Evaluation of the Section 202 Demonstration Planning Grant Program

Evaluation of the
Demonstration
Planning Grant
Program
Task Order
C-CHI-01031/
GS-10F-0086K
OMB Paperwork
Reduction Act
Submission for
Survey of Section 202
Sponsors
Telephone Survey of
Section 202 DPG
Recipients
June 14, 2010
Prepared for
Ashaki Robinson Johns, M.S.W.
Office of Policy Development and
Research
US Department of Housing and
Urban Development
451 7th St. SW, Suite 8120
Washington, DC 20410
Prepared by
Gretchen Locke
Melissa Vandawalker
Abt Associates Inc.
55 Wheeler Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

Table of Contents
Telephone Survey of Section 202 DPG Recipients ......................................................................... 1

Abt Associates Inc.

Table of Contents

i

Telephone Survey of Section 202 DPG Recipients

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

1

Sponsor Survey – DPG Recipients
Sponsor Survey – DPG Recipients
My name is ___________________ and I work for Abt Associates, a research company based in
Cambridge, MA. We are conducting a study for the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development, Office of Policy Development and Research on the Section 202 Demonstration
Planning Grant Program. We are interested in learning about all aspects of the DPG program
including the application process and grant administration. We are also interested in learning about
any issues that may affect Section 202 processing time from fund reservation to initial closing. We
have asked to interview you because of your involvement with _________property. The survey will
primarily address your experience with this one specific property.
This survey will take about 45 minutes to complete. Participating in this survey is voluntary and you
can refuse to answer any question. When we’re finished with this study, we’ll write a report on what
we learn and provide a copy of the survey dataset to HUD. Neither your name nor your
organization’s name will be associated with any answers in either the report or the dataset. However,
given the unique characteristics of some organizations and properties, it is possible that someone at
HUD who has access to the dataset might be able to figure out who provided some answers on the
survey. In the published report, the information we obtain from these surveys will be presented only
as statistical summaries, so no individual respondents or organizations will be identified.
Your opinions are important to the study and we hope that you agree to participate. The information
you provide will help HUD better understand sponsor organizations’ perspectives and experiences
with respect to the Section 202 and Demonstration Planning Grant programs.
READ IF CONSULTANT IS PARTICIPATING IN SURVEY
Since there is more than one respondent for this survey, we ask that you come to a
consensus on the response for each question. If there are disagreements, we will defer to the
sponsor representative for the final response.

Do you have any questions before we begin?

Contact Information - Sponsor
(Available data pre-loaded in Checkbox prior to survey administration)
Organization:
Respondent Name:
Title:
Address:
Phone:
Email:

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

2

Contact Information – Consultant (if applicable)
Organization:
Respondent Name:
Title:
Address:
Phone:
Email:

Property Information
Property Name:
Property Location:
Fiscal Year Awarded:

DPG Amount:

Processing Time:

HUD Field Office:

# of Processing Waivers Granted

# of Fund Amount Waivers Granted

High Cost Area: Yes/No

Interviewer Name:
Date Interview Completed:

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

3

Knowledge of the DPG Program
First I would like to ask you questions about your experience as it relates to the Section 202 and
Demonstration Planning Grant program.
READ IF CONSULTANT IS PARTICIPATING IN SURVEY:
These questions pertain to the experience of just the sponsor organization. The housing
development experience of the consultant is asked about in a subsequent section of the
survey.

1.

What type of organization is ___________________? Is your organization local or are you
part of a larger organization?
Local ............................................................................................................................ 
National ........................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

2.

What is your title/position?

3.

Describe your affordable housing development experience:

4.

How many Section 202 applications has your organization submitted since fiscal year 2004?

5.

Of those, how many Section 202 applications resulted in an award?

6.

How many Section 202 applications have you personally worked on since fiscal year 2004?

7.

Of those, how many Section 202 applications resulted in an award?

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

4

8.

This survey primarily asks questions about the Demonstration Planning Grant program. With
how many Section 202 Demonstration Planning Grant applications have you personally
worked?

9.

Of those, how many DPGs were awarded?

10.

How would you rate your overall knowledge of the DPG program? Would you say you are
NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE, SOMEWHAT KNOWLEDGEABLE, or VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE?
Not Knowledgeable....................................................................................................... 
Somewhat Knowledgeable............................................................................................ 
Very Knowledgeable ..................................................................................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

5

Property and Sponsor Characteristics of Recipients
For the next several sections of the survey, we will ask about your experience with one specific
Section 202 property: _____________________________ located in _________________________
and awarded in fiscal year________________.
READ IF CONSULTANT IS PARTICIPATING IN SURVEY:
We understand that some consultants have worked with other sponsor organizations or
properties within the Section 202 and Demonstration Planning Grant programs; however, this
survey only targets one specific property. Therefore, when responding to the survey
questions, please keep your responses related to just the experience with property
________________.

11.

For property ____________, did the Section 202 capital advance and DPG cover the
property’s entire development cost?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
11a.

IF NO, approximately what percent of total development cost was funded by the
Section 202 and DPG programs?

11b.

IF NO, what other sources of funding were used for the development of property
__________________?

INTERVIEWER WILL RECORD RESPONSES IN TABLE.
SOURCE OF FUNDING

YES

NO

11b1. HOME





11b2. CDBG





11b3. Federal Home Loan Bank





11b4. Sponsor/Owner funds





11b5. Donation of land





11b6. Low income housing tax credits





11b7. Other State funding (Specify:__________________)





11b8. City or County funding





Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

6

12.

SOURCE OF FUNDING

YES

NO

11b9. Other (Specify:_____________________________)





11b10.Other (Specify:_____________________________)





For property __________, what development tasks did your organization procure outside
contractors? I will read a list and select all that apply.
Developer ..................................................................................................................... 
Appraisals..................................................................................................................... 
Architect Services ......................................................................................................... 
Engineering Services .................................................................................................... 
Environmental Site Assessment .................................................................................... 
Consultant Services ...................................................................................................... 
Cost Analysis................................................................................................................ 
Legal ........................................................................................................................... 
Market Study ................................................................................................................ 
Relocation ................................................................................................................... 
None ............................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW/REFUSE ............................................................................................... 

12a.

Are there any other tasks for which your organization hired an outside contractor?
Other – Specify:
Other – Specify:

12b.

IF CONSULTANT SERVICES, why did your organization hire a consultant to assist
with this property?

12c.

IF CONSULTANT SERVICES, what activities did the consultant complete for this
property? I will read a list and select all that apply.
Overall project management............................................................................. 
Determined the need for supportive elderly housing.......................................... 
Determined development costs ........................................................................ 
Identified and/or secured other sources of property funding .............................. 
Wrote the Section 202 application .................................................................... 
Wrote the DPG application ............................................................................... 
Monitored the development budget................................................................... 
Helped procure developer ................................................................................ 
Helped procure other contractors...................................................................... 
Monitored design process................................................................................. 

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

7

12d.

Were there any other tasks that the consultant completed?
Other – Specify:
Other – Specify:

12e.

13.

Describe the housing development/Section 202 experience of the consultant.

Did the receipt of a Demonstration Planning Grant have any effect on your organization’s
decision to hire contractors for this property?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
13a.

IF YES, explain:

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

8

Marketing of the DPG Program
The following questions ask about your organization’s interaction with the HUD field office about the
Demonstration Planning Grant program prior to and during the DPG application process.
14.

15.

For property ______________, when did HUD field office staff provide information to your
organization about the DPG program? I will read a list of responses and please answer YES
or NO to whether the field office provided information about the DPG at each milestone.

YES

NO

DK/REF

14a.

During the Section 202 application process







14b.

With the Section 202 fund reservation award
letter







14c.

At the Section 202 award briefing meeting







14d.

When the DPG NOFA was released by HUD







14e.

Some other time
(Specify:_____________________________)







How would you rate the field office’s staff’s knowledge of the DPG program at the time that
you applied for the DPG grant? Please rate each area as either NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE,
SOMEWHAT KNOWLEDGEABLE, or VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
Not
Knowledgeable

Somewhat
Knowledgeable

Very
Knowledgeable

DK/
REF

15a.

The DPG application
process









15b.

The DPG award process









15c.

The DPG administration
period after grant award









15d.

DPG activities during the
initial closing for the
Section 202 property









15e.

DPG grant closeout









Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

9

DPG Application Process
Now we will ask questions about the DPG application process and why your organization decided to
apply for the DPG.
16.

17.

Why did your organization decide to apply for the DPG for property _______________? I will
read a list of reasons and please answer YES or NO for each one.
YES

NO

DK/REF

16a. There were no other sources of predevelopment
funding before initial closing







16b. DPG was needed to speed up time between fund
reservation and initial closing







16c. The property needed additional funding because it was
in a high cost area







16d. DPG provided greater ability to retain qualified
predevelopment contractors (developers, architects,
etc)







16e. DPG provided greater ability to retain qualified
development consultants







16f. Other (Specify:___________________________)







The first Demonstration Planning Grants were awarded in fiscal year 2004, on April 7, 2005.
Since then, have there been any other Section 202 properties that your organization
developed that did not apply for the DPG?
No other Section 202 grants awarded to sponsor (SKIP to 18) ..................................... 
Other 202 grants, but did not apply for DPG (ASK 17a AND b.)..................................... 
Other 202 grants, applied for DPG (ASK 17c). .............................................................. 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

17a.

Why did your organization not apply for the DPG for other properties? I will read a
list of reasons and please answer YES or No for each one.
YES

NO

DK/REF

17a1.

Had other sources of predevelopment funding before
initial closing







17a2.

Ineligible property type







17a3.

The Section 202 capital advance fully covered the
cost of development







17a4.

The Section 202 capital advance was already at
maximum amount permitted by HUD







17a5.

Had lack of knowledge about the DPG program







Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

10

YES

NO

DK/REF

17a6.

Had previous negative experience with DPG
application process







17a7.

Had previous negative experience with DPG
administration







17a8.

The timing of the release of the DPG NOFA







17a9.

Award of DPG requires property to reach initial
closing within 18 months







17a10. The DPG application is burdensome







17a11. The cost of completing the application is too high







17a12. Other (Specify:___________________________)







17b.

Of the reasons provided, which had the greatest impact on your organization’s
decision not to apply for the DPG?
Had other sources of predevelopment funding before initial closing .................. 
Ineligible property type .................................................................................... 
The Section 202 capital advance fully covered cost of construction................... 
The Section 202 capital advance was already at maximum amount
permitted by HUD............................................................................................ 
Had lack of knowledge about the DPG program ............................................... 
Had previous negative experience with DPG application process ..................... 
Had previous negative experience with DPG administration.............................. 
The timing of the release of the DPG NOFA ..................................................... 
Award of DPG requires property to reach initial closing within 18 months .......... 
The DPG application is burdensome ................................................................ 
The cost of completing the application is too high ............................................. 
Other (Specify:_______________________________) .................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED .............................................................................. 

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

11

17c.

Why did your organization apply for the DPG for other properties? I will read a list of
reasons why your organization may have applied for the DPG for other properties.
Please answer YES or No for each one.
YES

NO

DK/REF

17c1. There were no other sources of predevelopment
funding before initial closing







17c2. DPG was needed to speed up time between fund
reservation and initial closing







17c3. The property needed additional funding because it was
in a high cost area







17c4. DPG provided greater ability to retain qualified
predevelopment contractors (developers, architects,
etc)







17c5. DPG provided greater ability to retain qualified
development consultants







17c6. Other (Specify:___________________________)







18.

We would like to know the extent of sponsor resources needed to fulfill the DPG application
requirements. What was the cost to the sponsor in dollars to apply for the DPG for property
_______________?

19.

About how many staff or consultant hours were needed to prepare the DPG application for
property ________________?

20.

We would like to know how difficult your organization found the application process to be.
For each of the following components of the application process, please state whether each
component was EASY, SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT, or DIFFICULT.

EASY

SOMEWHAT
DIFFICULT

DIFFICULT

DK/REF

20a. Describing the organization’s
financial need









20b. Determining the proposed
predevelopment activities and
budget









20c. Determining a development schedule









20d. Complying with the HUD grant
application schedule









20e. Navigating Grants.gov submission
system









Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

12

21.

Were there any other aspects of the application process you found to be difficult or
burdensome?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
21a.

22.

IF YES, please describe what aspects of the application process you found to be
difficult or burdensome:

During the DPG application phase, did you ask the HUD field office for any assistance with
your application?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
22a.

IF YES, what kind of assistance did you ask for?

22b.

Did you receive the support you asked for/needed?
Yes .................................................................................................................. 
No .................................................................................................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED .............................................................................. 

22c.

IF NO, what kind of assistance did you ask for that you did not receive?

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

13

23.

How did your organization estimate predevelopment costs for the DPG application?

DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
INTERVIEWERS WILL RECORD RESPONSES VERBATIM AND LATER CODE.
POSSIBLE RESPONSES INCLUDE:

24.



Estimate costs internally based on previous Section 202 properties



Estimate costs internally based on other housing development properties (non-Section
202)



Ask subcontractors to provide estimates



Estimated costs based on industry standards

Was your total predevelopment cost estimate in the DPG application accurate at initial
closing?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
24a.

IF NO, were your predevelopment cost estimates in the application too low or too
high?
Predevelopment cost estimate too low.............................................................. 
Predevelopment cost estimate too high ............................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED .............................................................................. 

24b.

25.

Please estimate the difference between your predevelopment cost estimate in the
application and the actual predevelopment costs at initial closing.

Please identify any suggestions you have to improve the DPG application process.

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

14

DPG Administration
The following questions relate to DPG administration, that is, to the activities that took place after the
sponsor received a DPG award. These questions also only pertain to property _________________.

26.

HUD administers the DPG funding allocation through its web-based Line of Credit Control
System (LOCCS). For property _______________, did your organization have any issues
receiving LOCCS Access Authorization within a reasonable amount of time?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
26a.

IF YES, what were the issues?

(PROBES: ISSUES CAUSED BY SPONSOR, HUD OR OUTSIDE FACTORS? HOW LONG
DID IT TAKE FOR THE SPONSOR TO RECEIVE LOCCS ACCESS AFTER THEY
SUBMITTED THE HUD FORM 27054?)

27.

For property _______________, did you have any issues submitting payment voucher
requests and getting them approved within a reasonable amount of time?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
27a.

IF YES, what were the issues?

(PROBES: ISSUES CAUSED BY SPONSOR, HUD OR OUTSIDE FACTORS? HOW LONG
DID IT TAKE FOR THE SPONSOR TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS ONCE THE VOUCHER
REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED?)

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

15

28.

For property _______________________, did your organization request to move DPG funds
between budget line items?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
28a.

IF YES, did HUD approve the transfer of funds?
Yes .................................................................................................................. 
No .................................................................................................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED .............................................................................. 

28b.

IF YES, how long did it take for HUD to approve the transfer request?

28c.

What was the total amount of funding moved?

28d.

Did you have any issues in moving the DPG funding between line items?
Yes .................................................................................................................. 
No .................................................................................................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED .............................................................................. 

28e.

IF YES, what were the issues?

(PROBES: ISSUES CAUSED BY SPONSOR, HUD OR OUTSIDE FACTORS? HOW LONG
DID IT TAKE FOR THE SPONSOR TO FUNDS TO BE MOVED?)

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

16

29.

Were there any other issues with the DPG grant during the grant period that the field office
helped you with?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
29a.

IF YES, what were the issues?

(PROBES: ISSUES CAUSED BY SPONSOR, HUD OR OUTSIDE FACTORS? HOW DID
HUD RESOLVE THE ISSUE? HOW LONG DID IT TAKE?)

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

17

DPG Outcomes
The goal of the Demonstration Planning Grant is to help sponsors reach initial closing more quickly.
We would like to know if this was true in your experience with property _______________________.
30.

If your organization had not received a DPG for property _____________, do you think the
time between fund reservation and initial closing would have been different? Would you say
that the DPG:
Significantly decreased processing time........................................................................ 
Somewhat decreased processing time .......................................................................... 
Made no difference in processing time .......................................................................... 
Somewhat increased processing time ........................................................................... 
Significantly increased processing time ......................................................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
30a.

IF SOMEWHAT or SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED PROCESSING TIME, what
aspect(s) of DPG administration increased processing time?

INTERVIEWERS WILL RECORD RESPONSES VERBATIM AND LATER CODE.
POSSIBLE RESPONSES INCLUDE:


The time period between when the Section 202 awards are made and the release of the
DPG NOFA



Time to obligate funds in LOCCS



Time period to release DPG payments to sponsors



Time period to approve fund amendment waivers

30b.

IF SOMEWHAT or SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED PROCESSING TIME, what
aspect(s) of DPG administration decreased processing time?

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

18

31.

Would you say that the DPG had any effect on your organization’s ability to access other
development funds besides the Section 202 capital advance?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
31a.

IF YES, what effect did it have?

(PROBE WHAT OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING WERE RECEIVED BECAUSE
OF THE DPG)

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

19

Factors Affecting Time from Fund Reservation to Initial Closing
For the following questions, we are interested in identifying factors that may contribute to untimely
processing of Section 202 grants from fund reservation to initial closing.
32.

Based on your experience with property ___________________, for each of the following
factors we would like you to tell us how much of a negative impact it had on your
organization’s ability to get to closing within 18 months. We will first ask whether the factor
applies to property ___________. Then we would like to know how great a negative impact
the factor had on your organization’s ability to get to closing within 18 months. Finally, we will
ask whether you think the DPG had a POSITIVE EFFECT, NEGATIVE EFFECT, or NO
EFFECT on how the factor influenced your ability to get to initial closing for this property.

IMPACT

EFFECT OF DPG

FACTOR

NA

No
Impact

Minor
Impact

Moderate Significant
Impact
Impact

DK/
REF

Positive Negative No
DK/
Effect
Effect Effect REF

32a. Property is new
construction





















32b. Property involves
rehabilitation





















32c. Property involves
relocation of residents





















32d. Property site zoning
approval





















32e. Permits (i.e., obtaining
and/or cost of permits)





















32f. State and local historic
preservation approval





















32g. Site contamination
mitigation





















32h. Securing other sources
of funding





















32i. Legal challenges





















32j. General local opposition
to property





















32k. Need for amendment
waiver for processing
time





















32l. Need for amendment
waiver for fund amount





















32lm.Transferred DPG funds
between line items





















32n. Lack of predevelopment
funding





















INTERVIEWERS WILL SELECT FACTORS THAT HAD A MODERATE OR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
ON PROCESSING TIME TO ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

20

33a.

You noted that _______________ is a factor that negatively affected processing time for the
target property. Can you describe how __________ negatively affected processing time?

33b.

You noted that _______________ is a factor that negatively affected processing time for the
target property. Can you describe how __________ negatively affected processing time?

33c.

You noted that _______________ is a factor that negatively affected processing time for the
target property. Can you describe how __________ negatively affected processing time?

33d.

You noted that _______________ is a factor that negatively affected processing time for the
target property. Can you describe how __________ negatively affected processing time?

33e.

You noted that _______________ is a factor that negatively affected processing time for the
target property. Can you describe how __________ negatively affected processing time?

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

21

34.

Please identify any factors, other than those listed above, that may affect processing time
between fund reservation and initial closing.

35.

Do you have any suggestions for HUD to aid the timely processing of Section 202 properties
from fund reservation to initial closing?

36.

Do you have any suggestions or comments to HUD about the DPG program?

37.

Do you have any other suggestions or comments to HUD about the Section 202 program in
general?

This is the end of the survey. Thank you for your time.

Abt Associates Inc.

OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Telephone Survey of Section 202 Sponsors – DPG Recipients

22