In 2013, the Government Accountability
Office (GAO) expressed the need for an evaluation of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Resident Opportunity and
Self-Sufficiency – Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) program in a
published report which identified “significant gaps in the ROSS-SC
grant program, specifically the number of families that
participate, number and type of self-sufficiency outcomes achieved,
the lack of formal reporting guidance, and the lack of a reporting
tool that can provide ‘easily or reliably aggregated’ data on the
program” (GAO, pg. 17). In addition, HUD implemented ROSS-SC
program changes in FY 2014 in order to improve grantee applications
and reporting, as well as the tracking and measurement of
participant outcomes. Congress requested an evaluation of the
ROSS-SC program in the Conference Report accompanying the
Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2014 (Public Law 113-76),
which appropriated $40,000,000 for the transformation initiative.
Of the amount, not less than $15,000,000 is for research,
demonstrations and evaluations, which should be sufficient to fund
the following activities: understanding rapid re-housing models and
outcomes for homeless; a seniors and supportive housing program
demonstration; a seniors and services demonstration evaluation; a
Section 811 project rental assistance demonstration; a ROSS-SC
evaluation; a small area fair market rent study; a Jobs-Plus
evaluation; a Moving to Work evaluation; and a Rental Assistance
Demonstration evaluation. HUD’s Office of Policy Development and
Research (PD&R) has contracted with the Urban Institute to
conduct an evaluation of the ROSS-SC program. During the Period of
Performance, the Urban Institute and its subcontractor EJP
Consulting will perform and report on the following tasks: 1.
Assess changes in program processes and reporting since changes
were made to the program’s logic model in FY 2014, 2. Examine the
breadth and depth of ROSS-SC program implementation by current
service coordinators across all grantee types, and 3. Analyze
current reporting requirements and performance metrics to improve
future program outcome evaluations.
US Code:
12
USC 1701-z Name of Law: Research and Demonstrations
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
3-29-18_ROSS SC_ Appendix F.docx
ROSS-SC Evaluation 30 Day Notice.pdf
HUD Residents in 5-person household