Emergency Letter

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20410-5000

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING

Mr. Tyler Glotfelty
OMB Desk Office
Office of Management and Budget
New Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mr. Glotfelty:
HUD requests an emergency clearance of an Information Collection Request (ICR) under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). HUD is requiring PHAs submit SF-425s for each grant
provided to PHAs from the $685 million of Supplemental Operating Funds in the Coronavirus
Aid, Relive, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), and to submit supporting documentation
for the drawdown of funds. Due to national impact of the coronavirus on HUD and Public
Housing Agency operations, and in compliance with the requirements of 5 CFR §1320.13, this
letter requests an information collection for certain information related to the obligation of
CARES Act supplemental Operating Funds. This action is essential for HUD to validate that
PHAs obligated their CARES Act funds for eligible uses in accordance with program
requirements as outlined in Notices PIH 2020-07, PIH 2020-24, and a notice completing
departmental clearance.
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act provided over $2 trillion in emergency assistance and
health care to individuals, families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and
emergency appropriations to support Executive Branch agency operations during the COVID-19
pandemic. The CARES Act provided $685 million of supplemental Operating Funds to PHAs.
HUD issued guidance (Notices PIH 2020-07 and PIH 2020-24) on the eligible uses of this
supplemental funding, financial management requirements, and other program requirements. The
later notice extended the period of performance for CARES Act supplemental Operating Funds
to December 31, 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic. HUD is requiring PHAs submit the SF425 annually until all funds are expended in conformance with 2 CFR 200.328 and 200.344.
PHAs that obligated their funds by the deadline but cannot expend the funds until after April 30,
2022 must submit supporting documentation to HUD to obtain HUD’s approval before drawing
down funds. The supporting documentation will establish that the drawdown is for eligible
expenses related to obligations incurred during the period of performance. This emergency PRA
relates to both the SF-425 and the supporting documentation related to drawdowns.
HUD requests an emergency approval for this information collection, to comply with the Federal
Financial Reporting requirements of 2 CFR Part 200, and to ensure future drawdowns of CARES
Act supplemental Operating Funds are limited to only obligations incurred during the period of
performance for eligible activities. The Notice proposed for immediate publication in the
Federal Register for 7 days, explains the collections and invites public comments.

www.hud.gov

espanol.hud.gov

Following approval of the emergency request, HUD will complete the normal OMB review
process and post the 60-Day and 30-Day Federal Register Notices. Future renewals of this ICR
will not reference the CARES Act supplemental Operating Funds or the COVID-19 crisis.
In summary, the expedient approval of this emergency processing is necessary to meet OMB
reporting requirements and to ensure PHAs obligated the funds for eligible activities on a timely
basis. Per 5 CFR 1320.13(a), this information is needed quickly to ensure appropriate use of
Cares Act supplemental Operating Funds and to reduce the PHA’s financial duress for their
actions taken to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, including to maintain normal
operations during the period the program was impacted by the 2019 coronavirus.
Thank you for your consideration and assistance.
Sincerely,

Dominique Blom
General Deputy Assistant Secretary

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