Overview
Title
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Registration; OMB Control No: 2506-0182
Agencies
ELI5 AI
HUD wants to hear what people think about a plan to collect information for a program that helps people without homes. They are asking folks to tell them if the plan makes sense and not too hard to do, and they need people to say these things by early February next year.
Summary AI
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a proposed information collection related to the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Registration. This notice invites public comment for 60 days regarding the necessity, accuracy, utility, and burden of the information collection, including potential improvements. The CoC Program helps coordinate homeless assistance grants, and HUD seeks feedback to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of these processes through its electronic application system. Public comments are due by February 7, 2025.
Abstract
HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The notice from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as published in the Federal Register, invites public engagement regarding the proposed information collection for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Registration. This program forms part of HUD's approach to administering homeless assistance grants, and it seeks to refine the process through which nonprofit organizations, states, local governments, and others apply for and administer these grants.
Summary of the Document
The document is a call for comments on the existing procedure for collecting information from various groups involved in offering support and services to homeless individuals and families. The outlined procedure includes the registration of Continuums of Care, which are cooperative bodies that coordinate resources and support to reduce homelessness. This registration is necessary for HUD to determine eligible participants in the annual CoC Program Competition. The process also involves decisions around Unified Funding Agency (UFA) and High Performing Community (HPC) designations, which can influence governance and funding distribution.
Significant Issues and Concerns
A noticeable concern in the document is the lack of specificity regarding the estimated burden on respondents, in particular the average hours needed per response. The notice refers to a chart for details on burdens but does not include this chart or explain its content comprehensively, which may leave stakeholders without a clear understanding of the expectations. Further, there's a need for more clarity on how the gathered data contributes to HUD's decision-making as it relates to policy or funding adjustments.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this document invites the public to provide feedback on the information collection process necessary for CoC registration. By doing so, it could potentially influence how effectively HUD and associated entities manage and allocate resources for the homelessness issue across the United States.
For the public at large, this notice is an opportunity to voice concerns or commendations regarding the efficacy of current data collection practices. It can drive changes that impact how rapidly and efficiently homeless services can be delivered.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and local governments, the call for feedback represents a chance to express practical concerns or suggest improvements based on firsthand experience with the registration process. These groups stand to benefit if their input leads to a more streamlined, less burdensome application process. Moreover, any changes that enhance clarity and reduce paperwork burdens could result in administrative efficiencies, allowing more focus on direct service provision.
Conversely, if feedback is not adequately addressed or if changes increase complexity, these stakeholders could experience delays or challenges in securing necessary funding and support, potentially affecting service delivery to vulnerable populations.
In conclusion, while the document successfully aims to involve the public in refining important administrative processes, areas of ambiguity should be addressed to ensure that feedback is fully informed and constructive. The outcomes of this solicitation for comments have the potential to substantially refine the framework within which homelessness services are coordinated and delivered.
Issues
• The document provides limited information on the estimated burden in terms of average hours per response, which should be clarified with specific data or references to the chart mentioned.
• The notice could improve clarity by providing more detailed examples or scenarios for how the collected data from CoCs is used by HUD in decision-making processes.
• The document references charts for total estimated burdens without including them or explicitly explaining their content, which may create ambiguity for readers.
• There could be confusion regarding the methods of submitting comments and accessing documents, as multiple methods (online, mail, email) are mentioned; it would be beneficial to outline these processes more clearly.