[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 153 (Friday, August 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47981-47982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17314]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7029-N-07]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: 2021 American 
Housing Survey

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (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 60 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: October 6, 2020.

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: 2021 American Housing Survey.
    OMB Approval Number: 2528-0017.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Form Number: None.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
purpose of the American Housing Survey (AHS) is to supply the public 
with detailed and timely information about housing quality, housing 
costs, and neighborhood assets, in support of effective housing policy, 
programs, and markets. Title 12, United States Code, Sections 1701Z-1, 
1701Z-2(g), and 1710Z-10a mandates the collection of this information.

[[Page 47982]]

    Like the previous surveys, the 2021 AHS will collect ``core'' data 
on subjects, such as the amount and types of changes in the housing 
inventory, the physical condition of the housing inventory, the 
characteristics of the occupants, housing costs for owners and renters, 
including a redesigned mortgage section, the persons eligible for and 
beneficiaries of assisted housing, remodeling and repair frequency, 
reasons for moving, the number and characteristics of vacancies, and 
characteristics of resident's neighborhood. In addition to the ``core'' 
data, HUD plans to collect supplemental data on potential health and 
safety hazards in the home, the renter housing search process, housing 
characteristics that increase wildfire risk, household pets, and 
delinquent payments and notices for mortgage, rent, or utility bills.
    The AHS national longitudinal sample consists of approximately 
90,600 housing units, and includes oversample from the largest 15 
metropolitan areas, approximately 5,200 HUD-assisted housing units, and 
approximately 3,000 units subsidized in the Low-Income Housing Tax 
Credit program. In addition to the national longitudinal sample, HUD 
plans to conduct 10 additional metropolitan area longitudinal samples, 
each with approximately 3,000 housing units (for a total 30,000 
metropolitan area housing units). The 10 additional metropolitan area 
longitudinal samples were last surveyed in 2017.
    To help reduce respondent burden on households in the longitudinal 
sample, the 2021 AHS will make use of dependent interviewing 
techniques, which will decrease the number of questions asked. Policy 
analysts, program managers, budget analysts, and Congressional staff 
use AHS data to advise executive and legislative branches about housing 
conditions and the suitability of public policy initiatives. Academic 
researchers and private organizations also use AHS data in efforts of 
specific interest and concern to their respective communities.
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs the AHS 
data for the following two reasons:
    1. With the data, policy analysts can monitor the interaction among 
housing needs, demand and supply, as well as changes in housing 
conditions and costs, to aid in the development of housing policies and 
the design of housing programs appropriate for different target groups, 
such as first-time home buyers and the elderly.
    2. With the data, HUD can evaluate, monitor, and design HUD 
programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
    Members of affected public: Households.
    Estimated number of respondents: 129,000.
    Estimated time per response: 27.7 minutes.
    Frequency of response: One time every two years.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 59,500.
    Estimated total annual cost: The only cost to respondents is that 
of their time. The total estimated cost is $66,800,000.
    Respondent's obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal authority: This survey is conducted under Title 12, U.S.C., 
Section 1701z-1 et seq.

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.
    The Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, Seth 
Appleton, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the 
authority to electronically sign this document to submitter, Nacheshia 
Foxx, who is the Federal Register Liaison for HUD, for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Dated: August 4, 2020.
Nacheshia Foxx,
Federal Register Liaison for the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-17314 Filed 8-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P