[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 30472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14780]



[[Page 30472]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Approval of New Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request 
approval of additional information collection in support of the Survey 
of Housing Conditions for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers expanded 
from just the East Coast to include Midwestern and West Coast migrant 
streams.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 3, 1998 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Fox, Senior Loan Specialist, 
Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, USDA, 
Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. 20250, 
telephone (202) 720-1604 (this is not a toll free number); or you may 
contact Leslie R. Strauss, Director of Research and Information, 
Housing Assistance Council, 1025 Vermont Ave. NW., Suite 606, 
Washington, DC. 20005, telephone 202-842-8600 (this is not a toll free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey of Housing Conditions for Migrant and Seasonal 
Farmworkers.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are among the poorest 
and worst-housed groups in the United States. Only limited information 
has been collected on farmworker demographics and working conditions, 
and even less on the housing which they live. The objective of this 
survey is to collect data on the housing conditions of farmworkers in 
the midwestern and western migrant streams including types of 
structures occupied, proportion of households crowded, proportion of 
households cost burdened, proportion lacking full appliances and 
sanitary facilities, proportion residing in grower-provided housing, 
and other characteristics.
    Only a few national studies have addressed the needs of the 
farmworkers, and most have not collected information pertaining to 
housing conditions. The only major study focusing on farmworker housing 
conditions was the National Farmworker Housing Study prepared in 1980. 
This study was never published. Housing developers and others who 
provide housing to this population are hampered in serving them by this 
lack of information.
    This study has three sets of research goals. The first goal of the 
study is to refine a survey instrument that may be used by case workers 
in the field who may not have a strong background in housing 
assessment. Additionally, the survey instrument must pose a minimal 
burden upon respondents' time. The study's second goal is to develop 
new partnerships with organizations that work extensively with the 
farmworker population, so that the widest range of farmworker housing 
conditions may be surveyed in a cost-effective manner. The partnership 
developed for data collection on the East Coast should provide a model 
for replication in the Midwest and West Coast migrant streams. The 
third goal of the study is to collect a representative sample of 
farmworker housing data that illustrates the predominant housing 
structure types occupied by migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the 
physical quality of farmworker housing, overcrowding, and housing cost 
burden. These data items are the primary indicators of housing need and 
health risk. Gathering this data will help federal agencies and local 
farmworker service organizations coordinate limited resources and 
address the most pressing housing needs of farmworkers.
    This survey is being expanded from a current HUD-sponsored survey 
in the Eastern migrant stream. In combination with the study for the 
East Coast, a national perspective on housing conditions for migrant 
and seasonal farmworkers will be gained. More detailed information 
concerning farmworker housing conditions is necessary in order to 
determine the significant health risks associated with farmworker 
housing and effectively focus housing resources on the areas of 
greatest need. The collection of housing data will greatly benefit 
farmworkers by improving the information available to organizations and 
federal agencies that address farmworker health and housing needs.
    The Housing Assistant Council (HAC) is slated to perform a 
collection of farmworker housing data in the East Cost migrant stream 
under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD), and this research plan will outline the 
expansion of the data collection to the Midwest and West Coast migrant 
streams. This will also result in creating a database for the 
consolidation and retrieval of this data, and provision of stipends for 
outreach workers performing the survey.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including 
time for listening to instructions, gathering data needed, and 
responding to questionnaire items.
    Respondents: Migrant farmworkers, rural housing developers, and 
government agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1500 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jean 
Mosely, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0041.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of RHS, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RHS' estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Jean 
Mosely, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, 
Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 22, 1998.
Jan E. Shadburn,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14780 Filed 6-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-M