The Outcomes Evaluation of
the Choice Neighborhoods Program
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
04/27/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
2,663
0
1,800
0
0
0
This is a new collection. The U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of
Policy Research and Development is conducting an Outcomes
Evaluation of the Choice Neighborhoods Program. Choice provides
direct investments through competitive grants targeted to
neighborhoods marked by high rates of poverty with distressed
public or HUD-assisted housing. Choice is one of HUD’s primary
tools to support planning and implementation efforts to catalyze
redevelopment in cities across the nation through an ambitious
multifaceted strategy focused on three components: housing, people
and neighborhood. By leveraging public and private dollars to
support locally driven strategies, local leaders, residents,
government officials, and community stakeholders work together to
create and implement a transformation plan that revitalizes
distressed HUD housing, supports residents, and addresses
challenges in the neighborhood. The Choice grant is expected to
attract greater levels of public and private investment in the
neighborhood, increase civic engagement, and catalyze physical and
perceived neighborhood improvements. Choice activities include the
redevelopment of public or assisted target housing, the provision
of case management and supportive services for residents of the
target developments, and physical improvements in the
neighborhoods, such as those in infrastructure and public
facilities, neighborhood housing, commercial development, and
community amenities. Since fiscal year (FY) 2010-11, HUD has
engaged with more than 30 neighborhoods, awarding more than $862
million in implementation grants and $38 million in 85 Planning
Grants. Under contract with HUD, The Urban Institute completed a
baseline evaluation in 2016 of the first five Choice implementation
sites: Quincy Corridor neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts;
Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois; Iberville/Tremé
neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana; Eastern Bayview
neighborhood in San Francisco, California; and Yesler neighborhood
in Seattle, Washington. In 2018, HUD was directed by Congress to
undertake a follow up evaluation of the Choice Neighborhoods
Program. In 2019, HUD contracted with The Urban Institute and their
partners Decision Information Resources (DIR) and Case Western
Reserve University’s (CWRU) National Initiative on Mixed-Income
Communities for a follow up evaluation, which is the subject of
this information collection request. The follow-up evaluation
builds on the Urban Institute’s baseline study by incorporating
measures of outcomes and impact in key areas of interest. The
evaluation will use qualitative and quantitative methods to answer
the following overarching research question: whether public and
private dollars were successfully leveraged to 1) replace
distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality
mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the
needs of the surrounding neighborhood, 2) improve outcomes for
households in the target housing, including in employment and
income, health, and education, and 3) create the conditions
necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed
neighborhoods to improve amenities and assets. The evaluation will
include the original neighborhoods from the baseline evaluation and
2013 grantees: Near East Side neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio; South
Norwalk neighborhood in Norwalk, Connecticut; North Central
Philadelphia neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
Larimer/East Liberty neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Data
are collected under Title 12, U.S.C. Sec. 1701Z-1 and 2.
US Code:
12
USC 1701z-1 Name of Law: Research and Demonstrations
This evaluation is designed to
answer a range of questions about Choice implementation and early
outcomes across nine Choice sites: 1. Quincy Corridor neighborhood
in Boston, Massachusetts 2. Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago,
Illinois 3. Iberville/Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana
4. Eastern Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco, California 5.
Yesler neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. 6. Near East Side
neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio 7. South Norwalk neighborhood in
Norwalk, Connecticut 8. North Central Philadelphia neighborhood in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 9. Larimer/East Liberty neighborhood in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The research questions are organized in
four main topic areas below. Each may be answered through multiple
data collection modes.
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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);
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