Housing Counseling Program- Application for Approval as a Housing Counseling Agency
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved without change
04/28/2021
01/26/2021
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2024
36 Months From Approved
04/30/2021
700
0
800
5,717
0
6,400
0
0
0
National, regional, Multi-State intermediaries and Local public and private nonprofit agencies that provide housing counseling services directly or through their affiliates or branches regarding home buying, homeownership and rental housing programs submit an application for designation as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. HUD uses the information to evaluate the agency and to populate Agency profile data in the Housing Counseling System (HCS) database. This data populates HUD's website and automated 1-800 Hotline.
US Code:
12 USC 1701w
Name of Law: Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968
US Code:
12 USC 1701x
Name of Law: Housing and Urban Development Act
This is a request for a revision of a currently approved collection. The numbers of respondents, responses, and associated burden hours for the application to become a HUD-approved HCA have changed since the last OMB approval due to the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376, approved July 21, 2010) (Dodd-Frank) and the subsequent Housing Counseling: New Certification Requirements Final Rule released on December 14, 2016. Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x) (Section 106) was amended by Subtitle D of title XIV of Dodd-Frank to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of housing counseling that is required under or provided in connection with HUD programs (Section 106 amendments).
There have been changes in program eligibility requirements. The revised Form HUD-9900 addresses and fulfills the mandated programmatical and eligibility requirement changes in accordance with the Dodd-Frank certification requirements for HUD HCAs and HUD Housing Counselor Certification. A Privacy Act Statement has been added to the form. The revised form combines the âAssurances and Certificationsâ section of the application and retitled the section as âCertifications.â The âCertificationsâ section clearly defines the program policies that an agency is responsible for as a program participant and reduces the need for additional paperwork. Additionally, the form strengthens the language for the âScreening of Ineligible Participantsâ section by using the same criteria for all eligible entity types in reference to âIneligible Participants.â
Attachment A, Form HUD-9900A, will standardize the âBoard and Housing Counseling Staffâ submission requirement and ensure that HUD is disclosing how it will use Personally Identifiable Information collected during the application process. Lastly, the revised form clarifies the definition of an Intermediary organization. The definition revision for Intermediaries, which removes the number of qualifying states, brings the form in-line with 24 CFR Part 214 and HUD Handbook 7610.1 REV-5. It also removes the barrier to qualification for more agencies. The application is a fillable PDF form and does not place any additional burden on eligible applicants.
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.