[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19233-19234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07663]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5932-N-01]


Request for Specific Policy Proposals and Methods of Research and 
Evaluation for MTW Demonstration Expansion

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to solicit recommendations for specific policy 
proposals and methods of research and

[[Page 19234]]

evaluation to be implemented as part of the expansion of the Moving to 
Work (MTW) demonstration program. The 2016 Consolidated Appropriations 
Act (the Act) authorizes HUD to expand the MTW demonstration program by 
an additional 100 high performing Public Housing Agencies over a period 
of seven years.\1\ Agencies will be added to the MTW demonstration by 
cohort and the Act requires that for each cohort of agencies ``the 
Secretary shall direct one specific policy change to be implemented by 
the agencies.'' Having an entire cohort adopt a specific policy will 
facilitate the evaluation of that policy.
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    \1\ Pub. Law 114-113, Sec. 239.

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DATES: Comments Due Date: May 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
specific policy and evaluation proposals to the Moving to Work Office, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 4130, Washington, DC 20410-
0001 or email at [email protected]. HUD strongly encourages commenters 
to submit comments electronically. Communications must refer to the 
above docket number and title and should contain the information 
specified in the ``Request for Public Comments'' section.
    No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable.
    Public Inspection of Public Comments. A summary of all comments 
received by HUD will be made available on HUD's Web site at: http://www.hud.gov/mtw.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this notice 
should be directed to the Moving to Work Office, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The statutory purpose \2\ of the MTW demonstration is to give 
agencies and HUD the flexibility to design and test various approaches 
for providing and administering housing assistance that:
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    \2\ Congress originally authorized the MTW demonstration in 1996 
(Pub. Law 104-134; 42 U.S.C. 1437f note).
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    (1) reduce cost and achieve greater cost effectiveness in federal 
expenditures;
    (2) give incentives to families with children where the head of 
household is working; is seeking work; or is preparing for work by 
participating in job training, educational programs, or programs that 
assist people to obtain employment and become economically self-
sufficient; and
    (3) increase housing choices for eligible low-income families.
    Agencies will be added to the MTW demonstration by cohort and per 
the Act: ``the Secretary shall direct one specific policy change to be 
implemented by the agencies, and with the approval of the Secretary, 
such agencies may implement additional policy changes.''
    As part of the process to expand the MTW demonstration, the Act 
states that ``[t]he Secretary shall establish a research advisory 
committee which shall advise the Secretary with respect to specific 
policy proposals and methods of research and evaluation for the 
demonstration.'' Through this Notice, HUD is requesting specific policy 
proposal recommendations, and methods for research and evaluation 
recommendations, that will inform the advisory committee in making its 
own recommendations to the Secretary.
    With the expansion of the MTW demonstration, HUD aims to learn from 
MTW interventions in order to improve the delivery of federally 
assisted housing and promote self-sufficiency for low-income families 
across the country.

II. Request for Public Comments

    HUD seeks public comments on specific policy proposal 
recommendations, and research and evaluation proposal recommendations, 
as described in sections II.A and II.B below. Public housing agencies, 
HUD-assisted housing residents, researchers, and HUD stakeholders are 
encouraged to submit comments.

A. Specific Policy Proposal Recommendations

    HUD seeks specific policy proposal recommendations related to the 
three MTW demonstration statutory objectives of cost effectiveness, 
self-sufficiency, and housing choice. For example, HUD is interested in 
specific policy areas such as:
     Increasing moves of low-income families to high-
opportunity neighborhoods;
     Improving education outcomes through housing partnerships;
     Using administrative flexibilities to reduce costs and 
improve operations, governance, and financial management;
     Structuring alternative rent-setting methods;
     Streamlining admissions and/or occupancy policies (i.e., 
work requirements, time limits, waitlist preference alterations);
     Developing strategies to better utilize project-based 
vouchers;
     Improving the health and well-being of elderly and 
disabled residents;
     Achieving the goal of ending homelessness for families, 
veterans, youth, and the chronically homeless; and
     Cultivating supportive or sponsor-based housing policies.

B. Research and Evaluation Proposal Recommendations

    HUD also seeks recommendations for research and evaluation methods 
to be utilized in association with specific policy proposals that will 
be implemented by MTW agencies in the expanded MTW demonstration. The 
Act specifically requires that rigorous research methods be used to 
test the policy proposals. HUD seeks specific proposals of what the 
committee should consider as rigorous research in addition to 
randomized control trials. In addition, the law calls for the advisory 
committee to recommend what policies already are proven effective and 
could be implemented without further research. HUD seeks comment on 
what policies should be considered as having already been proven 
successful, with specific reference to the rigorous research that 
supports the claim.

    Dated: March 28, 2016.
Lourdes Castro Ram[iacute]rez,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
Katherine M. O'Regan,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2016-07663 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P