[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9591-9592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02465]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6003-N-02]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Understanding 
Rapid Re-Housing Study

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: 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 comments 
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: April 10, 2017.

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: Anna P. Guido, Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 202-402-
5535 (this is not a toll-free number) or email at [email protected] 
for a copy of the proposed forms or other available information. 
Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number 
through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 
877-8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna P. Guido, Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Anna P. Guido at 
[email protected] or telephone 202-402-5535 (this is not a toll-free 
number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this 
number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be 
obtained from Ms. Guido.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Understanding Rapid Re-Housing 
Study.
    OMB Approval Number: Pending.
    Type of Request: New.
    Form Number: No forms.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: Rapid 
Re-Housing (RRH) is an increasingly popular approach for using the 
homeless assistance system to reduce and end homelessness in 
communities across the United States. Several studies have examined RRH 
program outcomes. HUD's Rapid Re-Housing for Homeless Families 
Demonstration Program report \1\ and the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs' research brief Impact and Performance of the Supportive 
Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program: Results from the FY 2013 
Program Year \2\ measured RRH outcomes, and RRH was one of the active 
interventions tested in the Family Options Study (FOS).\3\ Several 
local studies have also assessed RRH. Collectively, the research 
conducted to date has produced varied evidence of the outcomes for 
participants receiving this type of assistance.
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    \1\ Abt Associates, Inc., 2016. Rapid Re-Housing for Homeless 
Families Demonstration Programs Evaluation Report Part II: 
Demonstration Findings--Outcomes Evaluation Final Report. Located at 
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/rapid-rehousing-program.html.
    \2\ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2014. Impact and 
Performance of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 
Program: Results from the FY 2013 Program Year. Located at http://www.endveteranhomelessness.org/sites/default/files/research/SSVF%20Impact%20%26%20Performance%20FY%202013.pdf.
    \3\ Abt Associates, Inc., 2016. The Family Options Study. 
Located at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/family_options_study.html#impact-ir-tab.
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    The Understanding Rapid Re-Housing Study provides an opportunity to 
(1) synthesize existing research on RRH programs, (2) extend the 
analysis of data from the Family Options Study (2016), (3) provide a 
detailed examination of all rapid re-housing programs nationwide, and 
(4) conduct qualitative research with a small sample of families and 
individuals who receive RRH. The first two objectives will utilize 
existing literature and data that have already been collected. To 
examine the nation's RRH programs, we will rely on currently existing 
Annual Program Reports (APRs) from local Continuums of Care (CoCs) and 
administer a web-based survey to RRH programs. To accomplish the fourth 
objective, we will conduct in-depth interviews and ethnographic 
research with households.
    This notice announces HUD's intent to collect information through 
the following methods: Study investigators (from Abt Associates) will 
administer a program-level web-based survey, which will include two 
separate sets of questions--a short set of system-level questions for 
CoC program staff, and an in-depth set of questions for RRH program 
staff. The survey will be administered to all CoCs and RRH programs 
nationwide. To describe the program models in place, the use of 
progressive engagement, and strategies for RRH in tight rental markets, 
the study investigators will conduct in-depth telephone follow-up 
interviews with approximately 20 RRH programs. In addition, 
investigators will conduct one-time in-person in-depth interviews with 
a sample of six households in shelter who have been offered RRH but 
have not yet started to receive it, 16 households who are receiving RRH 
assistance, and six households that have already transitioned from RRH 
to permanent housing. Finally, to understand their experiences both 
during RRH and once RRH assistance ends, investigators will conduct 
ethnographic research with 16 households. This will include in-person 
interviews, household observations, quarterly check-ins, and the 
completion of housing journals.
    Respondents: Information collection for the program-level web 
survey will involve program staff from all CoCs (approximately 400) and 
all RRH programs nationwide (approximately 2,400 programs). 
Approximately 20 RRH programs will be involved in the in-depth follow-
up interviews. Information collection for the qualitative research will 
affect approximately 28 households.
    From the completed 28 interviews, study investigators will invite 
all 16 households receiving RRH to continue in the applied ethnographic 
component of the study (and we assume that 15 will complete the 
ethnographic research activities). Their one-time in-depth interviews 
will provide a baseline against which investigators will analyze data 
to be collected over the subsequent 15 months. Those data will include 
participant observation, housing journals, quarterly family updates, 
and two follow-up interviews.
    Members of Affected Public: Continuum of Care Collaborative 
Applicants, rapid re-housing program directors, and participants of 
rapid re-housing programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Web-based program survey (CoCs)--
400; web-based program survey (RRH programs)--2,400; RRH in-depth 
telephone program interviews--20; one time RRH program participant

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interviews--28; ethnographic interviews and housing journals--16; RRH 
household observations--16, and quarterly updates--16.
    Estimated Time per Response: Web-based program survey (CoCs)--20 
minutes; web-based program survey (RRH programs)--30 minutes; RRH in-
depth telephone program interviews--120 minutes; one time RRH program 
participant interviews--120 minutes; ethnographic interviews and 
housing journals--170 minutes; RRH household observations--180 minutes, 
and quarterly updates--10 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Web-based program survey (CoCs)--one time; 
web-based program survey (RRH programs)--one time; RRH in-depth 
telephone program interviews--one time; one time RRH program 
participant interviews--one time; ethnographic interviews and housing 
journals--two times, and RRH household observations--five times, and 
quarterly updates and housing journal--five times.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: $1,772.16
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $45,629.82

 
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                                                       Number of    Frequency    Responses     Burden hour   Annual  burden    Hourly cost
               Information collection                 respondents  of response   per annum    per response        hours       per response       Cost
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Web-based Program Survey--CoCs......................          400            1          400            0.33             132          $36.85    $4,864.20
Web-based Program Survey--RRH Programs..............        2,400            1        2,400             0.5           1,200           29.60       35,520
RRH In-depth Program Interviews.....................           20            1           20               2              40           29.60        1,184
One-time RRH Program Participant Interviews.........           28            1           28               2              56           10.15       568.40
Ethnographic Interviews and Housing Journals........           16            2           32            2.83           90.56           10.15       919.18
RRH Household Observations..........................           16            5           80               3             240           10.15        2,436
Quarterly RRH Household Updates.....................           16            5           80            0.17            13.6           10.15       138.04
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    Total...........................................  ...........  ...........        3,040  ..............        1,772.16  ..............    45,629.82
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting 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 through 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.

C. Authority

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

    Dated: January 30, 2017.
Matthew E. Ammon,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2017-02465 Filed 2-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P