[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 128 (Thursday, July 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31344-31345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14220]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5997-N-35]


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

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, 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 comment 
from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow for 30 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: August 7, 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: HUD Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503; fax: 202-395-5806, Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna P. Guido, Reports Management 
Officer, QMAC, 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. Person 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.
    The Federal Register notice that solicited public comment on the 
information collection for a period of 60 days was published on 
February 7, 2017 at 82 FR 9591.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Understanding Rapid Re-Housing 
Study.
    OMB Approval Number: 2528--New.
    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 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 measured RRH outcomes, and RRH was one of the active 
interventions tested in the Family Options Study (FOS). 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.
    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

[[Page 31345]]

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, and 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.
    Respondents (i.e., affected public): Continuum of Care 
Collaborative Applicants, rapid re-housing program directors, and 
participants of rapid re-housing programs.

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                                             Number of     Frequency of    Responses per    Burden hour    Total burden     Hourly cost
         Information collection             respondents      response          annum       per response        hours       per response        Cost
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                                                                 Program Data Collection
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Web-based Program Survey--CoCs..........             400               1             400            0.33          133.30          $34.07       $4,541.53
Web-based Program Survey--RRH Programs..           2,400               1           2,400            0.50        1,200.00           22.69       27,228.00
RRH In-depth Program Interviews.........              20               1              20            2.00           40.00           22.69          907.60
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                                                               Participant Data Collection
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Understanding RRH Study Participation                 28               1              28            0.08            2.24           10.15           22.74
 Consent Form...........................
One-time RRH Program Participant                      28               1              28            2.30           64.40           10.15          653.66
 Interviews.............................
Understanding RRH Study Ethnography                   16               1              16            0.08            1.28           10.15           12.99
 Participant Consent Form...............
Ethnographic Interviews and Housing                   16               2              32            3.50          112.00           10.15        1,136.80
 Journals...............................
RRH Household Observations..............              16               4              64            3.00          192.00           10.15        1,948.80
Quarterly RRH Household Updates.........              16               5              80            0.17           13.60           10.15          138.04
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    Total...............................  ..............  ..............           3,068  ..............        1,758.80  ..............       36,590.16
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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.

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

    Dated: June 21, 2017.
Anna P. Guido,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-14220 Filed 7-5-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P