[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32571-32572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14811]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6003-N-06]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Family Self-
Sufficiency Program Demonstration

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: September 12, 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-
5534 (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: The Family Self-Sufficiency 
Demonstration.
    OMB Approval Number: 2528-0296.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
Department is conducting this study under contract with MDRC and its 
subcontractor (M. Davis and Company, Inc.) and consultants. The project 
is an evaluation of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program operated 
at Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) across the U.S. The study will use 
random assignment methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. 
FSS has operated since 1992 and serves voucher holders and residents of 
public housing. The FSS model is essentially case management plus an 
escrow account. FSS case managers create a plan with families to 
achieve goals and connect with services that will enhance their 
employment opportunities. Families accrue money in their escrow 
accounts as they increase their earnings.
    To date, HUD has funded two other studies of the FSS program, but 
neither can tell us how well families would have done in the absence of 
the program. A random assignment model is needed because participant 
self-selection into FSS limits the ability to know whether program 
features rather than the characteristics of the participating families 
caused tenant income gains. Random assignment will limit the extent to 
which selection bias is driving observed results.
    The demonstration underway will document the progress of a group of 
FSS participants from initial enrollment to program completion (or 
exit). The intent is to gain a deeper understanding of the program and 
illustrate strategies that assist participants to obtain greater 
economic independence. While the main objective of FSS is stable, 
suitable employment, there are many interim outcomes of interest, which 
include: getting a first job; getting a higher paying job; self-
employment/small business ownership; no longer needing benefits 
provided under one or more welfare programs; obtaining additional 
education, whether in the form of a high school diploma, higher 
education degree, or vocational training; buying a home; buying a car; 
setting up savings accounts; or accomplishing similar goals that lead 
to economic independence.
    Data for this evaluation are being gathered through a variety of 
methods including informational interviews and discussions, direct 
observation, and focus groups. The work covered under

[[Page 32572]]

this information request is for interviews with PHA staff, partners, 
and study participants receiving FSS services.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency Form Numbers: No agency forms will be used. The quarterly 
reporting will be accomplished through a short narrative report.
    Respondents: 180 Respondents in all.
    Members of Affected Public: 90.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 180.
    Frequency of response: Once.
    Hours of response: 90 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 279 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $4,325.94.
    PHA and Partner Staff: 90
    Individuals receiving subsidized housing and enrolled in the FSS 
program (treatment group): 90.

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                                                                                                                              Hourly
     Information collection          Number of        Frequency of    Responses per    Burden hour per     Annual burden     cost per     Annual cost
                                    respondents         response          annum            response            hours         response
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Study Participant Interviews     90 participants    Once...........  One............  90 minutes, on     135 hours (90 *    \1\ $7.25  $489.38 (45
 and/or Focus Groups.             (10 participants                                     average (1.5       1.5).                         employed sample
                                  * 9 sites).                                          hours).                                          members * $7.25*
                                                                                                                                        1.5 hours).
PHA Staff Interviews (on-site).  27 staff (3 staff  Once...........  One............  90 minutes, on     40.5 hours (27 *   \2\ 24.33  $985.40 (27 staff
                                  * 9 sites).                                          average (1.5       1.5).                         * $24.33* 1.5
                                                                                       hours).                                          hours).
PHA Staff Interviews             18 staff (2 staff  Once...........  One............  90 minutes, on     27 hours (18 *     \2\ 24.33  $656.91 (18 staff
 (telephone).                     * 9 sites).                                          average (1.5       1.5).                         * $24.33 * 1.5
                                                                                       hours).                                          hours).
Cost Study Data Collection       18 staff (1 staff  Once...........  One............  120 minutes, on    36 hours (18           33.58  $1208.88 (18
 Activities with PHA staff.       * 18 sites).                                         average (or 2      staff * 2).                   staff * $33.58 *
                                                                                       hours).                                          2 hours).
FSS Partner Staff Interviews...  27 staff (1 staff  Once...........  One............  90 minutes, on     40.5 hours (27 *       33.58  $985.36 (27 staff
                                  * 3 partners * 9                                     average (1.5       1.50).                        * $24.33* 1.5
                                  sites).                                              hours).                                          hours).
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................  180..............  ...............  ...............  .................  279..............  .........  $4,325.94
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\1\ Households participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration will range widely in employment position and earnings. We have estimated the
  hourly wage at the expected prevailing minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour. We expect about 50 percent of the participants to be employed at the
  time of study entry. A recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, some 55 percent of non-elderly, non-disabled households receiving
  voucher assistance reported earned income in 2010. The typical (median) annual earnings for these families were $15,600, only slightly more than the
  pay from full-time, year-round minimum-wage work. (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3634). Based on this, we assumed 50% of participants would be
  working at the federal minimum wage.
\2\ For program staff participating in interviews, the estimate uses the median hourly wages of selected occupations (classified by Standard
  Occupational Classification (SOC) codes) was sourced from the Occupational Employment Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
  Statistics. Potentially relevant occupations and their median hourly wages are:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Median hourly
               Occupation                    SOC code        wage rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community and Social Service Specialist.         21-1099          $19.26
Social/community Service Manager........         11-9151           29.40
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Source: Occupational Employment Statistics, accessed online March 20,
  2015 at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm.
To estimate cost burden to program staff respondents, we use an average
  of the occupations listed, or $24.33/hr.
\4\ For program staff supporting data extraction activities and FSS
  Partner staff, the estimate uses the median hourly wages of selected
  relevant occupations in a manner similar to the above. A standard wage
  assumption of $33.58/hr. was created by averaging median hourly wage
  rates for these occupations:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Median hourly
               Occupation                    SOC code        wage rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Database Administrator..................         15-1141          $37.75
Social/community Service Manager........         11-9151           29.40
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Source: Occupational Employment Statistics, accessed online March 22,
  2015 at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm.

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 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: July 7, 2017.
Matthew E. Ammon,
General Deputy Assistant, Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research.
[FR Doc. 2017-14811 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P