New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
10/03/2024
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
2,164
0
859
0
0
0
This new collection, sponsored by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), seeks to
examine the implementation and outcomes associated with the
Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program, which was created under
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The EHV program awarded roughly 70,000 new
Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) to 611 public housing agencies (PHA)
that were targeted to households experiencing or at-risk of
experiencing homelessness. The collection aims to explore the
structure of the EHV program compared to its analogous program, the
Housing Choice Voucher program (HCV). Additionally, the evaluation
will examine unique features of the EHV program, e.g., the
partnerships formed between Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and
Continuums of Care (CoCs), and program features such as the use of
administrative fees and waivers to assist program beneficiaries. In
this context, HUD contracted with Social Policy Research Associates
(SPR) and its subcontractor, Abt Global (Abt) (“the research
team”), to evaluate the EHV program and collect data from three
sources: 1) administrative data, 2) a national web survey of PHAs
and CoCs, and 3) follow-up telephone interviews with a selected
sample of PHAs, CoCs, and other PHA partner organizations in 25
communities. The evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach with
administrative data and web survey data to measure outcomes in key
interest areas. The follow-up telephone interviews will collect
information on the experiences of program staff in implementing the
EHV program. Data from this evaluation will help guide any future
emergency housing voucher programs and could also inform possible
changes to the HCV program to serve households who are experiencing
or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The authority to collect
this information is in Sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and
Urban Development Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-609) (12 USC §§
1701z-1; 1701z-2(d) and (g)).
US Code:
12
USC 1701z-1 Name of Law: Research and Demonstrations
This is a new information
collection. HUD will use the information collected to understand
how communities implemented the EHV Program and the outcomes of the
program. The evaluation of the EHV program will use qualitative and
quantitative methods to address the following research objectives:
A. Document how PHAs and CoCs structured and implemented their EHV
programs, including the extent to which each of the four
populations eligible for EHVs were served by the program and how
the CoC prioritized EHV receipt among people currently or recently
experiencing homelessness; B. Learn how PHAs applied administrative
fees and chose among and implemented alternative program features
and gaining the perspective of PHAs regarding their value; C.
Detail the extent to which PHAs and CoCs considered and
incorporated equity principles and approaches into their EHV
programs, including the prioritization of households who most
needed housing and incorporating people with lived experience of
homelessness to inform the CoC’s prioritization strategy; and D.
Describe the households that were referred to the PHAs and issued
EHVs and their success rates and compare them and their success
rates to households using HCVs. The research study intends to
explore the following research questions in detail: 1) Partnerships
Established Between PHAs and CoCs: One of the primary objectives of
the study is to examine the partnerships established between PHAs
and CoCs as a result of the EHV program. This will include
analyzing the nature of these partnerships, the level of
collaboration between the two organizations, and how they worked
together to meet the housing needs of the program's primary
audience. 2) Referrals and Eligibility Assessments Administered by
Partners: The study will also examine the referral and eligibility
assessment processes that partners involved in the EHV program
followed. This will involve analyzing the criteria used to
determine eligibility, the referral process, and how these
processes were streamlined to ensure that households in need could
access the program's benefits as quickly as possible. 3) Practices
in Helping Households During the Lease-Up Process: Another key area
of inquiry will be to identify the best practices for helping
households during the lease-up process and in securing a housing
unit. This will include analyzing the types of support provided to
households during this process, the challenges faced by households
during this process, and how these challenges were addressed. 4)
Administrative Fee Waiver and Its Role in the Program: Finally, the
study will seek to understand administrative fee waivers and their
role in the program. This will involve analyzing the criteria used
to determine eligibility for the fee waiver, the benefits it
provided to households, and how it has helped to make the EHV
program more accessible to those in need. The collection will also
gather information to guide future efforts developed by HUD. The
following questions will be used to collect this information: a.
What aspects of EHV should be carried over to the regular HCV
program or future allocations of emergency vouchers? b. What
strategies were adopted by communities to monitor program
implementation? c. Are there any ongoing local evaluations of the
EHV program that the community is aware of?
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.
30-Day Notice Evaluation of Emergency Housing Voucher Program.pdf
Final - Appendix A_HUD's Statutory Authority to Collect Information.docx
Outreach materials for phone/virtual interviews with CoCs and non-CoC partner organization staff