Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed collection; comment request.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of Housing Application Packaging Grants.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by March 21, 2006 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gloria L. Denson, Loan Specialist, Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0783, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone 202-720-1474. (This is not a toll free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Housing Application Packaging Grants.

OMB Number: 0575-0157.

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2006.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) under section 509 of the Housing Act of 1949, 42 U.S.C. 1479, provides grants to public and private nonprofit organizations and state and local governments to package housing applications for loans under sections 502, 504, 514, 515, and 524 grants under section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 in colonias and designated undeserved counties. RHS reimburses eligible organizations for part or all of the costs of conducting, administering and coordinating an effective housing application packaging program in colonias and designated underserved counties. Eligible organizations assist very low and low-income families that are without adequate housing to buy, build, or repair housing for their own use. Also, the organizations package applications for loans to buy, build or repair rental units for lower income families.

RHS will be collecting information from grantees to assure the organizations participating in this program are eligible entities and have participated in RHS training in application packaging. The respondents are nonprofit organizations, States, State agencies, and units of general local government. The information required for approval of housing application packaging grants is used by RHS personnel to verify program eligibility requirements. The information is collected at the RHS field office responsible for the processing of the application being submitted. The information is also used to ensure the program is administered in a manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. If not collected, RHS would be unable to determine if a grantee would qualify for grant assistance.

The grantees facilitate the application process by helping applicants submit complete applications to RHS. This saves RHS time by prescreening applicants, making preliminary determinations of eligibility, ensuring that the application is complete, and helping the applicant understand the program.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.12 hours per response.

Respondents: Private and public nonprofit organizations and State and local governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Number of Responses: 300.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 900 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Renita Bolden, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0035.

Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of RHS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RHS's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Renita Bolden, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Stop 0742, Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.