[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2700-2702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-820]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5480-N-04]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; 
American Housing Survey

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, 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.
    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 
mandate the collection of this information.
    Like the previous surveys, the 2011 AHS collects 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. The 2011 AHS 
will collect additional data on potential health and safety hazards in 
the home and modifications made to assist occupants living with 
disabilities. Selected neighborhood and journey to work questions will 
not be collected in the 2011 survey and the mortgage questions will be 
redesigned. There is no AHS-Metropolitan Sample in the 2011 survey. 
But, a supplemental sample of housing units will be selected for 30 
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

[[Page 2701]]

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.

DATES: Comments Due Date: February 14, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
approval Number (2528-0017) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, 
Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503; fax: 202-395-5806. E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Colette Pollard at 
[email protected]; or telephone (202) 402-3400. This is not a 
toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be 
obtained from Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB a 
request for approval of the Information collection described below. 
This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affecting 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: 2011 American Housing Survey.
    OMB Approval Number: 2528-0017.
    Form Numbers: Computerized Versions of AHS-21, AHS-22 and AHS-23.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Its 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 
mandate the collection of this information.
    Like the previous surveys, the 2011 AHS collects 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. The 2011 AHS 
will collect additional data on potential health and safety hazards in 
the home and modifications made to assist occupants living with 
disabilities. Selected neighborhood and journey to work questions will 
not be collected in the 2011 survey and the mortgage questions will be 
redesigned. There is no AHS-Metropolitan Sample in the 2011 survey. 
But, a supplemental sample of housing units will be selected for 30 
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.
    Frequency of Submission: Biennially.

                                        Estimation of the Total Number of Hours Needed To Prepare the Information
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                                             Interview type                                                    Total        Respondent burden combined
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    addresses   -------------------------------
                                                                                                         ----------------  (D)  Avg min     (E)  Total
                  (A)  Name                                         (B)  Definition                          (C)  AHS        per intv          hours
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Occupied.....................................  Sampled addresses with one or more residents.............         138,700              49         113,272
Vacant.......................................  Sampled addresses intended for occupancy but currently             22,800              20           7,600
                                                without residents.
Noninterview.................................  Sampled addresses not intended for occupancy or occupants          28,500               0               0
                                                refuse to participate.
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                                Total Addresses for Data Collection (DC)                                         190,000  ..............  ..............
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Reinterview..................................  Second quality control check interview at 7 percent of             13,300              10           2,217
                                                the above sampled addresses.
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[[Page 2702]]

 
                             Total DC and Reinterview Addresses/Burden Hours                                     203,300  ..............         123,088
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Computations:
Total Hours = (Average Minutes per Case * Total Addresses)/60
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    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

    Dated: January 10, 2011.
Colette Pollard,
Departmental Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-820 Filed 1-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P