83 FR 24333 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Housing Choice Voucher Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 102 (May 25, 2018)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24333-24334]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11306]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7006-N-07]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Housing Choice 
Voucher Program

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, PIH, 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: July 24, 2018.

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, ODAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street SW, Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 202-
402-0306 (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: Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy, 
Programs and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 3178, Washington, DC 20410; 
telephone 202-402-4109, (this is not a toll-free number).

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 Choice Voucher (HCV) 
Program.
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-0169.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collection with 
changes that include new requirements of the Housing Opportunities 
Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) of 2016 and inclusion of contract 
amendments for both the HCV and project-based voucher (PBV) programs.
    Form Numbers: HUD-52515, HUD-52667, HUD-52580, HUD-52580-A, HUD-
52517, HUD-52646, HUD-52665, HUD-52641, HUD-52641-A, HUD 52642, HUD 
52649, HUD 52531A and B, HUD 52530A, HUD 52530B, HUD 52530C, HUD 
52578B, HUD-50164.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use

    Public Housing Agencies (PHA) will prepare an application for 
funding which specifies the number of units requested, as well as the 
PHA's objectives and plans for administering the Housing Choice (HCV) 
and Project Base Voucher (PBV) programs. The application is reviewed by 
HUD Headquarters and HUD Field Offices and ranked according to the 
PHA's administrative capability, the need for housing assistance, and 
other factors specified in a notice of funding availability. The PHAs 
must establish a utility allowance schedule for all utilities and other 
services. Units must be inspected using HUD-prescribed forms to 
determine if the units meet the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) of the 
HCV program. After the family is issued a HCV to search for a unit 
pursuant to attending a briefing and receiving an information packet, 
the family must complete and submit to the PHA a Request for Tenancy 
Approval when it finds a unit which is suitable for its needs. Initial 
PHAs will use a standardized form to submit portability information to 
the receiving PHA who will also use the form for monthly portability 
billing. PHAs and owners will enter into housing assistance payments 
(HAP) contract each providing information on rents, payments, 
certifications, notifications, and owner agreement in a form acceptable 
to the PHA. A Tenancy Addendum for the HCV program is included in the 
HAP contract as well as incorporated in the lease between the owner and 
the family. Families that participate in the Homeownership option will 
execute a statement regarding their responsibilities and execute 
contracts of sale including an additional contract of sale for new 
construction units. PHAs participating in the PBV program will enter 
into Agreements with owners for developing projects, HAP contracts with 
the existing and New Construction/Rehabilitation owners, a Statement of 
Family Responsibilities with the family and a lease addendum for 
execution between the family and the owner. New requirements have been 
established for independent entities in both the HCV and PBV programs. 
In addition, new requirements have been established for the Housing 
Opportunities Through Modernization (HOTMA) rule of 2016. HOTMA made 
changes to both the definition of PHA-owned housing and several changes 
to the PBV program to conform with HOTMA requirements. As a result of 
these updates, changes have been made to the following forms: PBV HAP 
Contracts (both for existing housing (HUD-52530 A and B) and new 
Construction/Rehab (HUD 52531 A and B); PBV Tenancy Addendum; (HUD 
53530c) and HCV HAP Contract (HUD 52641).
    Other forms that are being updated are: The Funding Application 
(HUD 52515); the Request for Tenancy Approval (HUD-2517); and 
Allowances for Tenant-Furnished Utilities and Other Services (HUD 
5267). Three new documents each will be added for the Family 
Unification Program application process and the HUD-VASH Application 
Process. Additionally, the forms will be updated to remove outdated 
references (such as those to the Certificate Program). Such updates do 
not result in an increase in burden hours.
    Respondents (i.e. affected public): State and Local Governments, 
businesses or other non-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,192 PHAs.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 3.680,493.
    Frequency of Response: Varies by form.
    Average Hours per Response: 1.
    Total Estimated Burdens Hours: 1,643,173.

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;

[[Page 24334]]

    (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.

    Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: May 10, 2018.
Merrie Nichols-Dixon,
 Director, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2018-11306 Filed 5-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P