2016-20956. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment on the 2017 American Housing Survey

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: October 31, 2016.

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: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anna Guido, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Anna Guido at [e-mail] or telephone [phone]. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at [phone]. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Guido.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

A. Overview of Information Collection

Title of Information Collection: 2017 American Housing Survey.

OMB Control Number: 2528-0017.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The purpose of the American Housing Survey (AHS) is to supply the public with detailed and timely information about housing quality, housing costs, and neighborhood assets, in support of effective housing policy, programs, and markets. 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 2017 AHS will collect “core” data on subjects, such as the amount and types of changes in the housing inventory, the physical condition of the housing inventory, the characteristics of the occupants, housing costs for owners and renters, the persons eligible for and beneficiaries of assisted housing, remodeling and repair frequency, reasons for moving, the number and characteristics of vacancies, and characteristics of resident's neighborhood.

In addition to the “core” data, HUD plans to collect “topical” data on disaster and emergency preparedness, how people commute to work and commuting costs, the causes and effects of evictions, and recent delinquent payments and notices for mortgage, rent, or utility bills.

The AHS national longitudinal sample consists of approximately 92,000 housing units, and includes oversample from the 15 largest metropolitan areas, approximately 5,250 HUD-assisted housing units, and approximately 6,000 “bridge sample” housing units. The bridge sample will allow for estimation of longitudinal changes between 2013, 2015, when the AHS introduced a new sample, and 2017. The bridge sample will also facilitate analyses of the impact of survey design changes on 2017 AHS estimates. In addition to the national longitudinal sample, HUD plans to conduct 15 metropolitan area samples, each with approximately 3,000 housing units (for a total 45,000 metropolitan area housing units).

To help reduce respondent burden on households in the longitudinal sample, the 2017 AHS will make use of dependent interviewing techniques, which will decrease the number of questions asked.

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.

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.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 137,000.

Estimated Time per Response: 40 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One time every two years.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 91,333.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is that of their time. The total estimated cost is $67,600,000.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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

B. Solicitation of Public Comment

This notice solicits comments from members of the public and affected parties concerning the collection of information described in Section A on the following:

(1) 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) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions.

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

Dated: August 17, 2016.

Katherine M. O'Regan,

Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy Development and Research.