National, regional, Multi-State intermediaries and Local public and private nonprofit agencies that provide housing counseling services directly or through their affiliates or branches regarding home buying, homeownership and rental housing programs submit an application for designation as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. HUD uses the information to evaluate the agency and to populate Agency profile data in the Housing Counseling System (HCS) database. This data populates HUD's website and automated 1-800 Hotline.
US Code:
12 USC 1701x
Name of Law: Housing and Urban Development Act
US Code:
12 USC 1701w
Name of Law: Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968
This is a request for a revision to a currently approved collection. The numbers of respondents, responses, and associated burden hours for the application to become a HUD-approved housing counseling agency have changed since the last OMB approval due to the congressionally mandated Statute of 2010 and the subsequent Housing Counseling: New Certification Requirements Final Rule released December 14, 2016. Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x) (Section 106) was amended by Subtitle D of title XIV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. 111â203, 124 Stat. 1376, approved July 21, 2010) to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of housing counseling that is required under or provided in connection with HUD programs (Section 106 amendments).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.