We request clearance for the proposed questions to be used on the 2021 American Housing Survey (AHS). We will collect data for the majority of the sample between May 3 and September 14, 2021. This request is a revision to the currently approved data collection request for the AHS due to changes in content and increased sample size.
The 2021 data collection procedures and questionnaire content are similar to the 2019 survey with the following exceptions:
a. Redesign of the Core Mortgage Module: The purpose of the redesign was to simplify the questions and streamline the flow of the module. The primary purpose of the Mortgage module is to measure housing costs to feed into HUDâs interest of measuring housing affordability. Secondary purposes include measuring the householdâs financial capacity in terms of access to credit and understanding the sources of financing for alterations and repairs.
b. Removal of Three Supplemental Modules from the 2019 AHS: The Food Security, Home Accessibility, and Post-Secondary Education supplemental modules will not be included in the 2021 survey.
c. Conclusion of the Housing Insecurity Research Module Follow-On: There will not be a Housing Insecurity Research Module Follow-on module for the 2021 AHS. Analysis continues on the data collected in the 2019 AHS.
d. Reinstatement of the Delinquent Payments and Notices Supplemental Module: The Delinquent Payment and Notices module collects data on whether people had to move due to lack of financial means or other support and where they would stay if they left the household. This supplemental module was last deployed in 2017.
e. Introduction of Five New Supplemental Modules: To continue the strategy of supplemental modules in order to minimize respondent burden and satisfy widening needs for data content, four new supplemental modules have been added to the survey â Intent to Move, Expanded Renter Housing Search, Wildfire Risk, Pets, and Smoking. These modules collect data on whether the respondent plans to move, the renter housing search process, housing characteristics that increase wildfire risk, household pets, and smoke and smoking in the housing unit. Please refer to the attached items booklet for the questions in these modules and the entire AHS questionnaire.
f. Sample Split for Supplemental Modules: A split of the survey sample will be used to maximize the number of supplemental modules that can be included in the 2021 AHS. Fifty percent of the sample will be asked the Intent to Move and Expanded Renter Housing Search modules. The other 50 percent will be asked the Wildfire Risk, Pets, and Smoking modules. The full sample will receive the Delinquent Payments and Notices Module. The Wildfire Risk module will be targeted toward geographical areas at increased risk for wildfires.
g. Nonresponse Bias Incentives Experiment: A proposed experiment will test whether targeting incentives to units at risk of nonresponse and likely to introduce bias can lower nonresponse bias in the integrated national sample.
We also request clearance for the reinterview questions to be used in conjunction with this survey. We will conduct a second interview at approximately 7 percent of the total addresses in the survey for the purpose of interviewer quality control. Reinterview questions ask respondents whether they recall general details from the original interview. The 2021 reinterview instrument will contain five questions about the AHS questionnaire. Each respondent will be asked all five question. We included in this clearance the cost and respondent burden estimates for the reinterview.
As a longitudinal survey, we interview our samples periodically to provide intermittent readings between decennial censuses. The length of time between interviews is two years on the AHS. Less frequent enumerations would reduce HUDâs ability to detect changes in worst case housing needs. Without this ability, the Administration and Congress would be unable to formulate policy on housing assistance.
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.
Title 12.docx
2021 AHS Contact Letters.pdf
Reinterviews