[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51803-51804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24245]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS or Agency) intention 
to request an extension for a currently approved information collection 
in support of the programs under Direct Single Family Housing Loans and 
Grants.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 8, 2018 to 
be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brooke Baumann, Branch Chief, Single 
Family Housing Direct Loan Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 
0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone: (202) 690-4250, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants.
    OMB Number: 0575-0172.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2018.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Through its direct single family housing loan and grant 
programs (specifically the Sections 502 and 504 programs), RHS provides 
eligible applicants with financial assistance to own adequate but 
modest homes in rural areas. The financing and servicing is provided 
directly by RHS. The Section 502 direct loan program provides 100 
percent loan financing to assist low- and very low-income applicants 
purchase modest homes in eligible rural areas by providing payment 
assistance to increase an applicant's repayment ability. The Section 
504 loan program provides one percent interest rate loans to very low-
income homeowners in eligible rural areas to repair, improve, or 
modernize their home or to remove health and safety hazards. The 
Section 504 grant program provides grants to elderly very low-income 
homeowners in eligible rural areas to remove health and safety hazards, 
or accessibility barriers from their home, often in conjunction with a 
Section 504 loan.
    Applicants must provide the Agency with a uniform residential loan 
application and supporting documentation (e.g. verification of income, 
assets, liabilities, etc.) when applying for assistance. The 
information requested regarding the applicant and the property is vital 
in order for the Agency to make sound eligibility and underwriting 
decisions that comply with the laws and regulations that govern the 
programs. The information requested is comparable to that required by 
any public or private mortgage lender.
    When servicing loans, RHS offers servicing options that are 
standard to the industry. In addition, RHS offers unique servicing 
options (e.g. payment subsidies and payment moratoriums) and is 
required to take unique servicing actions (e.g., review borrowers for 
their ability to refinance with private credit). Borrowers must provide 
the Agency with pertinent information when a servicing option/action is 
requested/required in order for the Agency to make sound servicing 
decisions that comply with the laws and regulations that govern the 
programs.

[[Page 51804]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Approximately 28,000 applicants seeking direct single 
family housing loans and grants from the Agency and approximately 
276,800 existing borrowers who have active loans and grants under the 
Section 502 and 504 programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 673,560.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Number of Responses: 673,560.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents (hours): 327,622.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jeanne 
Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch at (202) 692-0226.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to: Jeanne Jacobs, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, 
Support Services Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural 
Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0742. All responses to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become 
a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 25, 2017.
Bryan Hooper,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24245 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P