person for each program.
    
    Step 2: Reviewing the List of Service Providers
    
        Once the CATI interview is completed, service providers will be 
    mailed a comprehensive list of service providers in the sample areas. 
    Service providers asked to review the list for completeness and 
    accuracy, will be asked to correct any incorrect entries, and to 
    identify service providers that are omitted from the list. The updated 
    lists are to be mailed back to the Census Bureau. After receipt of the 
    reviewed list, Census Bureau personnel will remove duplicate entries 
    from the list and prepare a master list of service providers for a 
    geographic area. New service providers added to the list will then be 
    contacted and Census Bureau staff will administer the CATI interview.
        The Census Bureau plans to generate listings of service providers 
    for each of the sample areas in the survey and mail, NSHAPC Form 100-M, 
    List of Providers Offering Homeless Programs and the NSHAPC-L(2) letter 
    to all service providers shown on the comprehensive list and all 
    knowledgeable local persons. The knowledgeable local persons and 
    service providers will be asked to review the listing of all service 
    providers in their area for completeness, and to add any missed service 
    providers to the list. Note: A sample of providers will be asked to 
    provide additional information about the services they offer. This is 
    discussed below under Phase 1, Step 3.
        The Census Bureau is obtaining copies of national files of service 
    providers from national organizations, Federal agencies, and from 
    Community Action Program (CAP) coordinators. The Census Bureau has 
    obtained a copy of lists of service providers from the following 
    Federal agencies: FEMA, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, 
    and Labor, and it will obtain lists from Housing and Urban Development. 
    National organizations, such as the National Coalition for the 
    Homeless, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Law Center on 
    Homelessness and Poverty, National Network of Runaway and Youth 
    Services, Catholic Charities, Better Homes Foundation, and Volunteers 
    of America, Inc., have provided lists to the Census Bureau. The Census 
    Bureau plans to unduplicate and merge these files into one 
    comprehensive listing of service providers. This comprehensive list 
    will be used as the initial sampling frame for identifying and 
    interviewing service providers in the sample areas.
        The local update may also provide the Census Bureau with additional 
    names of service providers and local persons or organizations 
    knowledgeable about homeless services. (Federal, State, and Local 
    Agencies may not have the name of a service provider if the provider 
    does not receive any federal, state, or local funding.)
        Census Bureau personnel also will contact the state homeless 
    coordinator designated in accordance with the McKinney Homeless 
    Assistance Act. The Census Bureau will tell them about the survey, 
    indicate which counties in their state are included in the survey, and 
    provide them with a list of service providers in each of the sample 
    areas. The state coordinators will be asked to review the list of 
    service providers and note any additions or changes.
    
        Note: Census Bureau personnel have already completed some 
    initial contacts with Federal and state government offices, 
    agencies, organizations, and knowledgeable local persons to begin 
    compiling a national list of service providers.
        Shelters for abused women and runaway youths will not be on the 
    listings to be reviewed by service providers but are included in the 
    sampling frame. This is to preserve the confidential locations of 
    shelters for abused women and runaway youth.
        The Census Bureau will use the master list of service providers 
    as the frame to select the sample of service providers who will 
    receive the detailed program questionnaires and to select the sample 
    of provider facilities where client interviewing will be conducted.
    
    Step 3: Completing the Detailed Information on Programs and Services
    
        Once the CATI interviews are completed, a subsample of service 
    providers will be asked to provide more detailed information about the 
    specific 
    
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    programs and services offered at their facility. Separate 
    questionnaires for each program (e.g., NSHAPC Forms 100B to 100L) have 
    been developed. Program managers will be asked to complete a 
    questionnaire by mail for each program they administer. For each 
    program offered, program managers will receive a copy of the 
    appropriate program questionnaire and the NSHAPC L(3) L-letter. Census 
    Bureau staff will follow up by telephone all nonresponding providers.
    Discussion of Phase 2 Activities
        The second phase of the survey consists of interviewing a sample of 
    persons using services at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other 
    service locations where homeless people are found. Interviews will take 
    place continuously over a four-week period in order to obtain a 
    representative sample. In addition to providing data on characteristics 
    of the portion of the homeless population who use services, this phase 
    of the survey would identify homeless subgroups and help determine 
    their use of various types of assistance programs. It would also 
    collect limited comparative data on housed persons with very low 
    incomes who also rely on soup kitchens and other emergency assistance.
        The survey will estimate characteristics at the national level 
    only. The sample size is not large enough to produce estimates of 
    client characteristics at the regional or local levels.
        In 1987, the Urban Institute completed a survey of homeless 
    persons. Data from the 1987 Urban Institute study represent the only 
    national level data specific to homeless persons. Since the 1987 study, 
    no significant national studies have been conducted to provide national 
    information about the characteristics of homeless persons using 
    services for homeless people.
        NSHAPC data will be used to plan future programs and services 
    funded via the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act and other programs to 
    prevent homelessness as well as ameliorate it. Understanding the causes 
    of homelessness can help guide the development of preventive 
    strategies. Data from the NSHAPC will be used by the participating 
    agencies to prepare reports in accordance with the requirements of the 
    McKinney Homeless Assistance Act and other homeless assistance 
    programs.
        The following programs will benefit from the data collected in the 
    NSHAPC.
    
    Emergency/Temporary Shelter Assistance
    
    Emergency Food and Shelter Program (FEMA)--Assistance directed toward 
    temporary shelter
    Emergency Shelter Grants Program (HUD)
    Shelter for the Homeless [Department of Defense (DOD)]
    Homeless Support Initiatives--Surplus Blankets (DOD)
    
    Food and Nutrition Assistance
    
    Commodities for Soup Kitchens (USDA)
    Emergency Food and Shelter Program--Food Assistance (FEMA)
    Commissary/Food Bank Initiatives (DOD) and (Department of 
    Transportation (DOT)]
    Federal Grain Inspection Service--Donation of Surplus Samples (USDA)
    
    General Health Assistance
    
    Health Care for the Homeless Grant Program (HHS)
    
    General Health Assistance
    
    Health Care for the Homeless Grant Program (HHS)
    Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program (VA)
    
    Assistance to Homeless Persons with Disabilities
    
    Shelter Plus Care Program (HUD)
    Supportive Housing Program (HUD)
    Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) (HHS)
    Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Supports (ACCESS) 
    (HHS)
    Community Support Program--homeless-specific portion (HHS)
    National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research on Homelessness (HHS)
    Homeless Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans Program (VA)
    Safe Havens (HUD)
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Research 
    Demonstration on Homelessness (HHS)
    Drug Abuse Prevention for Runaway & Homeless Youth (HHS)
    
    Education, Training, and Employment Assistance
    
    Education for Homeless Children & Youth State Grants Prog. (ED)
    Examplory Projects Program--Homeless Children (ED)
    Adult Education for the Homeless (ED)
    Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration Program (DOL)
    Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (DOL)
    
    Housing Assistance
    
    Supportive Housing Program (HUD)
    Section 8 Assistance for SROs (HUD)
    Single Family Property Disposition Initiative (HUD)
    Transitional Housing Demonstration Program (HHS)
    Transitional Living Program for Homeless Youth (HHS)
    Farmer's Home Administration (FMHA) Homes for the Homeless (USDA)
    Shelter for Homeless Vets--Acquired Property Sales (VA)
    Base Closure Properties (DOD, HUD)
    
    Homeless Prevention
    
    Emergency Food and Shelter Program (FEMA)--Prevention Assistance
    Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program (HHS)
    Emergency Shelter Grants program (HUD)
    
    General/Misc. Aid to Homeless Providers
    
    Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program (HHS)
    Excess & Surplus Federal Real Property (GSA)/(HUD)/(HHS)
    Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (HHS)
    
    Programs for Homeless Children/Youth/Families
    
    Family Support Centers (HHS)
    Transitional Housing Demonstration Program (HHS)
    Supportive Housing Program (HUD)
    Education for Homeless Children & Youth State Grants Program (ED)
    Exemplary Projects Program--Homeless Children (ED)
    Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (HHS)
    Transitional Living Program for Homeless Youth (HHS)
    Drug Abuse Prevention for Runaway & Homeless Youth (HHS)
    
    Programs for Homeless Veterans
    
    Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program (VA)
    Homeless Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans program (VA)
    Shelter for Homeless Vets--Acquired Property Sales (VA)
    Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (DOL)
        Information collected in Phase 1 will be used to: (1) develop a 
    comprehensive listing of service providers nationwide and to develop a 
    national profile of the types of programs offered to homeless people; 
    (2) to select a sample of providers that will be asked more detailed 
    information about services offered; and (3) to select the sample 
    providers where client interviewing will be conducted.
        3. Efforts to Minimize Burden
        Not applicable. Respondents are individuals at provider facilities 
    who 
    
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    cannot respond with computer tapes or disks. We are also minimizing the 
    burden of the FEMA Local Board Contact Persons, government contacts, 
    service providers and knowledgeable local persons by giving them the 
    combined listing of service providers to review as opposed to asking 
    them to list all service providers in their area.
    4. Efforts to Identify Duplication, and Use of Available Information
        HUD consulted with other government agencies and outside experts 
    and determined that the proposed national NSHAPC will be the only 
    current, national data source with detailed information on the types 
    and availability of programs and services offered and on the 
    characteristics of literally homeless persons who use services. The 
    most recent national data is the 1987 Urban Institute Study.
        In March 1987, the Urban Institute conducted a survey of homeless 
    persons who used services in cities of 100,000 or more. The NSHAPC is 
    intended to parallel and extend the methodology used by the Urban 
    Institute in the 1987 survey to capture a higher proportion of the 
    literally homeless population who use services.
        a. The NSHAPC will include additional geographical coverage. Cities 
    with populations of 100,000 or less and areas outside of cities will be 
    included in the survey sample. (The 1987 Urban Institute survey only 
    included cities with populations over 100,000.)
        b. The NSHAPC will include additional topic coverage. The client 
    questionnaire covers more topics and in greater depth than was covered 
    in the 1987 Urban Institute Survey. There are also some questions 
    similar to those in the 1987 survey so that a comparison may be made 
    between the results of the two surveys. (The 1987 Urban Institute 
    survey only asked about drug treatment. The NSHAPC asks about drug 
    treatment, as well as, types and frequencies of drugs used, and 
    information about mental health.--
        c. The interview period for client interviews for the national 
    survey will be one month. The interview period for the Urban 
    Institute's 1987 survey was one week.
        While the results from the Urban Institute's 1987 survey provide 
    characteristics of homeless persons who used services, it does not 
    include the NSHAPC's additional emphasis on geographical and topic 
    coverage as described in A.4. The 1987 study did not provide any 
    information on the types of programs and services offered. The Urban 
    Institute survey is also almost 10 years old. More recent information 
    is needed. Thus, there is no similar information available that could 
    be used or modified for use for the purposes described.
    5. Minimizing Burden on Small Businesses
        The Census Bureau plans on using the combined files from Federal 
    agencies and national organizations and advocacy groups to generate 
    listings of service providers for each sample area in the survey and 
    mail the listings to all service providers contacted by telephone and 
    all knowledgeable local persons. The knowledgeable local persons and 
    service providers will be asked to review the listing for completeness 
    of all service providers in their area and to add any missed service 
    providers to the list. The state homeless coordinator will only be 
    asked to review the listing of service providers (Form NSHAPC 100M). 
    The Census Bureau believes the file will provide an initial 
    comprehensive listing of service providers currently offering services 
    to the homeless, thus reducing the burden of the service providers, 
    government contacts, and knowledgeable local persons. No small 
    businesses will be contacted.
    6. Consequences of Less Frequent Collection
        Not applicable. This is a one-time survey. Phase 1 will be 
    conducted from October 2, 1995 to January 15, 1996, and Phase 2 from 
    January 21 to March 30, 1996.
    7. Consistency with 5 CFR 1320.6
        The Census Bureau will collect these data in a manner consistent 
    with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.
    8. Consultations Outside the Agency
        Consultations have been made with the following people:
    
    Dr. Martha Burt, The Urban Institute, 2100 M Street, NW., Washington, 
    DC 20037, Tel: (202) 857-8551
    Ms. Lorraine Reilly (formerly of) The Urban Institute, 2100 M Street, 
    NW., Washington, DC 20037, Tel: (202) 857-8551
    Dr. Michael Dennis, Research Triangle Institute, Center for Social 
    Research and Policy Analysis, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, 
    NC 27709-2194, Tel: (919) 541-6429
    Dr. Greg Owen, Wilder Foundation, Wilder Research Center, 1295 Bandana 
    Blvd., North--Suite 210, St. Paul, MN 55108-5197, Tel: (612) 647-4612
    Ms. Joanne Wiggins, U.S. Dept. of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, 
    SW--Room 4143, Washington, DC 20202, Tel: (202) 401-1958
    Mr. Tom Fagan, U.S. Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW--Room 
    2043, Washington, DC 20202, Tel: (202) 401-0039
    Mr. John Pentecost, USDA-FmHA, Room 5345-South, MFHD-PD, Washington, DC 
    20250, Tel: (202) 720-8983
    Mr. Tom Sanders, USDA-FmHA, Room 5343-South, MFHD-PD, Washington, DC 
    20250, Tel: (202) 720-1626
    Ms. Amy Donoghue, USDA-FmHA-PAS, 3101 Park Center Drive--Room 1130, 
    Alexandria, VA 22302, Tel: (703) 305-2920
    Ms. Jean Whaley, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
    Street, SW--Room 7267, Washington, DC 20410, Tel: (202) 708-1234
    Ms. Jane Karadbil, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
    Street, SW--Room 8112, Washington, DC 20410, Tel: (202) 708-1537
    Mr. Lafayette Grisby (formerly of) Dept. of Labor, Room N-5637, 200 
    Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, Tel: (202) 535-0677
    Mr. John Heinberg, Dept. of Labor, Room N-5637, 200 Constitution 
    Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210 Tel: (202) 535-0682
    Mr. David Lah, Dept. of Labor, Room N-5637, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
    NW., Washington, DC 20210, Tel: (202) 535-0682
    Mr. Pete Dougherty, Homeless Programs Specialist, Dept. of Veterans 
    Affairs, 801 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, Tel: (202) 273-
    5716
    Mr. Eric Lindblom (IIIC) (formerly of) Office of Mental Health, Dept. 
    of Veterans Affairs, 801 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, 
    Tel: (202) 535-7311
    Dr. Robert Rosenheck, MD, VA Medical Center, NEPEC-182, 950 Campbell 
    Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, Tel: (203) 937-3850
    Ms. Cynthia Taeuber, Office of the Deputy Director, Bureau of the 
    Census, Washington, DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-4358
    Ms. Annetta Clark, Special Places/Group Quarters Team, Office of the 
    Assistant Division Chief, Population Division, Bureau of the Census 
    Washington, DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-2378
    Ms. Denise Smith, Special places/Group Quarters Team, Office of the 
    Assistant Division Chief, Population Division, Bureau of the Census, 
    Washington, DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-2378
    Dr. Charles H. Alexander, Demographic Statistical Methods Division, 
    Bureau 
    
    [[Page 40645]]
    of the Census, Washington, DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-4290
    Mr. David Hubble, Victimization and Expenditure Branch, Demographic 
    Statistical Methods Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 
    20233, Tel: (301) 457-4239
    Ms. Marjorie Dauphin, Victimization and Expenditure Branch, Demographic 
    Statistical Methods Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 
    20233, Tel: (301) 457-4190
    Ms. Miriam Rosenthal (formerly of) Victimization and Expenditure 
    Branch, Demographic Statistical Methods Division, Bureau of the Census, 
    Washington, DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-4270
    Mr. David Hornick, Victimization and Expenditure Branch, Demographic 
    Statistical Methods Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 
    20233, Tel: (301) 457-4190
    Mr. John Bushery, Quality Assurance and Evaluation Branch, Demographic 
    Statistical Methods Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 
    20233, Tel: (301) 457-1915
    Ms. Andrea Meier, Quality Assurance and Evaluation Branch, Demographic 
    Statistical Methods Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 
    20233, Tel: (301) 457-1983
    Mr. Michael McMahon, Field Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, 
    DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-4901
    Mr. Chester Bowie, Demographic Surveys Division, Bureau of the Census, 
    Washington, DC 20233, Tel: (301) 457-3773
    Mr. Steven Tourkin, Methods, Procedures and Quality Control Branch, 
    Demographic Surveys Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 
    20233, Tel: (301) 457-3791
    Ms. Jacquie Lawing, Deputy Assistance Secretary for Economic 
    Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
    Street, SW, Suite 7204, Washington, DC 20410, Tel: (202) 708-0270
    Mr. Mark Johnston, Senior Advisor on Homelessness, Department of 
    Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Suite 7274, 
    Washington, DC 20410, Tel: (202) 708-5528
    Mr. Mike Roanhouse, Office of Special Needs Assistance, Department of 
    Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Room 7258, 
    Washington, DC 20410, Tel: (202) 708-1234
    Mr. James Hoben, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department 
    of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, 
    DC 20410, Tel: (202) 708-0574
    Mr. Keith Lively, Acting Deputy Assistance Secretary for Program 
    Systems, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence 
    Avenue, SW, Room 447D, Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 690-8774
    Mr. Gerald Britten (formerly of) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program 
    Systems, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence 
    Avenue, SW, Room 447D, Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 690-8774
    Ms. Mary Ellen O'Connell, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
    Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 447D, 
    Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 260-0391
    Mr. Fred Osher (formerly of) Office of Programs for the Homeless 
    Mentally Ill, National Institute of Mental Health, Dept. of Health and 
    Human Services, Parklawn Bldg., Room 3C06, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
    Rockville, MD 20857, Tel: (301) 443-3706
    Mr. Walter Leginski, Homeless Programs Branch, Center for Mental Health 
    Services, Parklawn Building, room 11c-05, Rockville, MD 20857
    Dr. Robert Huebner, Ph.D., Health Services Research Branch, National 
    Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Dept. of Health and Human 
    Services, Willow Building, Suite 505, 600 Executive Boulevard, 
    Rockville, MD 20892-7003, Tel: (301) 443-0786
    Mr. Steve Bartolomei-Hill, Human Service Policy, Office of the 
    Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Dept. of Health and 
    Human Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg., Room 410E, 200 Independence 
    Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 690-7148
    Ms. Rhoda Davis, Office of Supplemental Security Income, Dept. of 
    Health and Human Services, Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Blvd. 
    Baltimore, MD 21235, Tel: (410) 965-6210
    Ms. Terry Lewis, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, 
    Administration for Children and Families, Dept. of Health and Human 
    Services, Mary E. Switzer Bldg., Room 2426, 330 C Street, SW, 
    Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 205-8051
    Dr. Joan Turek Brezina, Ph.D., Program Systems, Office of the Assistant 
    Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Dept. of Health and Human 
    Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg., Room 444F, 200 Independence Avenue, 
    SW., Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 690-6141
    Mr. Mike Jewell (formerly of) Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
    Planning and Evaluation, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Hubert H. 
    Humphrey Bldg--Room 447D, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
    20201, Tel: (202) 690-7316
    Ms. Peg Washnitzer, Office of Community Services, Administration for 
    Children and Families, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Aerospace 
    Bldg., 7th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447, 
    Tel: (202) 401-2333
    Mr. Richard Chambers, Division of Intergovernmental Affairs, Health 
    Care Financing Administration, Dept. of Health and Human Services, 
    Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg., Room 410B, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, 
    Washington, DC 20201, Tel: (202) 690-6257
    Ms. Joan Holloway, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public 
    Health Services, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Parklawn Bldg., 
    Room 9-12, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Tel: (301) 443-8134
    Ms. Marsha A. Martin (formerly of) Executive Director, Interagency 
    Council on the Homeless, 457 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC, Tel: 
    (202) 708-1480
    Mr. George Ferguson, Interagency Council on the Homeless, 457 Seventh 
    Street, NW, Washington, DC, Tel: (202) 708-1480
    Ms. Della Hughes, National Network of Runaway and Youth Services, 1319 
    F Street, N.W., Suite 401, Washington, D.C. 20004, Tel: (202) 783-7949
    Ms. Vera Johnson, SASHA Bruce Center Runaway Shelter, 1022 Maryland 
    Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002, Tel: (202) 675-9340
    
        As a result of these consultations, all issues were resolved.
    9. Assurance of Confidentiality
        The provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a) assure the 
    confidentiality of the data from this survey.
        During Phase 1 of the national survey, service providers contacted 
    by telephone will receive an advance letter explaining the survey and 
    the confidentiality of their responses and the voluntary nature of the 
    NSHAPC along with other information required by the Privacy Act of 1974 
    at the time of initial contact. Service providers will also receive 
    NSHAPC L(3)--letter with 
    
    [[Page 40646]]
    the NSHAPC Form N List of Providers, and with the detailed program 
    questionnaires, NSHAPC Forms 100B to 100L, (Attachments B to L, 
    respectively) explaining the survey and the confidentiality of their 
    responses. As can be seen on the NSHAPC questionnaire cover sheets 
    (Attachments B through M respectively), a statement of confidentiality 
    assurance is printed at the top of the form. Careful procedures are 
    followed by the Bureau of the Census to assure privacy during the 
    interview, and to protect the confidentiality of materials generated 
    during the course of the interview. Every Bureau of the Census employee 
    takes an oath and is subject to a jail sentence and a fine for 
    improperly disclosing any information that would identify an individual 
    or household. All field representatives are trained to interview 
    respondents in private. All questionnaires associated with the national 
    survey will be kept under secured conditions by the Bureau of the 
    Census.
    10. Justification for Sensitive Questions
        The NSHAPC-100A to NSHAPC-100M questionnaires do not include any 
    questions of a sensitive nature.
    11. Cost
        The total estimated cost for Phase 1 of the national survey is 
    $1,950,000. Cost for Phase 1, Steps 1 and 2 is $1,500,000. Cost to 
    collect detailed program and service level data (Step 3) is $450,000. 
    We compiled this estimate using individual estimates developed within 
    each Census Bureau division involved in this survey. Estimates are 
    based on the size of the sample and the length of the questionnaires. 
    Administrative overheads, design, printing, and mailing costs are 
    included.
        The total estimated cost for Phase 2 is $2,200,000.
        The only cost to the service providers and the service users 
    (clients) is the time it takes to complete the questionnaire.
    12. Estimate of Respondent Burden
        The projected number of government contacts, service providers and 
    clients to be contacted and the estimated burden for the survey are 
    indicated below:
    
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        We estimate the average time to complete the NSHAPC-100A, Service 
    Provider Core Data Questionnaire (refer to Attachment A) to be 15 
    minutes; the review of the combined list of service providers to be 15 
    minutes, and the detailed program level questionnaire (refer to 
    Attachments B to L) to be 30 minutes. These estimates are based on in-
    house testing of the questionnaires by the Census Bureau. We estimate 
    the information burden for these forms to be 20,350 hours. This 
    includes:
         6,250 hours for the CATI interview.
         6,250 hours for review of the combined list of service 
    providers.
         5,000 hours for the detailed program level questionnaire.
         2,850 hours for the Client Questionnaire.
    13. Reason for Change in Burden
        Not Applicable. This is a new survey. There are, therefore, 0 hours 
    in the current OMB inventory.
    14. Project Schedule
        Beginning in October 1, 1995, the Census Bureau plans on 
    telephoning all service providers within sample areas to collect basic 
    information about programs offered. After the phone calls are 
    completed, the Census Bureau will mail the listings of service 
    providers by sample area and the NSHAPC--L(2)L letter to providers 
    contacted by telephone. A subsample of providers will also be asked to 
    provide more detailed information about the services they offer. After 
    conducting the CATI interviews, the Census Bureau will mail the 
    appropriate questionnaires, NSHAPC Form 100B to 100L, to the providers 
    in sample.
        Census Bureau personnel also will contact individuals from federal 
    and state governments, agencies, organizations and knowledgeable local 
    persons and ask them to review the lists of service providers. The 
    Census Bureau will conduct these operations during October 1995 to 
    January 1996.
    B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods
    1. Universe and Respondent Selection
        The Census Bureau will conduct the national survey in 76 primary 
    sampling areas. The Census Bureau will interview all service providers 
    in the sample areas to collect basic information about the programs 
    offered. This is a total of 25,000 interviews. The Census Bureau will 
    select a subsample of providers within those areas and conduct detailed 
    mail interviews for the programs and services offered by the provider. 
    This is a total of a 5,000 providers.
        Phase 1 of the survey will provide information on the types of 
    programs and services available to homeless people. Phase 2 of the 
    survey will provide detailed characteristics about homeless service 
    users (clients), including the literally homeless. Most research to 
    date has been conducted in urban and suburban areas. For such areas, 
    there is a growing consensus among researchers that a service-based 
    survey design with sampling over time (vs. one-time sampling) will give 
    a good representation of the homeless population. For nonmetropolitan 
    areas, the consensus is that an expansion of the types of service 
    providers is needed to cover the homeless adequately. The Department of 
    Agriculture requested an increase in the number of sample areas and the 
    Census Bureau identified ways to design the survey to produce 
    reasonably precise estimates of rural homelessness. However, it should 
    be noted that the procedures for measuring rural homelessness will be 
    less sophisticated than our procedures in urban areas. There is much to 
    learn about rural areas and the NSHAPC is an excellent opportunity to 
    collect information about rural homelessness. In the nonmetroplitan 
    areas the sampling frame is the set of Community Assistance Program 
    (CAP) ``Catchment Areas'', wherever they exist. CAP catchment areas are 
    counties or local areas grouped together to receive funding and provide 
    services to the needy and are served by a CAP agency. Our preliminary 
    research indicates that CAP agencies are a good source for lists of 
    services in the nonmetropolitan areas they cover. In a few 
    nonmetropolitan areas where CAPs do not exist, the sampling frame is 
    the set of counties or groups of counties.
    2. Procedures for Collecting Information
    
    Sampled Service Providers
    
        The Census Bureau will conduct the survey in 76 sample areas; this 
    is the first stage of sampling. Within each sample area, a 
    comprehensive list of service providers will be developed. All 
    providers will furnish basic, core information on programs offered. 
    Phase 1, also includes a second stage of sampling where a subset of 
    service providers will be selected within each sample area to be asked 
    more detailed information about their programs and services.
    
    Sample of Clients (Service Users)
    
        In Phase 2, a sample of clients will be selected for interviewing. 
    This is a three-stage sample, where the first-stage sample corresponds 
    to the same 76 geographic areas discussed above for the provider-
    interview sample. In the second stage, a sample of providers will be 
    selected in each sample area but only in designated programs. In the 
    third stage, a sample of the clients at each of the sample provider 
    facilities will be selected.
    
    Estimation
    
        In Phase 1, the estimates needed are proportions of providers 
    falling in different categories.
        The estimates needed for Phase 2 consist of proportions of clients 
    falling in different categories. The base for these proportions can be 
    derived in two ways:
        a. Weighted estimates of the average number of persons using 
    services on any given day in February;
        b. Weighted estimates of the total number of persons using services 
    at any time during February.
        Other estimates can be derived from these. For example, the weights 
    applied to obtain estimates (a) or (b) could be used for estimates only 
    of those service-using persons who are homeless according to different 
    definitions of homelessness. For the national survey, it is likely that 
    a range of estimates will be provided, corresponding to different 
    assumptions about coverage and multiplicity biases.
        The weights for (a) will be standard survey weights based on the 
    selection probability, with adjustments for nonresponse. There will be 
    a ``multiplicity'' adjustment to reduce the relative weight of people 
    who have more than one change of selection because they use more than 
    one type of program, for example, both shelters and soup kitchens, as 
    determined from the questionnaire.
        For (b) three estimation methods are under consideration. One 
    purpose of the pretest was to get information to evaluate these 
    methods.
        METHOD 1: The weight will be proportional to the number of 
    consecutive days prior to the interview (up to 28 days) that the person 
    did not use a shelter (for the shelter sample) or soup kitchen (for the 
    soup kitchen sample), and likewise for other types of programs. For 
    example, a person who says this is their first night in any shelter in 
    the last 28 days will be given a weight 28 times the typical weight of 
    a person who was in a shelter the night before. (Intuitively, the 
    method assumes that for every person we find who is just entering 
    homelessness, there are 27 others whom we miss because we did not 
    happen to interview them on their first day.) There is a precise 
    mathematical justification for the 
    
    [[Page 40649]]
    method as given an unbiased estimate of the total number of service 
    users during 28-day periods centered around February, making some 
    assumptions that overall patterns of service use are fairly constant 
    throughout the month.
        This is intended to be our primary method. The potential drawback 
    of this method would be if the pretest finds too many people who are 
    just starting to use services after a long absence, resulting in too 
    many large weights. Limited research from 1990 census evaluation 
    projects suggests that this should not be a problem. However, if this 
    turns out to be a problem we would either use the Method 2 or use 
    Method 1 with a 7-day ``window'' instead of a 28-day ``window''.
        METHOD 2: The weight will be inversely proportional to the number 
    of days in the last week the client used a shelter (for the shelter 
    sample) or soup kitchen (for the soup kitchen sample), and likewise for 
    other types of programs. This is the procedure used in the 1987 Urban 
    Institute study. We will ask this question for comparability with that 
    survey. This approach has two disadvantages. First, even if the 
    questions are answered accurately, the method has a mathematical bias 
    unless each person has the same pattern of service use each week. 
    Second, it is not reasonable to ask a person for his/her average 
    shelter use for an entire month, so the method cannot give direct 
    estimates for the total number using services during a period longer 
    than a week.
        METHOD 3: Capture-recapture. We are not using capture-recapture 
    estimation. It would require selecting the sample independently each 
    day, so that there would be a chance that a person or small shelter 
    might come into sample numerous times.
        The Urban Institute and the Census Bureau developed the survey 
    design. As part of Joint Statistical Agreements between the Urban 
    Institute and the Census Bureau, the following operational papers and 
    references were developed. Each are available from the Census Bureau on 
    request.
    
    Joint Statistical Agreement 91-30
    
    --Developing a Provider List--November 27, 1991
    --Methodological Issues and Options--November 27, 1991
    --Options for Evaluating Coverage in Urban Areas--December 10, 1991
    --Ranking of Data Items by Federal Agencies--December 10, 1991
    
    Joint Statistical Agreement 92-01
    
    --Draft Questionnaire and Agency Data Needs--March 26, 1992
    --Developing Provider Lists for a National Homeless Survey--March 26, 
    1992
    --Proposed Methodology for a National Homeless Survey--March 26, 1992
    --Questions for Unduplicating and for Estimating a Month-Long Point 
    Prevalence and Annual Prevalence--March 26, 1992
    --Developing Estimates of the Number of Service Providers in Different 
    Strata--April 10, 1992
    --Options for Evaluating Survey Coverage in Urban Areas, and 
    Preliminary
    --Information on Rural Areas--April 10, 1992
    
    Joint Statistical Agreement 92-04
    
    --Mechanics of List Development and Additional Field and Survey 
    Procedures--August 14, 1992
    --Estimates of Service Providers and Users in Non-MSA Areas, and 
    Options for
    --Evaluating Survey Coverage in These Areas--August 4, 1992
    
    List of References
    
    3. Methods to Maximize Response
    a. Survey Frame for Client Interviews
        New research indicates the greatest improvement in coverage of the 
    homeless population is through sampling this population over time, 
    (e.g., soup kitchens and shelters) and outreach programs during a four-
    week period. The NSHAPC survey design uses a service-based methodology. 
    A ``service user'' is anyone who uses generic services or shelters, 
    soup kitchens, or other services for the homeless. The survey frame 
    will include shelters, soup kitchens, outreach programs, and possibly 
    other programs. A ``non-service user'' is anyone who does not use any 
    of these services.
        According to the 1987 Urban Institute study, the shelter frame 
    covers homeless people who use shelters, which may be 35 to 40 percent 
    of the homeless on any given night, and about 50 percent over the 
    course of a week. If conducted on a one-night basis, the shelters' 
    sampling frame taken by itself will miss many homeless who use shelters 
    infrequently, homeless service users who do not use shelters but do use 
    soup kitchens and other services, and homeless people who do not use 
    any services. If data collection involves repeated samples from the 
    same shelters over the course of a week or a month, a considerably 
    higher proportion of the homeless (perhaps as high as 70 percent) is 
    likely to be captured through a methodology based on shelters.
        The soup kitchen sampling frame, taken by itself over the course of 
    a week, will capture a proportion of very poor people residing in 
    conventional dwellings who may turn out to be at imminent risk of 
    hopelessness. According to the 1987 Urban Institute study, 43 percent 
    of soup kitchen users are not literally homeless. When shelter and soup 
    kitchen frames are combined during the course of a week, the shelter 
    and soup kitchen frames will probably cover about 70 percent of the 
    literally homeless and a small but unknown proportion of the service-
    using at-risk population. When data collection covers a month (as 
    planned for the national survey), the coverage will be even greater--
    perhaps as high as 85-90 percent of the literally homeless.
        In many cities, the array of services for the homeless include one 
    or more outreach programs. These programs may be operated by a shelter, 
    soup kitchen, drop-in center, health care center, neighborhood center, 
    or other service facility. Their target population is homeless people 
    who do not routinely use shelters or soup kitchens. The outreach 
    programs typically distribute food, and sometimes blankets or warm 
    clothing. Outreach teams typically follow a route that covers the known 
    locations frequented by homeless street people, or where homeless 
    street people assemble at the time they know the ``food wagon'' will 
    come by. Including outreach programs in a design as a sampling frame 
    allows one to maintain the control and efficiency associated with 
    sampling service programs and their users, while still reaching the 
    ``reachable'' proportion of the street homeless population. Outreach 
    programs are probably the best single source of information about the 
    hidden street population and the most cost effective opportunity to 
    make contact with the street population. Additional enumeration of 
    street locations and encampments yields little overall coverage 
    improvement when shelters, soup kitchens, and outreach programs are 
    interviewed over time.
        The NSHAPC is designed to cover as much of the literally homeless 
    population as possible and still meet the cost considerations of the 
    sponsors. From previous research, it appears that up to 90 percent 
    coverage of the literally homeless population is achievable with the 
    shelter/soup kitchen/outreach programs methodology conducted during a 
    winter month. This service-based methodology will be considerably 
    cheaper and easier than implementing a street enumeration to attempt to 
    get the last 10 percent. In addition, even if the resources were 
    committed to achieve 
    
    [[Page 40650]]
    full coverage, there is not guarantee we would get the last 10 percent.
    b. Incentives to Participate in the Survey
        The letters and information on the survey have been written to 
    explain the benefits of the survey so that respondents will be 
    encouraged to participate in the survey. Also, the Census Bureau has 
    designed the survey questionnaires to minimize respondents' time and 
    efforts. We think this effort will encourage providers to participate 
    in the survey.
    4. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection
        The following individuals are being consulted on statistical 
    aspects of the survey design:
    
    Dr. Martha Burt, The Urban Institute, 2100 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 
    20037, Tel: (202) 857-8551
    Dr. Michael Dennis, Research Triangle Institute, Center for Social 
    Research and Policy Analysis, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 
    27709-2194, Tel: (919) 541-6429
    Dr. Charles H. Alexander, Demographic Statistical Methods Division, 
    Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-4290
    
        The Census Bureau will collect the data for this survey. Mr. Steven 
    Tourkin is responsible for the collection of all data and is the Census 
    Bureau contact person for the survey.
    
    Mr. Steven C. Tourkin, Demographic Surveys Division, Bureau of the 
    Census, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-3791
    List of Attachments
    Attachment A  NASHAPC-100A, Service provider Core Data Questionnaire
    Attachment B  NASHAPC-100B, Emergency Shelter Program Questionnaire
    Attachment C  NASHAPC-100C, Transitional Housing Program Questionnaire
    Attachment D  NASHAPC-100D, Voucher Program Questionnaire
    Attachment E  NASHAPC-100E, Permanent Housing for the Homeless Program 
    Questionnaire
    Attachment F  NASHAPC-100F, Alcohol/Drug Program Questionnaire
    Attachment G  NASHAPC-100G, Mental health Care Program Questionnaire
    Attachment H  NASHAPC-100H, Physical Health Care Program Questionnaire
    Attachment I  NASHAPC-100I, Drop-in Center Program Questionnaire
    Attachment J  NASHAPC-100J, HIV/AIDS Program Questionnaire
    Attachment K  NASHAPC-100K, Outreach Program Questionnaire
    Attachment L  NASHAPC-100L, `Other' Program Questionnaire
    Attachment M  NASHAPC-100M, Provider Update Form Questionnaire
    
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    [[Page 40686]]
    [GRAPHIC][TIFF OMITTED]TN09AU95.036
    
    
    
    [FR Doc. 95-19597 Filed 8-8-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4210-01-C
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/09/1995
Department:
Housing and Urban Development Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
95-19597
Pages:
40640-40686 (47 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FR-3917-N-14
PDF File:
95-19597.pdf