[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27839-27840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12684]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4818-N-05]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: 
Extension of Survey of Housing Conditions for Households Living in 
Federally-Assisted Units

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: July 21, 2003.

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 20410-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Haley, 202-708-5537, ext. 5708 
(this is not a toll-free number), for copies of the proposed forms and 
other available documents.

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: Extension of Survey of Housing Conditions for 
Households Living in Federally-Assisted Units.
    OMB Control Number: 2528-0170 (exp. 02/21/04).
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use: HUD 
developed and tested a cost-effective mail survey instrument for 
assessing the condition of housing units assisted through HUD's Choice 
Voucher Program (formerly known as section 8). The pilot survey, which 
elicited renters' ratings of their housing, provided high levels of 
agreement with independent condition ratings by professional 
inspectors. HUD implements the survey as an ongoing tool to assess 
customer ratings of the condition of housing assisted through the 
Housing Choice Voucher Program. This survey helps HUD focus its 
monitoring and technical assistance resources on property owners and

[[Page 27840]]

housing authorities whose performance most need improvement. It also 
provides policy and program managers with valid measures for tracking 
housing conditions over time.
    Agency Form Numbers: None.
    Members of the Affected Public: Households residing in units 
receiving assistance from the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
    Estimation of the Total Number of Hours Needed to Prepare the 
Information Collection Including Number of Respondents, Frequency of 
Response, and Hours of Response: Information will be collected by a 
periodic mail survey of 259,000 of the 1.8 million households who live 
in housing units assisted through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. 
Based on the first year of data collection, a 62 percent response rate 
is expected. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. 
This means a total of 40,145 hours of response time annually is 
expected for the information collection.
    Status of the Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Pending 
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

    Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: May 14, 2003.
Christopher D. Lord,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 03-12684 Filed 5-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-P