Request for Information for HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Grant Selection Process and Award Implementation, 65653-65656 [2024-17822]
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65653
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 155 / Monday, August 12, 2024 / Notices
telephone (202) 402–3400. This is not a
toll-free number. HUD welcomes and is
prepared to receive calls from
individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, as well as individuals with
speech or communication disabilities.
To learn more about how to make an
accessible telephone call, please visit
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/
telecommunications-relay-service-trs.
Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Pollard.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
Section A.
The Federal Register notice that
solicited public comment on the
information collection for a period of 60
days was published on March 26, 2024
at 89 FR 20994.
Title of Information Collection:
ConnectHomeUSA Community
Reporting Forms.
OMB Approval Number: N/A.
Type of Request: New.
Form Number: Form numbers have
not yet been assigned.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: These
are new forms that will allow HUD to
capture characteristics (e.g., urban/rural,
building configuration, construction
materials, geographic locations (e.g.
rural, suburban)) of communities that
are selected to join the
ConnectHomeUSA initiative. The forms
will also allow communities to submit
their goals and progress to HUD. The
information submitted will allow HUD
staff to monitor participating
communities’ progress and provide
Total
respondents
HUD-form
#
Responses
per year
Burden
hours per
response
technical assistance to communities
falling short of their goals.
Respondents: Staff responsible for
ConnectHomeUSA activities working at
Public Housing Authorities, tribes,
Multifamily properties, Continuum of
Care and Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grantees.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
150.
Estimated Number of Responses: 900
in year 1; 600 in subsequent years.
Frequency of Response: Two forms
will be used once, the third form will be
used quarterly over a period of three
years.
Average Hours per Response: Total
estimated burden for all three forms is
6.
Total Estimated Burdens: 1,800 hours
in year 1; 1,200 hours in years 2 and 3.
Total
hours per
year
Cost per
hour
($) Total
cost
1 General Community Form ..............................
2 ConnectHome USA Goal-Setting Form ..........
3 ConnectHomeUSA Quarterly Reporting .........
150
150
150
1
1
4
1
3
2
150
450
1,200
$22.46
22.46
22.46
$3,369
10,107
26,952
Totals ..........................................................
900
6
6
1,800
22.46
40,428
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
A. Overview of Information Collection
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) 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) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to 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.
(5) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
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C. Authority
Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
chapter 35.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of Policy Development and Research,
Chief Data Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024–17806 Filed 8–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–6473–N–01]
Request for Information for HUD’s
Choice Neighborhoods Grant Selection
Process and Award Implementation
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
ACTION: Request for information.
AGENCY:
The Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) seeks
public input on the Choice
Neighborhoods (CN) grant program. The
purpose of this Request for Information
(RFI) is to better understand the
opportunities and barriers to applying
for and subsequently managing Choice
SUMMARY:
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Neighborhoods Planning and
Implementation Grants. HUD is
especially interested in comments to
reduce or eliminate barriers with the
goal of improving the application
process for all prospective applicants
and expediting the expenditure of grant
funds for awardees.
DATES: Comment Due Date: October 11,
2024. Late-filed comments will be
considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: HUD invites interested
persons to submit comments responsive
to this RFI. All submissions must refer
to the docket number and title of the
RFI. Commenters are encouraged to
identify the topic and number of the
specific question(s) to which they are
responding. Comments may include the
name(s) of the person(s) or
organization(s) filing the comment;
however, because any responses
received by HUD will be publicly
available, comments should not include
any personally identifiable information
or confidential commercial information.
There are two methods for submitting
public comments.
1. Electronic Submission of
Comments. Comments may be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly
encourages commenters to submit
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comments electronically through
www.regulations.gov. Electronic
submission of comments allows the
commenter maximum time to prepare
and submit a comment, ensures timely
receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to
make comments immediately available
to the public. Comments submitted
electronically through
www.regulations.gov can be viewed by
other commenters and interested
members of the public. Commenters
should follow the instructions provided
on that website to submit comments
electronically.
2. Submission of Comments by Mail.
Comments may be submitted by mail to
the Regulations Division, Office of
General Counsel, Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451
7th Street SW, Room 10276,
Washington, DC 20410–0500. To receive
consideration as a public comment,
comments must be submitted through
one of the two methods specified above.
Public Inspection of Public
Comments. HUD will make all properly
submitted comments and
communications available for public
inspection and copying during regular
business hours at the above address.
Due to security measures at the HUD
Headquarters building, you must
schedule an appointment in advance to
review the public comments by calling
the Regulations Division at 202–708–
3055 (not a toll-free number). HUD
welcomes and is prepared to receive
calls from individuals who are deaf or
hard of hearing, as well as individuals
with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to
make an accessible telephone call,
please visit https://www.fcc.gov/
consumers/guides/telecommunicationsrelay-service-trs. Copies of all comments
submitted are available for inspection
and downloading at
www.regulations.gov.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris White, Neighborhood and
Community Investment Specialist,
Choice Neighborhoods Program, Office
of Public Housing Investments, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Public and
Indian Housing, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20410, telephone
202–402–5599 (not a toll-free number),
email W.Chris.White@hud.gov. HUD
welcomes and is prepared to receive
calls from individuals who are deaf or
hard of hearing, as well as individuals
with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to
make an accessible telephone call,
please visit https://www.fcc.gov/
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:30 Aug 09, 2024
Jkt 262001
consumers/guides/telecommunicationsrelay-service-trs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Choice Neighborhoods is a
competitive grant program focused on
the revitalization of severely distressed
public and/or HUD-assisted housing
and the surrounding neighborhood.
Since 2010, Congress has funded the
Choice Neighborhoods Program through
appropriations acts.1 The program and
funding authority for the Choice
Neighborhoods Program is the
authorizing statute for HOPE VI, Section
24 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437v), as applied by annual
appropriation acts.2
HUD awards two types of Choice
Neighborhoods grants annually:
Implementation Grants and Planning
Grants. Implementation Grants provide
Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), local
governments, and tribal entities up to
$50 million to replace severely
distressed HUD-assisted housing with
new, high-quality, mixed-income
housing. Implementation Grants also
fund companion investments in the
surrounding neighborhood and resident
supportive services. Planning Grants
provide PHAs, local governments,
Tribal entities, and nonprofits up to
$500,000 to create a community-driven
‘‘Transformation Plan’’ that addresses
the program’s ‘‘Housing, People, and
Neighborhood’’ goals (see FY2023
Choice Neighborhoods Implementation
Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity
(NOFO) 3 and the FY2024 Choice
Neighborhoods Planning Grant NOFO).4
The Choice Neighborhoods NOFOs
outline the program’s three core goals
and objectives.
budgeted appropriately for the rental
income that can be generated from the
project and meet or exceed industry
standards for quality management and
maintenance of the property.
• Mixed-Income. Housing that is
affordable to families and individuals
with a broad range of incomes including
low-income, moderate-income, and
market rate/unrestricted.
• Energy Efficient, Climate Resilient,
and Sustainable. Housing that has low
per unit energy and water consumption
and is built to be resilient to local
disaster risk and other climate impacts.
• Accessible, Healthy, and Free from
Discrimination. Housing that is welldesigned, meets federal accessibility
requirements and embraces concepts of
visitability and universal design, has
healthy indoor air quality, has
affordable broadband internet access,
and is free from discrimination.
1. Housing Goal and Objectives
Housing Goal. The housing goal is to
replace severely distressed public and
HUD-assisted housing with high-quality
mixed-income housing that is wellmanaged and responsive to the needs of
the surrounding neighborhood.
Housing Objectives. Housing
transformed with the assistance of
Choice Neighborhoods should be:
• Well-Managed and Financially
Viable. Developments that have
2. People Goal and Objectives
People Goal. The people goal is to
improve outcomes of households living
in the target housing related to income
and employment, health, and education.
People Objectives. Residents who live
in the target and replacement housing
before and after redevelopment benefit
from:
• Effective Education. A high level of
resident access to high-quality early
learning programs and services so
children enter kindergarten ready to
learn and quality schools and/or
educational supports that ultimately
prepare students to graduate from high
school, college- and/or career-ready.
• Income and Employment
Opportunities. The income of residents,
particularly wage income for nonelderly/non-disabled adult residents,
increases over time.
• Quality Health Care. Residents have
increased access to health services and
have improved physical and mental
health over time.
• Housing Location, Quality, and
Affordability. Residents of the target
housing who, by their own choice, do
not return to the development have
housing and neighborhood
opportunities as good as or better than
the opportunities available to those who
occupy the redeveloped site.
1 The Department of Housing and Urban
Development Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L.
111–117, enacted on December 16, 2009).
2 The Department of Housing and Urban
Development Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L.
111–117, enacted on December 16, 2009).
3 https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/images/
FY23ChoiceImplementationFR-6700-N34(mod).pdf.
4 https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/
documents/FY24_CN_Planning_Grants_NOFO_FR6800-N-38.pdf.
3. Neighborhood Goal and Objectives
Neighborhood Goal. The
neighborhood goal is to create the
conditions necessary for public and
private reinvestment in distressed
neighborhoods to offer the kinds of
amenities and assets, including safety,
good schools, and commercial activity,
that are important to families’ choices
about their community.
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Neighborhood Objectives. Through
investments catalyzed by Choice
Neighborhoods, the neighborhood will
have improved:
• Housing Quality and Variety. The
neighboring housing has a lower
vacancy/abandonment rate, is high
quality and well-maintained, and has an
appropriate mix of rental and
homeownership units to meet resident
needs. The neighborhood better
supports families with a broad range of
incomes.
• Economic Opportunity. The
neighborhood attracts and maintains a
diverse mix of businesses and
employers to create meaningful jobs and
economic opportunities for residents,
respond to local needs, and address
long-term disinvestment.
• Community Assets and Amenities.
The neighborhood includes community
amenities found in higher opportunity
areas, such as grocery stores and fresh
food options, retail goods and services,
financial institutions, medical and
health facilities, parks and greenspace,
public transit, high-quality early
learning programs, and high performing
public schools.
• Community Confidence. The
neighborhood image reflects a healthy,
livable, and equitable community that
honors its history and embraces a
positive outlook for the future. There is
an enhanced sense of place and a visibly
improved built environment. Long-term
residents choose to stay and have the
support to do so, and new residents
likewise choose to live in the revitalized
neighborhood.
• Public Safety. Residents feel safer in
their homes and spending time in the
revitalized community and the
neighborhood has lower crime rates
than prior to redevelopment.5
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II. Solicitation of Public Comments
This RFI seeks input from the public
regarding the opportunities and barriers
to applying for and subsequently
implementing Choice Neighborhoods
grants. Information from this RFI may be
used to improve the NOFOs and
application submission process for
Choice Neighborhoods. HUD may also
consider information gathered under
this RFI to simplify or streamline certain
non-regulatory requirements or
processes for Choice Neighborhoods
grantees. Therefore, HUD is especially
interested in comments to reduce or
eliminate barriers during the application
5 See the FY2024 Choice Neighborhood Planning
Grant NOFO page 4–6 for program goals and
objectives. https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/
documents/FY24_CN_Planning_Grants_NOFO_FR6800-N-38.pdf.
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and award implementation process and/
or during the grant performance period.
Information will also be used to
inform marketing strategies to promote
the Choice Neighborhoods program to
eligible applicants. HUD is particularly
interested in expanding the program’s
reach to communities of all sizes,
including large urban areas, mid-sized
cities, small towns, rural areas and tribal
jurisdictions. Therefore, HUD is
interested in feedback from a diversity
of stakeholders to ensure the program is
accessible to these groups during the
application period, and that they are
positioned for success post award.
To better understand applicant and
grantee experiences with Choice
Neighborhoods, this RFI is seeking
comments on program NOFOs,
application requirements, post-award
grant requirements, and additional
considerations on the program’s goals
and their alignment with existing needs
across different communities. To assist
HUD in its review of the comments
received, the Department categorizes its
questions into the following topics: A.
Pre-Award: Application Experience and
NOFO Requirements; B. Post-Award:
Program Experience and Requirements;
and C. General. Public comments
outside of these topics are also
welcome. For each topic, questions
present the types of stakeholder insights
and information related to the Choice
Neighborhoods Program that the
Department requests, as applicable.
A. Pre-Award: Application Experience
and NOFO Requirements
1. Please describe your or your
organization’s experience, if any, with
the current Choice Neighborhoods
Planning or Implementation grant
application process or program. Are you
representing a current grantee, past
applicant, industry group, or partner?
2. If you previously applied for a
Choice Neighborhoods grant, what
worked well through the application
process? Are there any rating factors or
requirements in the Planning or
Implementation Grants NOFOs that are
particularly important to maintain?
3. Are there any Choice
Neighborhoods application
requirements in Planning or
Implementation Grants NOFOs that are
unnecessary or complicated, and could
be streamlined or removed? Please
provide any recommendations for how
such requirements should be revised. Be
specific.
4. Are there any Choice
Neighborhoods application or NOFO
requirements that make an application
difficult or impossible? If you consider
the size of your city or community as a
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65655
factor, please indicate and describe
how.
5. Do you have difficulty
understanding any portion or section of
the Choice Neighborhoods NOFOs or
program requirements? Are there
particular areas that you feel could be
articulated more clearly or in plain
English?
6. What steps can HUD take to
support applicants through the
planning, preparation, and submission
of an application? Example suggestions
could include public briefings, NOFO
webinars, marketing/promotional
materials in plain English, and other
publicly available materials.
7. If you have ever considered
applying for a Choice Neighborhoods
Planning or Implementation Grant and
elected not to do so, why did you not
apply? What specific concerns, if any,
do you have about the process and how
might HUD address those concerns?
8. For Tribal Entities, are there
specific requirements in the NOFO
which make it challenging for you to
apply for a grant?
9. For Tribal Entities, are there
inconsistencies among the housing,
people or neighborhood goals and
objectives of the Choice Neighborhoods
program, as outlined in the NOFO, and
the goals and objectives of your tribe,
which impact your ability to apply for
and receive a Choice Neighborhoods
grant?
B. Post-Award: Program Experience and
Requirements
10. Are there any program goals,
processes, policies, or requirements that
are working well? Are there any
processes or requirements with the
Planning or Implementation Grants that
are particularly important to maintain?
11. Are there any Choice
Neighborhoods program requirements
affecting Planning or Implementation
grantees that are unnecessary or
complicated, and could be streamlined
or removed? (e.g., budget revision
process, CN Inform data system,
Planning Grant Transformation Plan
deliverables). Please provide
recommendations for how such
requirements could be revised. Be
specific.
12. Are there any processes that, if
streamlined, would allow grantees to
meet funding deadlines and thus
expedite grant outcomes (e.g., housing
construction, neighborhood
improvements, provision of services)?
Please provide recommendations for
how such requirements could be
revised. Be specific.
13. Do you have any other suggestions
for improving the day-to-day
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 155 / Monday, August 12, 2024 / Notices
AGENCY:
(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 an additional 30 days of
public comment.
DATES: Comments Due Date: September
11, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection can be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function. Interested persons are
also invited to submit comments
regarding this proposal by name and/or
OMB Control Number and should be
sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports
Management Officer, REE, Department
of Housing and Urban Development,
451 7th Street SW, Room 8210,
Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202)
402–3400 (this is not a toll-free number)
or email:
PaperworkReductionActOffice@
hud.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colette Pollard, Reports Management
Officer, REE, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 7th Street SW,
Room 8210, Washington, DC 20410;
email Colette.Pollard@hud.gov or
telephone (202) 402–3400. This is not a
toll-free number. HUD welcomes and is
prepared to receive calls from
individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, as well as individuals with
speech or communication disabilities.
To learn more about how to make an
accessible telephone call, please visit
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/
telecommunications-relay-service-trs.
Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Pollard.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
Section A.
The Federal Register notice that
solicited public comment on the
information collection for a period of 60
days was published on May 17, 2024
2022 at 89 FR 43427.
HUD is seeking approval from
the Office of Management and Budget
A. Overview of Information Collection
Title of Information Collection:
Management Certification & Entity
Profile.
implementation of a Choice
Neighborhoods Planning or
Implementation Grant?
14. How does the Choice
Neighborhoods’ core ‘‘housing’’ goal of
creating a mixed-income community fit
with your local housing goals?
15. Does your community have
significant barriers to any of the Choice
Neighborhoods’ housing objectives or
program requirements? Are there any
housing goals or requirements that are
particularly burdensome?
16. How does the Choice
Neighborhoods’ core ‘‘people’’ goal fit
with your community’s supportive
services, human capital, or resident
engagement goals? Are there any people
goals or requirements that are
particularly burdensome?
17. Does the Choice Neighborhoods’
core ‘‘neighborhood’’ goal fit with your
community’s neighborhood
improvement goals? Are there any
neighborhood goals or requirements that
are particularly burdensome?
C. General
18. How did you hear about the
Choice Neighborhoods program (e.g.,
word-of-mouth, HUD staff,
conferences)?
19. If you received a Choice
Neighborhoods Planning or
Implementation grant, would you
recommend that others apply? Why or
why not?
20. Please provide any additional
comments or suggestions about the
Choice Neighborhoods program
implementation or application
selection.
Thank you for participating in this
request for information. HUD looks
forward to reviewing all responses
received.
Dominique Blom,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office
of Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2024–17822 Filed 8–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
[Docket No. FR–7080–N–37]
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: Management Certification &
Entity Profile; OMB Control No.: 2502–
0305
Office of Policy Development
and Research, Chief Data Officer, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY:
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OMB Approval Number: 2502–0305.
OMB Expiration Date: 09/30/2023.
Type of Request: Reinstatement,
without change, of previously approved
collection for which approval has
expired.
Form Number: HUD–9832
Management Entity Profile; HUD–9839–
a Project Owner’s Certification for
Owner-Managed Multifamily Housing
Projects; HUD–9839–b Project Owner’s/
Management Agent’s Certification for
Multifamily Housing Projects for
Identity-of-Interest or Independent
Management Agents; HUD–9839–c
Project Owner’s/Borrower’s Certification
for Elderly Housing Projects Managed
by Administrators.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: Owners
of HUD-held, -insured, or subsidized
multifamily housing projects must
provide information for HUD’s oversight
of management agents/entities.
Respondents: Property owners;
project managers.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
30,791.
Estimated Number of Responses:
1,710.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Hours per Response: Varies.
Total Estimated Burden: 3,807.
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) 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) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to 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.
(5) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65653-65656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17822]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-6473-N-01]
Request for Information for HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Grant
Selection Process and Award Implementation
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
ACTION: Request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) seeks
public input on the Choice Neighborhoods (CN) grant program. The
purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to better understand
the opportunities and barriers to applying for and subsequently
managing Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Implementation Grants. HUD
is especially interested in comments to reduce or eliminate barriers
with the goal of improving the application process for all prospective
applicants and expediting the expenditure of grant funds for awardees.
DATES: Comment Due Date: October 11, 2024. Late-filed comments will be
considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: HUD invites interested persons to submit comments responsive
to this RFI. All submissions must refer to the docket number and title
of the RFI. Commenters are encouraged to identify the topic and number
of the specific question(s) to which they are responding. Comments may
include the name(s) of the person(s) or organization(s) filing the
comment; however, because any responses received by HUD will be
publicly available, comments should not include any personally
identifiable information or confidential commercial information. There
are two methods for submitting public comments.
1. Electronic Submission of Comments. Comments may be submitted
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages commenters to submit
[[Page 65654]]
comments electronically through www.regulations.gov. Electronic
submission of comments allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and
submit a comment, ensures timely receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to
make comments immediately available to the public. Comments submitted
electronically through www.regulations.gov can be viewed by other
commenters and interested members of the public. Commenters should
follow the instructions provided on that website to submit comments
electronically.
2. Submission of Comments by Mail. Comments may be submitted by
mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10276,
Washington, DC 20410-0500. To receive consideration as a public
comment, comments must be submitted through one of the two methods
specified above.
Public Inspection of Public Comments. HUD will make all properly
submitted comments and communications available for public inspection
and copying during regular business hours at the above address. Due to
security measures at the HUD Headquarters building, you must schedule
an appointment in advance to review the public comments by calling the
Regulations Division at 202-708-3055 (not a toll-free number). HUD
welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf
or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone
call, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs. Copies of all comments submitted
are available for inspection and downloading at www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris White, Neighborhood and
Community Investment Specialist, Choice Neighborhoods Program, Office
of Public Housing Investments, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development,
451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410, telephone 202-402-5599 (not a
toll-free number), email [email protected]. HUD welcomes and is
prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone
call, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Choice Neighborhoods is a competitive grant program focused on the
revitalization of severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted
housing and the surrounding neighborhood. Since 2010, Congress has
funded the Choice Neighborhoods Program through appropriations acts.\1\
The program and funding authority for the Choice Neighborhoods Program
is the authorizing statute for HOPE VI, Section 24 of the U.S. Housing
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v), as applied by annual appropriation
acts.\2\
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\1\ The Department of Housing and Urban Development
Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117, enacted on December 16,
2009).
\2\ The Department of Housing and Urban Development
Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117, enacted on December 16,
2009).
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HUD awards two types of Choice Neighborhoods grants annually:
Implementation Grants and Planning Grants. Implementation Grants
provide Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), local governments, and tribal
entities up to $50 million to replace severely distressed HUD-assisted
housing with new, high-quality, mixed-income housing. Implementation
Grants also fund companion investments in the surrounding neighborhood
and resident supportive services. Planning Grants provide PHAs, local
governments, Tribal entities, and nonprofits up to $500,000 to create a
community-driven ``Transformation Plan'' that addresses the program's
``Housing, People, and Neighborhood'' goals (see FY2023 Choice
Neighborhoods Implementation Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity
(NOFO) \3\ and the FY2024 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant NOFO).\4\
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\3\ https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/images/FY23ChoiceImplementationFR-6700-N-34(mod).pdf.
\4\ https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FY24_CN_Planning_Grants_NOFO_FR-6800-N-38.pdf.
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The Choice Neighborhoods NOFOs outline the program's three core
goals and objectives.
1. Housing Goal and Objectives
Housing Goal. The housing goal is to replace severely distressed
public and HUD-assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing
that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding
neighborhood.
Housing Objectives. Housing transformed with the assistance of
Choice Neighborhoods should be:
Well-Managed and Financially Viable. Developments that
have budgeted appropriately for the rental income that can be generated
from the project and meet or exceed industry standards for quality
management and maintenance of the property.
Mixed-Income. Housing that is affordable to families and
individuals with a broad range of incomes including low-income,
moderate-income, and market rate/unrestricted.
Energy Efficient, Climate Resilient, and Sustainable.
Housing that has low per unit energy and water consumption and is built
to be resilient to local disaster risk and other climate impacts.
Accessible, Healthy, and Free from Discrimination. Housing
that is well-designed, meets federal accessibility requirements and
embraces concepts of visitability and universal design, has healthy
indoor air quality, has affordable broadband internet access, and is
free from discrimination.
2. People Goal and Objectives
People Goal. The people goal is to improve outcomes of households
living in the target housing related to income and employment, health,
and education.
People Objectives. Residents who live in the target and replacement
housing before and after redevelopment benefit from:
Effective Education. A high level of resident access to
high-quality early learning programs and services so children enter
kindergarten ready to learn and quality schools and/or educational
supports that ultimately prepare students to graduate from high school,
college- and/or career-ready.
Income and Employment Opportunities. The income of
residents, particularly wage income for non-elderly/non-disabled adult
residents, increases over time.
Quality Health Care. Residents have increased access to
health services and have improved physical and mental health over time.
Housing Location, Quality, and Affordability. Residents of
the target housing who, by their own choice, do not return to the
development have housing and neighborhood opportunities as good as or
better than the opportunities available to those who occupy the
redeveloped site.
3. Neighborhood Goal and Objectives
Neighborhood Goal. The neighborhood goal is to create the
conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed
neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including
safety, good schools, and commercial activity, that are important to
families' choices about their community.
[[Page 65655]]
Neighborhood Objectives. Through investments catalyzed by Choice
Neighborhoods, the neighborhood will have improved:
Housing Quality and Variety. The neighboring housing has a
lower vacancy/abandonment rate, is high quality and well-maintained,
and has an appropriate mix of rental and homeownership units to meet
resident needs. The neighborhood better supports families with a broad
range of incomes.
Economic Opportunity. The neighborhood attracts and
maintains a diverse mix of businesses and employers to create
meaningful jobs and economic opportunities for residents, respond to
local needs, and address long-term disinvestment.
Community Assets and Amenities. The neighborhood includes
community amenities found in higher opportunity areas, such as grocery
stores and fresh food options, retail goods and services, financial
institutions, medical and health facilities, parks and greenspace,
public transit, high-quality early learning programs, and high
performing public schools.
Community Confidence. The neighborhood image reflects a
healthy, livable, and equitable community that honors its history and
embraces a positive outlook for the future. There is an enhanced sense
of place and a visibly improved built environment. Long-term residents
choose to stay and have the support to do so, and new residents
likewise choose to live in the revitalized neighborhood.
Public Safety. Residents feel safer in their homes and
spending time in the revitalized community and the neighborhood has
lower crime rates than prior to redevelopment.\5\
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\5\ See the FY2024 Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant NOFO page
4-6 for program goals and objectives. https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FY24_CN_Planning_Grants_NOFO_FR-6800-N-38.pdf.
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II. Solicitation of Public Comments
This RFI seeks input from the public regarding the opportunities
and barriers to applying for and subsequently implementing Choice
Neighborhoods grants. Information from this RFI may be used to improve
the NOFOs and application submission process for Choice Neighborhoods.
HUD may also consider information gathered under this RFI to simplify
or streamline certain non-regulatory requirements or processes for
Choice Neighborhoods grantees. Therefore, HUD is especially interested
in comments to reduce or eliminate barriers during the application and
award implementation process and/or during the grant performance
period.
Information will also be used to inform marketing strategies to
promote the Choice Neighborhoods program to eligible applicants. HUD is
particularly interested in expanding the program's reach to communities
of all sizes, including large urban areas, mid-sized cities, small
towns, rural areas and tribal jurisdictions. Therefore, HUD is
interested in feedback from a diversity of stakeholders to ensure the
program is accessible to these groups during the application period,
and that they are positioned for success post award.
To better understand applicant and grantee experiences with Choice
Neighborhoods, this RFI is seeking comments on program NOFOs,
application requirements, post-award grant requirements, and additional
considerations on the program's goals and their alignment with existing
needs across different communities. To assist HUD in its review of the
comments received, the Department categorizes its questions into the
following topics: A. Pre-Award: Application Experience and NOFO
Requirements; B. Post-Award: Program Experience and Requirements; and
C. General. Public comments outside of these topics are also welcome.
For each topic, questions present the types of stakeholder insights and
information related to the Choice Neighborhoods Program that the
Department requests, as applicable.
A. Pre-Award: Application Experience and NOFO Requirements
1. Please describe your or your organization's experience, if any,
with the current Choice Neighborhoods Planning or Implementation grant
application process or program. Are you representing a current grantee,
past applicant, industry group, or partner?
2. If you previously applied for a Choice Neighborhoods grant, what
worked well through the application process? Are there any rating
factors or requirements in the Planning or Implementation Grants NOFOs
that are particularly important to maintain?
3. Are there any Choice Neighborhoods application requirements in
Planning or Implementation Grants NOFOs that are unnecessary or
complicated, and could be streamlined or removed? Please provide any
recommendations for how such requirements should be revised. Be
specific.
4. Are there any Choice Neighborhoods application or NOFO
requirements that make an application difficult or impossible? If you
consider the size of your city or community as a factor, please
indicate and describe how.
5. Do you have difficulty understanding any portion or section of
the Choice Neighborhoods NOFOs or program requirements? Are there
particular areas that you feel could be articulated more clearly or in
plain English?
6. What steps can HUD take to support applicants through the
planning, preparation, and submission of an application? Example
suggestions could include public briefings, NOFO webinars, marketing/
promotional materials in plain English, and other publicly available
materials.
7. If you have ever considered applying for a Choice Neighborhoods
Planning or Implementation Grant and elected not to do so, why did you
not apply? What specific concerns, if any, do you have about the
process and how might HUD address those concerns?
8. For Tribal Entities, are there specific requirements in the NOFO
which make it challenging for you to apply for a grant?
9. For Tribal Entities, are there inconsistencies among the
housing, people or neighborhood goals and objectives of the Choice
Neighborhoods program, as outlined in the NOFO, and the goals and
objectives of your tribe, which impact your ability to apply for and
receive a Choice Neighborhoods grant?
B. Post-Award: Program Experience and Requirements
10. Are there any program goals, processes, policies, or
requirements that are working well? Are there any processes or
requirements with the Planning or Implementation Grants that are
particularly important to maintain?
11. Are there any Choice Neighborhoods program requirements
affecting Planning or Implementation grantees that are unnecessary or
complicated, and could be streamlined or removed? (e.g., budget
revision process, CN Inform data system, Planning Grant Transformation
Plan deliverables). Please provide recommendations for how such
requirements could be revised. Be specific.
12. Are there any processes that, if streamlined, would allow
grantees to meet funding deadlines and thus expedite grant outcomes
(e.g., housing construction, neighborhood improvements, provision of
services)? Please provide recommendations for how such requirements
could be revised. Be specific.
13. Do you have any other suggestions for improving the day-to-day
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implementation of a Choice Neighborhoods Planning or Implementation
Grant?
14. How does the Choice Neighborhoods' core ``housing'' goal of
creating a mixed-income community fit with your local housing goals?
15. Does your community have significant barriers to any of the
Choice Neighborhoods' housing objectives or program requirements? Are
there any housing goals or requirements that are particularly
burdensome?
16. How does the Choice Neighborhoods' core ``people'' goal fit
with your community's supportive services, human capital, or resident
engagement goals? Are there any people goals or requirements that are
particularly burdensome?
17. Does the Choice Neighborhoods' core ``neighborhood'' goal fit
with your community's neighborhood improvement goals? Are there any
neighborhood goals or requirements that are particularly burdensome?
C. General
18. How did you hear about the Choice Neighborhoods program (e.g.,
word-of-mouth, HUD staff, conferences)?
19. If you received a Choice Neighborhoods Planning or
Implementation grant, would you recommend that others apply? Why or why
not?
20. Please provide any additional comments or suggestions about the
Choice Neighborhoods program implementation or application selection.
Thank you for participating in this request for information. HUD
looks forward to reviewing all responses received.
Dominique Blom,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Indian
Housing.
[FR Doc. 2024-17822 Filed 8-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
