[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 50 (Friday, March 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14633-14634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05193]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2020 New York 
City Housing and Vacancy Survey

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
proposed reinstatement, with change, of the 2020 New York City Housing 
and Vacancy Survey, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before May 12, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Tamara Cole, Survey Director, 
U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 8H181, Washington, DC 
20233 (or via the internet at [email protected]). You may also submit 
comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2019-0007, to the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received 
are part of the public record. No comments will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment period 
has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic 
comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Tamara Cole, US Census Bureau, Room 8H181, 
Washington, DC 20233-8500; phone 301-763-4665; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS) is sponsored 
by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development 
and is conducted approximately every three years. The Census Bureau has 
conducted the survey for the City since 1962. The primary purpose of 
the survey is to measure the net rental vacancy rate, and describe the 
supply, condition, and continued need for rent control and rent 
stabilization. NYCHVS survey data are also used by policymakers, 
advocates, and researchers to inform policy and analyze housing costs 
and conditions in the City.
    Detailed data from the survey cover many characteristics of the 
City's housing market, including characteristics of the City's 
population, households, housing stock, and neighborhoods. Data 
collected about each person in the household include housing costs and 
burden, income and employment, and key demographics, including 
membership in protected classes. On the household level, the NYCHVS 
collects data including total housing costs and income, public 
assistance, healthcare and childcare costs, and residential history. 
Data on the City's housing stock include building and unit quality and 
condition,

[[Page 14634]]

rent regulatory and homeownership status, and unit size and 
accessibility.

II. Method of Collection

    We will attempt to collect all information via a computer-assisted 
personal interview in English, Spanish, Chinese (both Mandarin and 
Cantonese), Russian, Haitian Creole, or Bengali. However, upon the 
respondent's request, a telephone interview may be conducted. 
Interviews will be conducted with a knowledgeable adult in the 
household. In the event that the knowledgeable adult is unable to 
respond on behalf of another adult household member, we will make an 
effort to follow-up with the second household member to obtain more 
complete information. We will work to make sure that accommodations are 
made for respondents that require some form of modification to allow 
them to complete the interview.

III. Data

    The core NYCHVS sample is longitudinal within each decade. The 2020 
sample consists of approximately 30,000 housing units.
    The Census Bureau releases the resulting survey estimates in non-
identifiable microdata and select initial findings in tabular format. 
Both types of data are also made available to the general public 
through the Census internet site.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0757.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Households and rental offices/realtors (for vacant 
units).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 20,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C.--Section 8b, and the Local 
Emergency Housing Rent Control Act, Laws of New York (Chapters 8603 and 
657).

IV. Request for 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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-05193 Filed 3-12-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P