Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4200-N-02]

Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and

Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described

below, regarding the competitive components of the Housing

Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, will be submitted

to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by

the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public

comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments due March 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding

this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB

Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Shelia

E. Jones, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street

SW., Room 7230, Washington, DC 20410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the proposed

information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35 as amended).

The Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and

affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,

including whether the information will have practical utility; (2)

Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility,

and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the

burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond;

including through the use of appropriate automated collection

techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting

electronic submission of responses.

The HOPWA program is authorized by the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act

(42 U.S.C. 12901) as amended by the

[[Page 1896]]

Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-550,

approved October 28, 1992). The program is governed by the HOPWA Final

Rule, 24 CFR Part 574, as amended, and the Consolidated Submissions for

Community Planning and Development Programs, Final Rule, 24 CFR Part

91, as amended. This paper work submission extends the current

collection of information that is used by the Department in conducting

an annual competition to award program funds and in reviewing grant

performance reported in annual progress reports. The information

collected is essential in order to implement statutory requirements.

The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program

provides housing assistance and supportive services for low-income

persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. Ten percent of the

appropriated funds are awarded by competition as grants under two

categories of assistance as: (1) Special Projects of National

Significance (SPNS) which, due to their innovation nature or their

potential for replication, are likely to serve as effective models in

addressing the needs of eligible persons; Applications for this

category can be submitted by States, local governments and non-profit

organizations; and (2) Projects which are part of Long-term

Comprehensive Strategies for providing housing and services for

eligible persons in non-formula areas. Applications for this category

can be submitted by States and local governments to undertake

activities in areas that did not qualify for formula allocations during

the fiscal year. Funds may be used over a three year operating period.

Grantees report to the Department on an annual basis on program

accomplishments in annual progress reports.

This Notice also lists the following information:

Title of Proposal: Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS

(HOPWA) program.

OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0133.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The

information to be collected is provided in applications for

competitively-awarded funds and in annual progress reports for grantees

who receive these awards.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: HUD-40110-B and HUD-40110-C.

Members of affected public: States, units of general local

government, and non-profit organizations.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the

information collection including number of respondents, frequency of

response, and hours of response:

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Frequency

Activity Number of of Hours of

respondents response response

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Application........................ 150 1 44

Annual Progress Reports............ 75 1 65

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The total annual estimated burden hours for these optional

activities are 11,826 hours, including 351 hours that are estimated for

miscellaneous activities such as grant signing, amendments,

environmental, and relocation activities.

Status of the proposed information collection: Public comment

requested by HUD.

Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Karnas, Jr., Director, Office of

HIV/AIDS Housing, Room 7154, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development, 451 Seventh Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20410, and

telephone number (202) 708-1934 (this is not a toll-free number) and

TTY 1-800-877-8339 for copies of the proposed forms and other available

documents.

Dated: January 8, 1997.

Andrew Cuomo,

Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.

[FR Doc. 97-870 Filed 1-13-97; 8:45 am]

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