[Federal Register: July 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 139)] [Notices] [Page 39169-39170] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21jy99-111] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. No. FR-4441-N-35] Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Emergency Comment Request Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Program (ROSS) Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment AGENCY: Office of Public and Indian Housing--HUD. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. DATES: Comments Due Date: July 28, 1999. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments must be received within seven (7) days from the date of this Notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and should be sent to: Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Eddins, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-5221, extension 121. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Eddins. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice informs the public that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB an information collection package with respect to a Notice announcing the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program and a Notice of Funding Availability for Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Grants. This information collection package submission to OMB for review is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This 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 Department has submitted the proposal for the collection of information to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). The Department has requested emergency clearance of the collection of information, as described below, with approval being sought by July 27, 1999. Title of Proposals: Notice of Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program; Notice of Funding Availability for Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Program. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, (Pub. L. 105-276, 112 Stat. 2461, approved October 21, 1998), (FY 1999 Appropriations Act) provided approximately $40 million and $12.7 million of carryover funds from the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies [[Page 39170]] Appropriations Act 1998 (Pub. L. 105-65, 111 Stat. 1344, approved October 27, 1997) to fund ROSS, an economic self sufficiency program. ROSS will provide linkages to public housing residents by providing supportive services, resident empowerment activities and assisting residents in becoming economically self-sufficient. Under the ROSS program HUD is seeking to fund successful models which will link services and public housing residents to enhance their quality of life while promoting self sufficiency and personal responsibility in communities. HUD believes that it is imperative that housing authorities and residents work together to meet the challenge of welfare reform. Eligible applicants, (public housing authorities (PHAs), resident management corporations, resident councils or resident organizations, non profit entities supported by residents, Intermediary Resident Organizations) are encouraged to form partnerships and submit applications to be evaluated in accordance with the criteria contained in the Notice. The FY 1999 Appropriations also includes $15 million for the employment and support of Service Coordinators (SC) to serve the elderly and persons with disabilities in public housing. These Service Coordinators will help elderly and disabled public housing residents obtain essential supportive services that are needed to enable independent living and aging in place. Under this NOFA only renewals of prior Service Coordinator grants will be accepted. SC Grant award amounts cannot be higher than the applicant's funding and staffing level that was approved for their last funded Service Coordinator Grant. An increase of 2 percent will be allowed if supported by a narrative justification. Members of affected public: Approximately 850 applications are expected from eligible recipients such as resident management organizations, resident organizations, nonprofit entities supported by residents, public housing agencies, Intermediary Resident Organizations, Tribes, Tribally designated housing entities (THDEs) are expected under the Notice and the NOFA. Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: Applicants will be able to apply for ROSS grants in respective categories from the first day after the NOFA is published until the due date. Since this is the first year of operation for the ROSS program, it is essential that the technical assistance to be provided under the NOFA be in place as the ROSS applications are being developed to ensure that the new program is successful. The average amount of time to put together a ROSS application is likely to be, on an average, 40 hours. We anticipate that not more than 850 applicants will apply under the NOFA. In total, the Department expects this request will have an annual reporting burden of 33,200 hours. Status of the proposed information collection: Pending OMB approval. Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended. Dated: July 15, 1999. David S. Cristy, Director, Office of Investment Strategies, Policy and Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 99-18623 Filed 7-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-01-M