Item by Item Justification of Follow Up Survey

Appendix B. PHA Follow-Up Survey Item by Item Justification
Agency Contact and Respondent Information
Name and contact information of all survey respondents

This is necessary to ensure that HUD knows which
person completed which sections of the survey, in case
responses need to be clarified.
SECTION 1: PHA’s ROLES IN THE COC AND WITH SPECIFIC PARTNER PROGRAMS
1.A. PHAs that Participate in the CoC [FOR PHAs RESPONDING YES TO WEB CENSUS E.1.6]
1.A.1. On the Web Census, you or one of your colleagues The responses to this question will help HUD to
understand how PHAs are involved in serving homeless
told us that [NAME OF PHA] participates in the
households, and specifically, what role they play in the
Continuum of Care for [NAME OF COMMUNITY TO BE
local CoC. The information will help HUD determine
FILLED IN FROM NATIONAL LIST OF CoCs] or in another
the extent to which the CoC planning and coordination
planning body that attempts to end homelessness. You
mechanism could be the vehicle for increasing PHA
indicated that… [SUMMARIZE FROM PRE-FILLED
engagement with homeless households and what sort
RESPONSE TO WEB E.1.6 or E.1.7] Can you give me more of technical assistance to PHAs would help.
details about your participation? How would you
characterize the PHA’s role? What meetings do you
participate in? Has your PHA made any commitments as
a result of being part of the CoC, or as part of another
planning effort?
1.A.2. Has the CoC (or another planning body) identified
a particular group of homeless people on which to focus
the community's efforts to reduce homelessness? By a
particular type of homeless people, I mean a
subpopulation within those experiencing
homelessness—for example, people with chronic
patterns of homelessness, homeless people with
disabilities, homeless families with children, homeless
veterans, or youth aging out of foster care. If so, please
describe and explain.

The responses to this question provide detail on how
PHAs are involved in the community's strategic plans to
end homelessness. CoCs are likely to focus on
particular sub-populations. Does the PHA share or
contribute to that thinking? The answer to this
question also will provide context for the next
questions, about specific unit commitments.

1.A.3. Has [NAME OF PHA] been asked to provide or
volunteered to provide a specific number of public
housing units or voucher over some period of time
specifically for homeless people/families? (I don’t mean
to include here special-purpose vouchers allocated to
the PHA by HUD, such as HUD-VASH.) If so, how many
and which program or programs? [IF NO unit or voucher
goals, SKIP TO 1.A.7.]

The responses to this question will help HUD interpret
the responses to the census that show that some PHAs
have set-asides (limited preferences) for homeless
people. Do those limited preferences stem from
commitments PHAs make as part of the community's
strategic planning process?

Over what period of time?
1.A.4. Are the public housing unit or voucher
commitments for homeless people in general or for
particular type or subpopulation of homeless people?
Please explain.

The responses to this question will add to HUD's
understanding of how the community's strategic
planning process leads to PHAs establishing set-asides
for homeless people. This information will help HUD
interpret the responses to the census on limited
preferences for particular groups of homeless people.

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1.A.5. Do you think you will meet these public housing or
voucher commitment goals? If not, what are the
challenges or barriers to achieving them?
1.A.6. Has the PHA begun to provide these public
housing units or vouchers? If not, why not? If yes, what
activities has the PHA undertaken to implement those
goals? Are they reflected in your Annual Plan?
1.A.7. Overall, what would you say is [NAME OF PHA]’s
most important role in addressing homelessness?

1.A.8. Are there any changes you would recommend to
the community-wide effort to plan and implement a
strategy for ending homelessness in [NAME OF
COMMUNITY]? Is there anything that would make
[NAME OF PHA]’s participation more effective? If so,
please explain.

The responses to these questions will help HUD
understand barriers to serving homeless households
that may exist even for PHAs that have made explicit
commitments of voucher and/or public housing units in
the context of a strategic plan.
They also will allow HUD to understand whether serving
homeless households is part of the PHA’s agency goalsetting and planning process
This question give the respondents (PHAs that
participate in the CoC) a chance to provide descriptions
of their roles in serving homeless households that may
not be covered by the previous questions.
This question will allow HUD to understand what may
encourage PHAs to become more engaged in serving
homeless households.

1.B. PHAs that do not Participate in the CoC [FOR PHAs RESPONDING NO TO WEBCENSUS E.1.6]
1.B.1. For more than a decade, HUD has encouraged
This question confirms that the PHA is not involved in
local housing and supportive service providers to work
the local CoC, and thus probably is not a stakeholder in
together to develop a strategy to address homelessness
addressing homelessness in its community. The
through a planning process referred to as the Continuum response confirms that Module 1.B. is the correct
of Care or “CoC”. On the Web Census, you told us that
module to use for this respondent.
[NAME OF PHA] does not participate in the Continuum of
Care for [NAME OF COMMUNITY TO BE FILLED IN FROM
NATIONAL LIST OF CoCs] or in another community
planning body that attempts to end homelessness. Is
that correct? [IF NOT CORRECT, GO BACK TO A.1 AND
ASK THOSE QUESTIONS WITH APPROPRIATE REPHRASING. IF NO, CONTINUE WITH A.2.2.]
1.B.2. Has your PHA ever in the past participated in the
COC or another planning and policy-making effort that
attempts to end homelessness? If you did, why did your
participation end?

These questions will allow HUD to understand why a
PHA may not participate in the CoC, and thus may not
be focused on serving this population.

1.B.3. In your view, are there problems or weaknesses in
the way in which the local effort to end homelessness is
organized or has been designed? Please explain.

1.B.4. In your view, does [NAME OF PHA] play an
important role in addressing homelessness?

1.B.5. [IF YES TO 1.B.4.], What is that role?
1.B.6. [IF NO TO 1.B.4.], Why not?

These questions will allow HUD to learn whether,
despite not participating in the CoC, the PHA plays a
role in addressing homelessness, and if so, more about
the role. The responses may help HUD determine the
extent to which the CoC planning process--or other
vehicles--might be useful for encouraging PHAs to
engage with homeless households.

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1.B.7. Are there reasons you have not touched on
already that [NAME OF PHA] has not been more active in
addressing homelessness? [PROBES: HOMELESSNESS IS
NOT A BIG PROBLEM IN THIS COMMUNITY, HUD
PROGRAM RULES LIMIT ABILITY TO SERVE HOMELESS
PEOPLE, PHA OR ITS BOARD HAS OTHER PRIORITIES, THIS
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHER PROGRAMS OR
AGENCIES]

These questions directly address Research Question 3,
specifically why PHAs are not establishing preferences
to serve homeless households, and what concerns they
have about establishing preferences. The responses
also will help HUD put in context the possible census
results indicating that some, perhaps many, PHAs are
not engaged with homeless households.

1.B.8. Are there changes (environmental, fiscal,
statutory, or other) that you think would lead your PHA
to participate in efforts to end homelessness? [PROBES:
INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS, CHANGE IN THE WAY THE
LOCAL SYSTEM FOR SERVING HOMELESS PEOPLE
WORKS, CHANGES TO HUD PROGRAM RULES, CHANGES
IN LEADERSHIP, IMPROVEMENTS IN OTHER PRESSING
NEED AREAS]
1.C. PHA Experience with Community Partners Providing Services to Homeless People
This section addresses Research Question 2 – how are
1.C.1. In the Web Census, your PHA indicated that it has preferences for homeless households defined,
formal or informal relationships with community
structured, and implemented, specifically how does the
organizations that provide services to homeless people
partnership with other homeless service providers.
to…
This question confirms information from the census
about the PHA’s relationships with community
organizations to provide services to homeless families.
1.C.2. Does the partner organization serve a specific
This series of questions will provide information about
subpopulation of homeless people or people with a
the types of partnerships PHAs have formed, and why
particular type of need?
these partnerships are necessary for PHAs to provide
services to homeless households. The responses to the
series of questions will add to HUD’s understanding of
1.C.3. What is the PHA’s role in the partnership?
the role of PHA partnerships, as well as the advantages
[PROBES: DOES THE PHA: PROVIDE ACTUAL UNITS OR
RENTAL SUBSIDIES FOR THE PARTNERSHIP? CHANGE OR that they may offer in serving homeless households.
WAIVE THE RULES OF THE PHA’S PROGRAMS? PROVIDE
The answers to this series of questions will also assist
EXPERTISE ABOUT LOCAL HOUSING MARKETS AND
HUD to put in context the information provided in
AVAILABLE RENTAL UNITS? ADMINISTER RENTAL
Section E of the census about relationships with other
SUBSIDIES FROM ANOTHER PROGRAM SUCH AS HOME
organizations in the Continuum of Care, including the
OR SHELTER PLUS CARE?]
types of services provided by partners and those
provided by the PHA, and the PHA’s view of the
1.C.4. [IF THE PHA PROVIDES UNITS OR RENTAL
SUBSIDIES] Has the PHA committed a specific number of advantages or disadvantages of these arrangements.
public housing units or vouchers to the partnership?
How does that work? How is that number determined?
How does the PHA go about making the unit/vouchers
available to the program?
1.C.5. How does the PHA decide whether assistance will
be in the form of rental assistance or “reserved” public
housing units? If the assistance is in public housing, does
the PHA house the homeless households in the first unit
that becomes available, or only in some properties in

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some locations? If the assistance is vouchers, are
homeless families encouraged to find housing in certain
locations--for example, because of access to services
they use or to transportation?
1.C.6. When does the partnership provide housing units
or subsidies to homeless people? What determines who
is eligible? For example, is it people who are about to
lose their housing? Is it people who are homeless on the
streets or in shelters (or transitioning out of
institutions)? Is it people who have been through a
program that provides housing and services to homeless
people such as transitional housing or permanent
supportive housing?
1.C.7. Does the housing assistance begin during a
transitional period when the household receives
intensive services and then continue after the household
completes that program? This is sometimes called
transition-in-place.
1.C.8. Does the partnership use the PHA's vouchers in
Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects with which the
program has special arrangements?
1.C.9. What housing-related services does the PHA’s own
staff provide to participants in the program that go
beyond what people who are not homeless would get?
If so, what type of services are provided? [PROBES:
EXTRA HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE? HELP MOVING IN
AND SETTLING? WHAT ELSE?]
1.C.10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
the PHA providing these services and not the partner
agency?
1.C.11. Is the housing linked to services—that is, are
particular services an essential part of the program?
1.C.12. Is participation in services required?
1.C.13. What is the partner’s role? [PROBES: DEVELOP
OR MANAGE HOUSING UNITS? SELECT HOUSEHOLDS
FOR THE PROGRAM? DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE
PROGRAM? PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT? PROVIDE
HELP FINDING HOUSING? PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES?]

4

1.C.14. What services does the partner organization
provide? [PROBES: CASE MANAGEMENT? HELP FINDING
HOUSING? HELP MOVING IN AND SETTLING? HELP
WITH LANDLORD ISSUES? EMPLOYMENT SERVICES?
CHILD-FOCUSED SERVICES? MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES? PRIMARY HEALTH CARE?
WHAT ELSE?]
1.C.15. Have other public agencies such as Mental
Health or Corrections made an explicit commitment to
the program, and do they collaborate to provide services
or housing placement?

This question will provide information on whether local
Mental Health or Corrections agencies support the
partnership between the PHA and local organization(s)
to serve homeless families.

1.C.16. How do these partners help remove barriers that
might otherwise hamper use of Housing Choice Vouchers
or Public Housing by homeless people? [PROBES: DO
THE PARTNERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO MODIFY THE
USUAL TENANT SCREENING? DO THEY HELP PERSUADE
LANDLORDS TO RENT TO HOUSEHOLDS TRYING TO USE
VOUCHERS? DO THEY HELP PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS GET ON AND STAY ON WAITING LISTS?
DO THEY HELP FIND HOUSING THAT MEETS HQS? DO
THEY HELP WITH MANAGEMENT OR TENANCY ISSUES
THAT MAY ARISE?]

This question will allow HUD to learn how partner
organizations help remove barriers that currently
hinder PHAs from serving homeless households.

1.C.17. [FOR PHAS THAT HAVE MTW AUTHORITY]: Is
there any way in which the authority granted to you
under your MTW Agreement made it easier for you to
implement any of these programs or partnerships? [TRY
TO GET THE RESPONDENT TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS
POSSIBLE.]

This question provides information to HUD about what
aspects of the MTW program make it easier for PHAs to
assist homeless households.

1.D. [FOR PHAS THAT HAVE MTW AUTHORITY AND ANSWER NO TO WEB CENSUS G.1.1]:
1.D.1. On the Web Census, your PHA indicated that you
do not implement any programs specifically aimed at
homeless households. Why not?

These questions provide HUD with information on the
reasons why the PHA does not use their MTW program
to serve homeless households. The response confirms
that module 1.D is the correct module for this PHA.

1.D.2. Has anyone suggested that you use MTW
authority for programs that serve homeless households?
If so, why did you decide not to do it?
SECTION 2: PHA’s PREFERENCE SYSTEMS
2.A. Questions for PHAs with Homeless Preferences in their HCV, project-based HCV, or Public Housing programs
[FOR PHAS RESPONDING YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE WEB SURVEY: A.2.2, A.2.3, A.3.4,
B.3.3, OR B.3.4]
2.A.1. From the answers your PHA gave on the Web
This question confirms the PHA’s responses from the
web regarding the limited preferences established by
Census, my understanding is that…[SUMMARIZE
the PHA for homeless households.
INFORMATION FROM WEB CENSUS FROM A PREFILLED
TABLE BASED ON WEB CENSUS QUESTIONS A.2.2,
A.2.2.a.,A.2.2.b, A.2.3, A. 2. 4, A. 2.5, A.2.6, A. 2. 7, A.
3.3, A.3.4, A.3.5, B.3.1, B.3.2, B.3.3, B.3.4, B.3.5, B.3.6,

5

B.3.7, and B.3.8.]
2.A.2. [FOR PHAS WITH MULTIPLE SUBPOPULATION
PREFERENCES NOTED ABOVE] Do you have a means by
which you rank the different subpopulations with
admission preferences?

This question will allow HUD to learn which homeless
subpopulations the selected sample PHAs are
prioritizing for receiving assistance.

2.A.3. [FOR PHAs WITH LIMITED PREFERENCES:
RESPONSE TO WEB A.2.2 IS YES; A.3.4 IDENTIFIES A
HOMELESS PREFERENCE, OR B.3.3 IS YES].

This question confirms the response to the census
about limited preferences.

2.A.4. [FOR PHAS WITH LIMITED PREFERENCES FOR
VOUCHERS] Please explain how the preference that
establishes a specific number of vouchers for a particular
population works. How do you manage your waiting list
or the process for taking in new households to
implement the limited preference? What is the process
for identifying households that might qualify for that
preference? [PROBES: HOW DO PEOPLE NOT ALREADY
ON THE WAITING LIST GET ON? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
THE WAITING LIST IS CLOSED? CAN PEOPLE APPLY TO BE
ON WAITING LISTS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS? WHO
DETERMINES ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM?]

The responses to these question will allow HUD to
understand the mechanics of implementing limited
preferences for homeless households, as well as
differences between programs designed for various
homeless subpopulations

2.A.5. [FOR PHAS WITH LIMITED PREFERENCES FOR
PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS OR PUBLIC HOUSING] Please
explain how the preference that establishes a specific
number of project-based voucher units/public housing
units works. How do you manage your waiting list or the
process for taking in new households to implement the
limited preference? What is the process for identifying
households that might qualify for that preference?

These questions will allow HUD to understand how
limited and unlimited preferences for homeless
households function, including the mechanics of their
waiting lists and any modifications or adaptations the
PHA has made to the program(s).

2.A.6. [FOR PHAS WITH LIMITED PREFERENCES FOR
PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS OR PUBLIC HOUSING] Are
the unit or program slots reserved in specific properties?
If so, why did you choose those properties? Who
determines eligibility for the property?

This information will add to HUD’s understanding of
how barriers to serving families can be overcome. Also,
it will inform HUD as to potential models for utilizing
limited and unlimited preferences to serve homeless
households in other PHAs through project-based
vouchers or public housing.

2.A.7. [FOR PHAS WITH UNLIMITED PREFERENCES:
RESPONSE TO WEB A.2.3 OR B.3.4 IS YES] Please tell me
about what features of your waiting list and preference
system might bring homeless people to the top of the
waiting list sooner than if they were not homeless. What
changes did you see after you started using a preference
for homeless people? [PROBE FURTHER ABOUT HOW A
HOUSEHOLD THAT MEETS MORE THAN ONE
PREFERENCE CATEGORY WOULD BE TREATED AND
WHERE A HOMELESS HOUSEHOLD WOULD RANK
COMPARED WITH HOUSEHOLDS QUALIFYING FOR
OTHER PREFERENCES.]

6

2.A.8. I see that ….[BASED ON TABLE AT START OF THIS
SECTION AND ON THE ANSWER TO B.1.3.a, SUMMARIZE
ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PREFERENCES FOR HCVs
AND PUBLIC HOUSING]. Please explain why your
preferences for homeless people differ between
vouchers and public housing. Do you believe that one
program is a more effective tool than the other for
providing housing for people experiencing
homelessness? If so, which do you see as more effective
and why?

Answers to this question will assist HUD in
understanding the different approaches a PHA may
take for targeting one type of program assistance to
homeless households. They will also provide
information to HUD about the characteristics of
different programs that offer the ability to engage and
serve homeless households.

2.A.9. I see that …[BASED ON TABLE AT THE START OF
THIS SECTION, SUMMARIZE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
PREFERENCES FOR HCVs AND PROJECT-BASED HCVs].
Please explain why your preferences for homeless
people differ between tenant-based and project-based
HCVs. Do you believe that one program is a more
effective tool than the other for providing housing for
people experiencing homelessness? If so, which do you
see as more effective, and why?

The responses to this question will help HUD to
understand why PHAs are targeting homeless
households using PBV versus tenant-based vouchers .
This information will provide HUD with insight about
potential barriers that exist for each program when
trying to serve homeless households, as well as
information on characteristics that make PBV or tenantbased vouchers more effective.

2.A.10. Can you provide an estimate of the number of
homeless households (or an estimate of the percent of
all the households in your HCV, project-based HCV, or
Public Housing program) that are admitted each year
because of your preference for homeless people?

This question will help quantify for HUD the number of
homeless households served by the sample of PHAs
annually.

2.A.11. Do you anticipate making any changes to the
PHA’s preference system that might affect homeless
people? If yes, explain.

Answers to this question will assist HUD to obtain
insights about the PHA’s possible changes to its
preference system. HUD can consider these changes as
possible incentives or models for all PHAs to implement
to better serve homeless households
For the respondents who have MTW authority, this
question will allow HUD to understand what regulatory
barrier, relieved with MTW, was key to implementing
this preference. Again, this information can be used by
HUD to understand what barriers exist in the PBV and
tenant-based voucher programs to serving homeless
families.

2.A.12. [FOR PHAS THAT HAVE MTW AUTHORITY] Is
there anything about your preferences for homeless
households that you would not have been able to
implement without MTW authority? [TRY TO GET THE
RESPONDENT TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE.]

2.B. Definitions of Homelessness [FOR PHAS WITH PREFERENCES—THOSE THAT WERE ASKED 2.A QUESTIONS]
2.B.1. In your Web Census, you indicated that [NAME OF This question confirms the information obtained in the
census about the definition of homelessness used by
PHA] uses the following definition of homelessness in
the PHA. The response also confirms that Module 2.B is
implementing the preference for homeless households
the correct module to use for this agency.
or for a particular type of homeless household.
[SUMMARIZE AND CONFIRM PRE-FILLED WEB CENSUS
RESPONSES D.1., D.2., D.3a and D.4]
2.B.2. Can you offer any insight on why the PHA uses that
particular definition?
2.B.3. In your Web Census, you indicated that [NAME OF

This question will allow HUD to understand how and
why the PHA began using this definition of
homelessness
This question confirms the information obtained in the

7

PHA] uses the following information to determine
whether a newly admitted household is homeless.
[SUMMARIZE AND CONFIRM PRE-FILLED WEB CENSUS
RESPONSE D.3.]

census.

2.B.4. In your view, does that definition or required
documentation limit or prevent you from serving some
types of homeless people? If yes, please elaborate.

This question will allow the PHA to provide additional
information about how effectively the agency serves
homeless people. The responses will allow HUD to
understand what definition of homelessness most
easily facilitates PHAs’ serving of homeless households.
2.C. Costs of Preferences for Homeless People [FOR PHAS WITH PREFERENCES—THOSE THAT WERE ASKED B.1
QUESTIONS]
2.C.1. To what extent do/does your homeless
This will provide HUD with an understanding of how
preference(s) affect your ability to serve other
prioritizing serving homeless households impacts the
households—that is, households than are not homeless
PHA’s ability to serve other subpopulations .
but may meet other PHA preferences or have other
needs?
2.C.2. Have your homeless preference(s) created
additional costs or burdens to the PHA? If so, please
describe. [PROMPTS: DOES IT REQUIRE MORE EFFORT TO
FIND HOMELESS PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO THE TOP
OF THE WAITING LIST? HAVE YOU DONE ADDITIONAL
OUTREACH TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS TO APPLY FOR YOUR PROGRAMS? DO A
LARGER SHARE OF APPLICANTS FAIL SCREENING FOR
ELIGIBILITY? IS MORE STAFF SUPPORT NEEDED DURING
THE APPLICATION OR VOUCHER LEASE-UP PERIOD?
DOES IT REQUIRE A LONGER LEASE-UP PERIOD? ARE THE
VOUCHER HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS LARGER OR
ARE THE PUBLIC HOUSING RENTS LOWER? ARE THERE
MORE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN PUBLIC HOUSING?]

These questions provide information on the additional
costs or burdens that a PHA incurs when it prioritizes
serving homeless households through preferences.
This information will assist HUD in understanding the
overall cost of serving homeless households. Also, it
can help HUD understand what type of incentives might
encourage PHAs to better serve homeless households.

2.C.3. [IF RESPONDENT HAS IDENTIFIED COST IMPACTS]:
Are there ways that you have mitigated these impacts?
Please elaborate.
2.C.4. [IF RESPONDENT HAS IDENTIFIED COST IMPACTS]:
Is there anything HUD could do to help your agency
reduce the costs associated with maintaining a homeless
preference? [PROMPTS: HUD CHANGING REGULATIONS,
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FROM HUD, ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR ADMIN OR RISK-RELATED COSTS]
2.C.5. Are there positive impacts for your agency that
you attribute to having a preference for homeless
people?

2.C.6. [FOR PHAS THAT HAVE MTW AUTHORITY]: Is

Answers to this question will allow HUD to understand
the advantages PHAs perceive to serving homeless
households. This information will assist HUD in
understanding what may encourage PHAs to serve
homeless households and what potential incentives
might be used to increase PHA assistance to this
population.
Answers to this question will enable HUD to understand

8

there anything about your MTW authority that has made
it possible for you to cover or absorb the costs of serving
homeless people? Is there anything that has made it
possible for you to reduce the costs of serving homeless
people?

how the MTW authority may allow for absorption of
costs that would not have been possible otherwise.
Similar to the questions above, this question can assist
HUD in understanding what mechanisms may
encourage PHAs to prioritize assisting homeless
households.

2.D. Questions for PHAs without Homeless Preferences [FOR PHAS RESPONDING NO TO WEB CENSUS A.2.2,
A.2.3, A.3.4, B.3.3, AND B.3.4]
2.D.1. Have you ever considered establishing a
These questions aim to reveal the PHA’s decisionpreference for homeless households? Has anyone
making toward serving homeless households and any
outside the PHA’s staff—such as the PHA’s Board, the
actions that have been attempted in the past to include
mayor, the city council, local public agencies, or
a homeless preference. This information also helps
advocacy organizations—ever asked you to consider
HUD to understand barriers that may discourage or
establishing a preference for homeless people?
prevent a PHA from establishing a homeless
preference, and – in the absence of a preference –what
other strategies for serving homeless households are
2.D.2. If yes, what were the factors that led to your
being utilized.
decision not to establish a preference for homeless
households? What was the primary factor? What were
other important factors? [PROBE: WHEN WAS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PREFERENCE CONSIDERED?]
2.D.3. Has anyone outside the PHA—such as the PHA’s
Board or elected officials or advocacy organizations—
ever opposed a preference for homeless people that was
proposed by the PHA?

This information will provide context to HUD about
what types of organizations may object to PHAs
prioritizing serving homeless households, as why.

2.D.4. What concerns do or would you have about
establishing a homeless preference? [PROMPTS:
SUBSIDY COSTS, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, PUBLIC
HOUSING MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS, OTHER
HOUSEHOLDS WITH PRIORITY NEEDS, HOMELESS
HOUSEHOLDS WOULD NOT PASS ELIGIBILITY SCREENS,
RELAXING ELIGIBILITY SCREENS WOULD NOT BE
DESIRABLE, SERVICES TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS WITH
COMPLEX NEEDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE
COMMUNITY.]

The responses to these questions will assist HUD in
understanding the barriers perceived by the PHA in
having a homeless preference. They may also inform
HUD as to possible incentives that could be offered to
PHAs to encourage them to serve a greater number of
homeless households through a preference.

2.D.5. [FOR PHAS RESPONDING YES TO WEB CENSUS
A.2.1 OR B.3.1] From the answers your PHA gave on the
Web Census, you do have preferences in your [Housing
Choice Voucher Program/Public Housing program] for
some types of households, although not for homeless
households. According to those answers, you have
preferences for households that: [PREFILL BASED ON
WEB CENSUS A.2.5 AND B.3.6] Is this accurate?

This question confirms web census responses.

2.D.6. [ASK IF PHA HAS SEVERAL PREFERENCE GROUPS].
Which of these groups is the most important from the
standpoint of the PHA's mission?

This question will inform HUD as to what other
subpopulations are receiving priority from the sample
PHAs, as well the motivations and reasons behind the
PHAs’ choices in the admissions preferences. This

9

2.D.7. What are the reasons it is important for [NAME OF
PHA] to serve those households?

information will help HUD in understanding what
incentives may be in place for serving other
subpopulations.

2.D.8. If you had a preference for homeless households,
would that affect your ability to serve the types of
households for whom you now have preferences? How
would it do that?

The responses to these questions will allow HUD to
understand, from the PHA’s perspective, how the
agency perceives the tradeoff between serving
homeless households, and serving other types of
households.
This question will quantify for HUD the number of
homeless households served by the sample of PHAs.

2.D.9. Although you don’t have a preference for
homeless households, presumably you served some
households that were homeless at the time they were
admitted to the Housing Choice Voucher or Public
Housing program. Can you provide an estimate of the
number of households each year (or an estimated
percent of all the households in your HCV or Public
Housing program) that were homeless at the time they
were admitted? [IF ESTIMATE(S) PROVIDED, ASK B.4.4a
AND b. OTHERWISE SKIP TO B.4.5.]
2.D.10. In your Web Census, your PHA indicated that
you use the following definition of homelessness in
responding to the question on HUD FORM 50058 about
whether a household was homeless at the time of
admission. [SUMMARIZE AND CONFIRM PRE- FILLED
WEB CENSUS RESPONSES D.1, D.2, D.3.a and D.4.]

These questions confirm the responses to the web
census.

2.D.11. In your Web Census, your PHA indicated that
you use the following information to determine whether
a newly admitted household is homeless. [SUMMARIZE
AND CONFIRM PRE-FILLED WEB CENSUS RESPONSE D.3.]
Is that the information on which your estimate of the
number of homeless households you serve is based?
2.D.12. In your view, is there anything HUD could do to
create more incentives for PHAs to use the Housing
Choice Voucher or Public Housing program to address
homelessness? Please explain.

This question elicits input from the PHA enabling HUD
to understand the PHA perspective on incentives that
could be instituted.

SECTION 3: BARRIERS TO USING THE HCV AND PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMS [ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF ALL
PHAS]
3.A.1. In your response to the Web Census, your PHA
These questions confirm information provided by the
PHA in the census on the barriers that homeless people
(identified some/did not identify any) [BASED ON
RESPONSE TO WEB CENSUS F.1.1] barriers that homeless may face in accessing public and assisted housing. The
people may encounter in using Housing Choice Vouchers responses to these questions will inform HUD’s
understanding of how these barriers to serving
or being admitted to public housing.
homeless households might be overcome.
3.A.2. [FOR THOSE IDENTIFYING BARRIERS: RESPONSE
TO WEB CENSUS F.1.1 INDICATES BARRIERS] You
indicated that…
3.A.3. [FOR THOSE NOT IDENTIFYING BARRIERS:

The response to this question will provide information

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RESPONSE TO WEB CENSUS F.1.1 IS NONE] Please
describe why, in your view, homeless households are
able to use Housing Choice Vouchers or public housing
without significant barriers.
3.A.4. [FOR ALL PHAS] When assisted households have
violated program rules and you plan to evict them from
public housing or terminate their voucher, do you take
any steps to help them avoid becoming homeless?
[PROBES: NOTIFY THEIR CASEWORKERS, CONNECT
THEM WITH SERVICES, WORK WITH THEM DURING A
PROBATIONARY PERIOD, WORK OUT A TRANSFER TO
HOUSING THAT BETTER SUITS THEIR NEEDS]

about what mechanisms or strategies facilitate
homeless households using public housing. The
response to this question will help HUD understand
some potential ways for barriers to serving homeless
households could be addressed or removed.
This question provides HUD with information on what
steps PHAs follow when evicting a household from
public housing to prevent them from becoming
homeless. This information could offer HUD
suggestions on steps that PHAs can undertake to
prevent families from exiting housing into
homelessness.

3.A.5. [FOR PHAS THAT RESPONDED YES TO WEB CENSUS
F.1.3.] In your PHA’s Web Census, you described some
policy, procedural, or programmatic changes that you
have made to make it easier to serve homeless people.
[SUMMARIZE BASED ON PRE-FILLED RESPONSE TO WEB
CENSUS F.1.3] Tell me more about what you have done
and how it has worked. [PROBES: HAS IT GONE THE WAY
YOU EXPECTED, HAVE YOU HOUSED MORE PEOPLE THAN
ANTICIPATED, HAS IT ENABLED YOU TO DO WHAT YOU
WANTED RELATED TO HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE IN
YOUR COMMUNITY]

This question provides information for Research
Question 2, specifically, what steps the PHA may have
taken to facilitate serving homeless households. The
responses to this question can help HUD understand
what measures can be taken to encourage PHAs to
serve homeless households, including possible
incentives.

3.A.6. [FOR PHAS RESPONDING TO SECTION 1.C OF THIS
SURVEY.] Have any of the partnership arrangements
that we talked about earlier helped you overcome
barriers to serving homeless people? If so, how did that
work?

This question will help HUD in understanding what
elements of partnerships assist the PHA in overcoming
barriers to serving homeless households. This
information could also inform the development of
incentives for PHAs to serve homeless subpopulations.

3.A.7. [FOR PHAS THAT HAVE MTW AUTHORITY] Has
your MTW authority given you the ability to overcome
any of the barriers homeless people may face in using
the Housing Choice Voucher or Public Housing program?
[TRY TO GET THE RESPONDENT TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS
POSSIBLE.]

This question will allow HUD to understand what
aspect(s) of the MTW program assist PHAs in serving
homeless households.

SECTION 4: OTHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE PHA
4.A. Special-purpose vouchers
4.A.1. Based on HUD’s administrative records, [NAME OF These questions confirm information collected from
PHAs on the web census and provide background about
PHA] has some special-purpose vouchers. Please
the PHA’s special-purpose vouchers. They also will
confirm that you have [PRE-FILLED BASED ON HUD
provide information on whether the PHA’s experience
INFORMATION]:
with special-purpose voucher programs has facilitated
or impeded assisting homeless households. This will
HUD-VASH: [YES/NO]
help HUD understand what characteristics of these
Non-Elderly Disabled (NED): [YES/NO]
voucher programs encourage PHAs to serve homeless
5-year Mainstream: [YES/NO]

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Family Unification Program (FUP): [YES/NO]

households.

4.A.2. [ASK FOR EACH PROGRAM] Has your experience
with serving people with special needs under [NAME
PROGRAM] influenced your policies for serving homeless
people?
4.A.3. Has your experience with people with special
needs under [NAME OF PROGRAM] affected your
capacity to serve homeless people? Please explain.
[PROBES: HAVE THEY LED TO CHANGES IN POLICIES OR
PROCEDURES? HAVE THEY BUILT STAFF SKILLS OR
CAPACITY?]
4.B Other programs serving homeless people
4.B.1. Based on your responses to the Web Census,
[NAME OF PHA] serves homeless people through one or
more programs other than Housing Choice Vouchers or
Public Housing. [ASK FOR EACH PROGRAM IN TURN]
You have [NAME OF PROGRAM] and that program serves
about [XX] homeless people. [IF NO OTHER PROGRAMS
IDENTIFIED AS SERVING HOMELESS PEOPLE, SKIP TO
4.B.5.]
4.B.2. Is there anything I haven’t mentioned that you do
differently?

This series of questions addresses Research Question 1
– how extensive are the PHA’s efforts to serve
homeless families, and specifically, does the PHA
operate other housing programs to serve homeless
households. The information will help HUD to
understand about possible incentives that could be
offered to PHAs to encourage them to further engage
and homeless households, as well as the barriers that
prevent some PHAs from better serving homeless
households.

4.D.3. Is it easier to use [NAME OF PROGRAM] to serve
homeless people than it is to use regular Housing Choice
Vouchers or public housing? Why or why not?
4.B.4. Are you working with community partners to serve
homeless people in [NAME OF PROGRAM]? Please
identify the partners and describe how that works.
4.B.5. Have the partnerships you have built for these
programs also improved your ability to serve homeless
households with your Housing Choice Voucher or Public
Housing program?
SECTION 5: CLOSING
5.A. Is there anything else you would like to tell me
about concerning [NAME OF PHA]’s engagement
with homeless people?

This question provides PHA respondents the
opportunity to offer further information to HUD on the
topic as a whole.

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