[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87452-87453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27702]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7071-N-22]


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, Department of Housing and Urban Development (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 comment 
from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. 
The purpose of this notice

[[Page 87453]]

is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: February 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection can be submitted within 60 days of publication 
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 60-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number 
and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 
8210, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, REE, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20410; email [email protected] or 
telephone 202-402-3400. This is not a toll-free number. HUD welcomes 
and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard 
of hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication 
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone 
call, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs.
    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: April 30, 2024.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Form Numbers: Form HUD-9900 and Form HUD-9900a.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) is responsible for the 
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. and 42 U.S.C. 3533(g)). 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 to help them improve their housing situation and meet 
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 senior 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 Fair Housing and Fair Lending. 
The Housing Counseling Program is instrumental to the achievement of 
HUD's mission. The Program's far-reaching effects support numerous 
departmental programs, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 
single family housing programs.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Individuals; households; 
Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 973.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 973.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Hours per Response: 8.
    Total Estimated Burden: 7,946 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 comments in response to 
these questions.

C. Authority

    Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
chapter 3507.

Jeffrey D. Little,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing.
[FR Doc. 2023-27702 Filed 12-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P