2009 HUD Partners Surveys

OMB Approval No.: 2538-0116
Expires: 02/29/2012

HUD Survey of Fair Housing
Assistance Program Agencies
This brief, confidential survey solicits your opinion—as a spokesperson for your agency—of the service being provided
to you by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Please answer the questions by placing an “x” in
the box of the response that comes closest to describing your experiences with HUD. If you deal with more than one HUD
program, office, or employee, please take all of your experiences into consideration when answering the questions.
Your responses will remain strictly confidential. Neither you nor your agency will be identified in reporting the survey
findings to HUD or anyone else. The survey is being conducted by Silber & Associates, an independent and non-partisan
research organization.
Please complete the questionnaire this week and return it in the enclosed envelope. If you need assistance, please
telephone Silber & Associates toll-free at 1-888-SILBER-1 (888-745-2371) or e-mail [email protected].

1.

How frequent have your agency’s contacts been with HUD during the past twelve months?
Very frequent (PLEASE GO TO Question 2)
Somewhat frequent (PLEASE GO TO Question 2)
Not very frequent (PLEASE GO TO Question 2)
None at all
Don’t know

On behalf of your agency, are you in a position to assess and comment on the
performance of HUD’s organization and programs?
Yes (CONTINUE)
No
Don’t Know

2.

PLEASE FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE PERSON, OR RETURN
QUESTIONNAIRE IF THERE IS NO SUCH PERSON

During the past twelve months has your agency had contact with:

Yes

No

Don’t Know

a. HUD personnel in HUD’s Washington DC Headquarters office
b. HUD personnel in one or more of HUD’s field offices
c. HUD personnel in a specialized HUD Center or Hub (such as the Real Estate Assessment Center,
Section 8 Financial Management Center, Troubled Agency Recovery Center (TARC), Multifamily Property
Disposition Center, HUD Homeownership Centers, FHA Resource Center, HUD Center for Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives)

d. A contractor working for HUD
3.

4.

g

r

in g
he
HUD has several different responsibilities. On one hand, it provides various forms
id tin
ot
v
g
of support (for example, funding, technical assistance, information) and, on the
o la
g
in
pr gu
in
ng
th
other, it has a regulatory responsibility (that is, it makes rules, assures compliance
ly re
l
e
at
di
l
i
ua nd
gu
ov
om
with those rules, makes assessments). In your agency’s relationship with HUD,
ow
/s
re
pr rt
eq rt a
r
kn
t
y
e
l
t
would you say HUD is mainly providing support to you, mainly regulating you, or inly po
o
u
’
h
n
t
o p
ai
a p
ei
on
doing both about equally?
Ab sup
M
N
M su
D

Thinking first about HUD programs with which you currently deal and then about
how HUD runs those programs, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you, in general, with:

a. The HUD programs you currently deal with
b. The way HUD currently runs those programs
1

d
ie
isf
ed
t
i
f
a
d
ti s
ss
ie
di
sa
isf
ed
t
w
t
i
t
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ds
a
no
ha
ha
ti s
ss
en
w
w
tk
sa
di
p
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e
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ry
ry
m
m
de
on
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It
So
So
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Ve

5.

d
fi e

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t is
ie
Listed below are different ways to think about your relationship with HUD.
e
isf
sa
t
s
i
ed
bl
For each item, indicate your level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction at the present point
d
d
sa
a
sfi
i
e
t
w
t
i
t
ic
f
a
in time. Check “Not applicable” if the situation does not apply to your agency (for
no
ha
pl
ha
t is
ss
k
i
p
a
w
w
s
d
a
’t
e
e
example, if you do not currently receive information from HUD).
ry
ry
m
m
on
ot
N
D
So
Ve
So
Ve
How satisfied or dissatisfied are you, in general, with…?

a.

The quality of the information you currently receive from HUD

b.

The timeliness of the information you currently receive from HUD

c.

The timeliness of decision-making by HUD (such as requests for waivers,
rulings, and approvals)

d.

6.

The quality of guidance you currently get from HUD

e.

The consistency of guidance you currently get from HUD

f.

The clarity of HUD rules and requirements that apply to your agency; in
other words, how easy they are to understand

g.

The responsiveness of the people with whom you currently deal at HUD

h.

The competence of the people with whom you currently deal at HUD

i.

The extent to which HUD employees have the knowledge, skills, and
ability to do their work

j.

Your ability to reach the people at HUD whom you need to contact

k.

The time commitment required to comply with HUD reporting
requirements
l
fu
ll
l
se
ed
ta
fu
u
l
a
e
us
w
t
s
l
u
t
a
f
u
no
o
fu
h
e
k
n
o
s
e
w
u
’t
to
e
us
ve
ry
m
on
ot
ot
Ha
D
N
So
Ve
N

HUD provides training and technical assistance through different methods. For
each method listed below, please indicate how useful or not useful you’ve found
it. Check “Have not used” if that applies.
a. HUD-sponsored conferences
b. HUD-sponsored satellite broadcasts
c. The National Fair Housing Training Academy
d. HUD-sponsored training programs conducted by contractors
e. HUD’s Webpage
f. HUD’s Webcast training
g HUD participation in panel discussions and training sessions set up by nonHUD groups

7.

HUD has increasingly relied on electronic transmission to communicate with its
e
ll
partners. Based on your experience in the past 12 months, please indicate how
iv
e
ta
ct
v
i
e
a
t
effective or ineffective each of the following has been as a tool for HUD to convey
f
e
c
e
ed
ef
iv
iv
fe
us
important information to you, such as notices and guidance. Check “Have not used”
at
ct
ow
ct
ef
t
h
e
e
f
kn
ff
w
no
t
oo
ef
if HUD hasn’t communicated with you this way.
e
e
’
t
ve
m
ry
ot
on
ot
So

Ve

a. HUD listserves (automated mailing lists of subscribers to which HUD sends e-mail

N

N

Ha

D

messages)

b. HUD’s Website postings
c. HUD’s E-mail (individual correspondence to or from a HUD employee)

8. How adequate is your reimbursement from HUD for covering the costs of:
a. Investigating individual complaints?
b. Training and administration?
c. Capacity building?
2

Ve

ry

e
ad

a
qu

te
ew
m
So

ta
ha

at
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e
d
m
So

e

ew

n
ti
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ua
eq
d
a
ry
Ve

te

t
ua
eq
d
a
in

e

o
D

w
no
t’ k
n

9. How adequate is the level of technical assistance currently provided to you by HUD
in support of your agency’s responsibility for responding to fair housing complaints?

Ve

ry

e
ad

a
qu

te
ew
m
So

ta
ha

e

at
qu
e
d
m
So

e

ew

n
ti
ha

ua
eq
d
a
ry
Ve

te

t
ua
q
e
ad
in

e

o
D

w
no
tk
’
n

ip

se rsh
10. Some FHAP agency officials say they would like to see a closer partnership with HUD
y
t o t ne
ar
s
in pursuing pattern and practice or Secretary-initiated cases. Others say this is not
e r
ss
ow
e
nd
li k p a
c
kn
e
necessary, as the U.S. Department of Justice or states' attorneys general have this
d er
l
t
e
p
’
n
ou s
de
on
duty. What do you say?
ot
W cl o
It
D
N

11. How often, if at all, do you work with local Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP)
organizations on cases they are investigating?

ry
Ve

n
te
of

es
ll
im
ta
t
e
a
m
ot
N
So

k
’t
on
D

w
no

s
e ip
se rsh
y te
t o t ne
ar ia
r
ss pr
12. Some FHAP agency officials say they would like to build closer partnerships with FHIP
ow
ds
il ke pa
e
kn
c pro
en
d er
t
l
e
organizations with respect to (a), (b), and/or (c) below. Others say this is not
p
’
n p
ou s
on
de
ot a
W c lo
necessary or appropriate. What do you say?
D
It
N or

a. Investigating cases
b. Testing
c. Education activities/outreach

13. What, if any, major new steps could HUD take that it is not now taking to help you
with your fair housing and fair lending responsibilities?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. Please indicate your level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with each of the following
as it relates to your agency. Check “Not applicable” if the situation does not apply
to your agency.
a. The recent upgrading of TEAPOTS (Title Eight Automated Paperless Office
Tracking System)

d
fie
ed
t is
i
f
a
d
le
t is
iss
ie
sa
ab
isf
ed
td
w
t
i
t
c
i
f
l
a
a
no
h
ha
t is
ss
pp
w
w
tk
sa
di
a
’
e
e
ry
ry
m
m
ot
on
N
D
So
Ve
So
Ve

b. The overall effectiveness of TEAPOTS in the investigation and tracking of
complaints
c. HUD’s on-site performance assessment process for FHAP agencies
d. The amount of support & technical assistance you receive from HUD related
to addressing fair lending issues
e. The quality of support & technical assistance you receive from HUD related
to addressing fair lending issues

15. If your agency put together a logic model in conjunction with a
HUD NOFA application, have you found that the logic model
helped you to. . .?
a. Better identify performance indicators
b. Better think through activities to achieve your desired objectives
c. Better manage your HUD grant

3

Ye

d
s,

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in
ef

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p
s,
Ye

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on co gra
ow
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on
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16.

17.

ry
Ve

How would you characterize relations between your agency and HUD today?

Over the last several years have relations between your agency
and HUD gotten much better, somewhat better, somewhat worse,
much worse, or have they not changed?

18. At present, taking everything into consideration, how satisfied or
dissatisfied are you with HUD’s overall performance?

M

ry
Ve

uc

t
sa

h

t te
be

d
ie
isf

r

od
go
G

d
oo

Ba

t
ha
ewse
m r
So wo

t
ha
ew t er
m t
So be

t
ha d
w
e fi e
m tis
So sa

M

ry
Ve

d

h
uc

w

ba

d
D

k
’t
on

w
no

se
or

w
t d
no
no ge
k
’t
v e ha n
on
Ha c
D

t d
d
ow
h a fi e
ie
w
kn
i
isf
e at s
t
t
’
m ss
ry issa
on
So di
D
Ve d

19. Please indicate the title/position of the person (or persons) who answered these questions:
Agency Director

Agency Deputy Director

Other Agency Senior Official

Other Agency Employee

Other:____________________________ ___________

20. Taking into account all the jobs in your employment history, how many years, in
total, have you interacted with HUD as part of your job?

r

e
or
m
r
s
s
rs
n
ar
ar
so
ea
ha
ar
ye
ye
t
y
e
9
6
y
ss
-3
–
–
Le
1
7
10
4
1

a
ye

21. Which field office or offices does your agency interact with on a regular basis? Mark all that apply.
REGION I
REGION II
REGION III

Bangor
Albany
Baltimore

Boston
Buffalo
Charleston

Burlington
Camden
Philadelphia

Hartford
Newark
Pittsburgh

Manchester
New York
Richmond

REGION IV

Atlanta
Knoxville

Birmingham
Louisville

Columbia
Memphis

Greensboro
Miami

REGION V

Chicago

REGION VI

Albuquerque

REGION VII
REGION VIII
REGION IX

Des Moines
Casper
Fresno
Anchorage

Cleveland
Indianapolis
Ft. Worth
Okla.City
Omaha
Fargo
Las Vegas
San Diego
Portland

Columbus
Milwaukee
Houston
San Antonio
St. Louis
Helena
Los Angeles

REGION X

Cincinnati
Grnd. Rapids
Dallas
New Orleans
Kansas City
Denver
Honolulu
Sacramento
Boise

Jackson
Nashville
San Juan
Detroit
Minneapolis
Little Rock
Shreveport

San Francisco

Seattle

Salt Lk. City
Phoenix
Santa Ana
Spokane

Providence
Syracuse
Wash., D. C.
Wilmington
Jacksonville
Orlando
Tampa
Flint
Springfield
Lubbock
Tulsa
Sioux Falls
Reno
Tucson

We welcome and appreciate any comments you may have about HUD. PLEASE PRINT. Use extra paper if needed.
PLEASE DO NOT IDENTIFY YOURSELF OR ANYONE ELSE BY NAME.

Thank You for Completing the HUD Survey of Fair Housing Assistance Program Agencies. Please return your completed questionnaire to:
HUD SURVEY, c/o Silber & Associates, P.O. Box 651, Clarksville, MD 21029-0651. A prepaid envelope is enclosed for your convenience.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SURVEY?

CALL: 1-888-SILBER-1

4

FAX: 1-410-531-3100

E-MAIL: [email protected]