HVS 17 Supporting Statement Part B

2

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

Housing Vacancy Survey

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 0607-0179

B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Universe and Respondent Selection

The HVS is conducted in conjunction with the CPS for which the universe is

135 million housing units. The Census Bureau selects a sample of approximately 72,000 housing units from this universe each month. Units are interviewed for the HVS if it is vacant and intended for year-round occupancy, as determined during the CPS interview. Approximately 7,000 units in the CPS sample meet these criteria each month and perform the interview; these units represent about 13 million year-round vacant units in 2016 across the United States each month. Based on past experience, a response rate of approximately 96 percent is expected.

2. Procedures for Collecting Information

Attachment G gives an overview of the CPS sample design and weighting methodology. The HVS weighting procedure is similar to that used by the CPS. The basic weight is the reciprocal of the probability of selection of the unit in the CPS sample. First- and second-stage adjustments similar to those described in Attachment G for the CPS are made to the HVS basic weight. The first-stage adjustment is made to bring the sample estimates into agreement with distributions for vacant units at the state levels as measured in the 2010 decennial census. The second-stage adjustment inflates the weight to account for undercoverage in the CPS sample.

Confidence intervals for the quarterly rental vacancy rate, homeowner vacancy rate and homeownership rate are 0.3 percent, 0.1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. We deem this degree of accuracy sufficient for data analysis and publication purposes.

3. Methods to Maximize Response

We maintain response rates and data accuracy for the CPS at high levels through interviewer instruction and training and close monitoring of data output. (Refer to paragraph 5 of Attachment G for a discussion of the CPS nonresponse.) Allocation for item nonresponse is done within the HVS eligible households (item nonresponse is less than 10 percent).

4. Tests of Procedures or Methods

Tests of procedures and methods are not required since we have conducted the HVS for 61 years.

5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection

The following individuals were consulted on the statistical data collection and analysis operations:

Statistical Design

Yang Cheng, Ph.D.

Demographic Statistical Methods Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-3287

Analysis

Edward Welniak

Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-5533

Collection

Lisa A. Clement

Associate Directorate Demographic Programs – Survey Operations

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-3806

List of Attachments

A - Tenure Question on the CPS Instrument

B - HVS Items on the CPS Instrument

C - Census Bureau Reports on Residential Vacancies and Home Ownership

D - CPS-263, Respondent Letter

E - HVS-600, Fact Sheet for the Housing Vacancy Survey

F - BC-1428, BC-1428, Confidentiality Brochure

G - Overview of CPS Sample Design and Methodology

H - Federal Register Notice