[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 225 (Friday, November 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74369-74370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25686]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7027-N-20]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Housing 
Counseling Program--Application for Approval as a Housing Counseling 
Agency OMB Control No.: 2502-0573

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner,
    HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 60 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: January 19, 2021.

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: Colette Pollard, Reports 
Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street SW, Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 202-
402-3400 (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: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at 
[email protected] or telephone 202402-3400. 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) 8778339.
    Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from 
Ms. Pollard. 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: Housing Counseling Program--
Application for Approval as a Housing Counseling Agency.
    OMB Approval Number: 2502-0573.
    OMB Expiration Date: 01/31/2021.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Form Number: Form HUD-9900, Application for Approval as a Housing 
Counseling Agency; HUD-9900A, Screening for Ineligible Participants.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The

[[Page 74370]]

Office of Housing Counseling is responsible for administration of the 
Department's Housing Counseling Program, authorized by Section 106 of 
the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701w and 
1701x). The Housing Counseling Program supports the delivery of a wide 
variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- 
to moderate-income renters, and the homeless. The primary objective of 
the program is to educate families and individuals in order to help 
them make smart decisions regarding improving their housing situation 
and meeting the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership, 
including through budget and financial counseling. Counselors also help 
borrowers avoid predatory lending practices, such as inflated 
appraisals, unreasonably high interest rates, unaffordable repayment 
terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, 
increased debt, default, and possible foreclosure. Counselors may also 
provide reverse mortgage counseling to elderly homeowners who seek to 
convert equity in their homes to pay for home improvements, medical 
costs, living expenses or other expenses. Additionally, housing 
counselors may distribute and be a resource for information concerning 
of fair housing and fair lending requirements of the Fair Housing Act, 
as well as finding units accessible to persons with disabilities, . The 
Housing Counseling Program is instrumental to achievement of HUD's 
mission. The Program's far-reaching effects support numerous 
departmental programs, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 
single family housing programs.
    Approximately 1,700 HUD-participating agencies provide housing 
counseling services nationwide currently. Of these, approximately 975 
have been directly approved by HUD. HUD maintains a list of these 
agencies so that individuals in need of assistance can easily access 
the nearest HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency (HCA) via HUD's 
website, an automated 1800 Hotline, or a smart phone application. Form 
HUD-9900, Application for Approval as a Housing Counseling Agency, is 
necessary to make sure that people who contact a HUD-approved HCA can 
have confidence they will receive quality service and these agencies 
meet HUD requirements for approval.
    Respondents (i.e., affected public): Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 700.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 700.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Hours per Response: 8.1667.
    Total Estimated Burden: 5,717 hours.

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.

    Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner, 
Dana T. Wade, 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.

Nacheshia Foxx,
Federal Liaison for the Department of Housing and Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-25686 Filed 11-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P