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 NonRecipients
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 Non-Recipients .......................................................................... 1

Abt Associates Inc.

Table of Contents

i

Telephone Survey of Section 202 Non-Recipients

Abt Associates Inc.

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

1

Sponsor Survey – DPG Non-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 why some sponsors do not apply for the grant We are also interested in learning about any
issues that may affect general 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.
Your organization was selected to participate in this study because HUD records as of January 2010
indicated that your organization has never applied for or received a DPG. Is this accurate?
IF NO, STOP SURVEY AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME.
This survey will take about 30 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, it is possible that someone at HUD might be
able to figure out who provided some answers on the survey. In the 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
(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 – Non-Recipients

2

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

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

Section 202 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 – Non-Recipients

3

First I would like to ask you questions about your development 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 is it part
of a larger organization?
National organization .................................................................................................... 
Local organization......................................................................................................... 
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 – Non-Recipients

4

Property and Sponsor Characteristics of Non-Recipients
For the next several sections of the survey, we will ask about your experience with your most recently
awarded Section 202 property: _____________________________ located in
_________________________.
(Property Name)
(Property Location)

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 program; 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
_____________.

8.

Did the Section 202 capital advance cover the property’s entire development cost?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
8a.

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

8b.

If NO, what other sources of funding were used for the development of property
__________________? I will read a list of types of sources of funding and please
answer YES or NO. Also, for each type of funding that was used to develop the
property, state which types were also used to pay for pre-development costs, that is,
all the costs of the property prior to initial closing.

USED FOR TARGETED
PROPERTY

AVAILABLE FOR
PREDEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES

SOURCE OF FUNDING

YES

NO

YES

NO

8b1.

HOME









8b2.

CDBG









8b3.

Federal Home Loan Bank









8b4.

Sponsor/Owner funds









8b5.

Donation of land









Abt Associates Inc.

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

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USED FOR TARGETED
PROPERTY

9.

AVAILABLE FOR
PREDEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES

SOURCE OF FUNDING

YES

NO

YES

NO

8b6.

Low income housing tax credits









8b7.

Other State funding
(Specify:__________________)









8b8.

City or County funding









8b9.

Other
(Specify:__________________)









8b10. Other
(Specify:__________________)









Did your organization have any issues with accessing predevelopment funds?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
9a.

IF YES, please explain.

(PROBE WHETHER ACCESS TO PREDEVELOPMENT FUNDS HAVE ANY
EFFECT ON PROCESSING TIME)

Abt Associates Inc.

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

6

10.

For 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 / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

10a.

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

10b.

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

Abt Associates Inc.

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

7

11.

What activities did the consultant complete for this property? I will read a list and select all
that apply.
TASK

YES

NO

DK/REF

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







Monitored budget







Helped procure developer







Helped procure other contractors







Monitored design process







11a.

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

11b.

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

Abt Associates Inc.

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

8

DPG Knowledge and Application Process
The major focus of this survey is to learn about the Demonstration Planning Grant program. While
we understand that your organization has neither applied for nor received a DPG, we are still
interested in learning about your knowledge of the program. Now we will ask questions about the
DPG application process and why your organization decided not to apply for the DPG.
12.

On a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE and 5 is VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE, how would you rate your knowledge of the DPG program?
Not
Knowledgeable

1

Very
Knowledgeable

Somewhat

2

3

4

5

DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

13.

For property ______________, were you aware of the DPG program?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
13a.

13b.

IF YES, 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
each activity.
TASK

YES

NO

DK/REF

13a1. During the Section 202 application process







13a2. With the Section 202 fund reservation award
letter







13a3. At the Section 202 award briefing meeting







13a4. When the DPG NOFA was released by HUD







13a5. Some other time
(Specify:_____________________________)







IF 13a1–13a5 ARE ALL NO, how did you initially hear about the DPG program?

Abt Associates Inc.

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

9

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

14.



From previous Section 202 properties



From other sponsor staff



From consultants



From other contractors



HUD publications



General news

How would you rate the field office’s knowledge of the DPG program on a scale from 1 to 5 in
which 1 is NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE and 5 is VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
Not
Knowledgeable

1

Very
Knowledgeable

2

3

4

5

DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

15.

Why did your organization not apply for the DPG for property __________________? I will
read a list of reasons and please state YES or NO for each one.
YES

NO

DK/REF

15a. Had other sources of predevelopment funding
before initial closing







15b. Ineligible property type







15c. The Section 202 capital advance fully covered cost
of construction







15d. The Section 202 capital advance was already at
maximum amount permitted by HUD







15e. Lack of knowledge about the DPG program







15f. Had previous negative experience with DPG
application process







15g. Had previous negative experience with DPG
administration







15h. The timing of the release of the DPG NOFA







15i.

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







15j.

The DPG application is burdensome













15k. The cost of completing application is too high

Abt Associates Inc.

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

10

16.

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 .. 
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 application is too high ............................................................... 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 

17.

Would your organization consider applying for a DPG for future properties?
Yes............................................................................................................................... 
No ................................................................................................................................ 
DON’T KNOW / REFUSED ........................................................................................... 
17a.

IF YES, under what circumstances would your organization apply for a DPG for a
future property?

INTERVIEWERS WILL RECORD RESPONSES VERBATIM. POSSIBLE RESPONSES
INCLUDE:


No other sources of predevelopment funding before initial closing



To speed up time between fund reservation to initial closing



Insufficient cash flow



Need additional funding for building in high cost areas



Greater ability to retain qualified predevelopment contractors (developers, architects, etc)



Greater ability to retain qualified development consultants



Greater ability to include small businesses in the development process

17b.

IF NO, why would your organization not apply for a DPG for a future property?

Abt Associates Inc.

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

11

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.
18.

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.
IMPACT

FACTOR

NA

No
Impact

Minor
Impact

Moderate
Impact

Significant
Impact

18a. Property is new construction











18b. Property involves rehabilitation











18c. Property involves relocation of residents











18d. Property site zoning approval











18e. Permits (i.e., obtaining and/or cost of
permits)











18f. State and local historic preservation
approval











18g. Site contamination mitigation











18h. Securing secondary financing











18i. Legal challenges











18j. General local opposition to project











18k. Need for amendment waiver for
processing time











18l. Need for amendment waiver for fund
amount











18m. Lack of predevelopment funding











19.

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

19a.

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 – Non-Recipients

12

19b.

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

19c.

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

19d.

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

19e.

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

20.

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

Abt Associates Inc.

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

13

21.

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

22.

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

23.

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 – Non-Recipients

14