Focus groups – Private sector employees

OMB Clearance Package

Study of Post-Disaster Outcomes of Renter Households and Rental Housing

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Development Block Grants - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)

Appendix N: Focus group informed consent form

DRAFT FOR HUD REVIEW

August 4, 2023

Submitted to:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 Seventh Street, SW

Washington, DC 20401

GTR: Jagruti Rekhi

Office of Policy Development and Research

Affordable Housing Research and Technology Division

Department of Housing and Urban Development

P: 202-402-4512 E: Jagruti.D.Rekhi@hud.gov

Cooperative Agreement: H-21741CA

Appendix N. Focus group informed consent form

[Participants will obtain one signed copy and Urban Institute research staff will obtain one signed copy prior to focus groups]

Study Title: Disaster Impacts and Recovery for Renters and Rental Housing  

Principal Investigators: Daniel Teles, Phd, and Sara McTarnaghan, MS, MA 

Sponsor’s Name: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development     

Introduction/Purpose 

You are invited to take part in a research project to study disaster recovery outcomes for rental housing, renter households, and affordable housing residents. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a federal government agency, is paying for this study.

We (the research team) are talking with small groups of adults in your area to gather information about how [disaster name] affected housing and affordable rental housing and your perceptions about different recovery activities and programs in [community name] after [disaster name]. We are also interested in recommendations you might offer to HUD and other federal disaster recovery programs to improve rental housing in communities that are affected by disasters like [disaster name]. Before you decide to be a part of this study, you need to know the benefits and risks of joining the study. 

Procedure 

You will be a member of a focus group. A focus group is a small group of people who are asked questions about a topic. The topic of this focus group is disaster impacts on rental housing, renters, and rental housing recovery after a disaster event. A researcher will lead the group and ask the questions. A researcher will keep track of your answers. The focus group will be audio recorded. If you don’t agree to have the audio recorded, please let us know, and you will be excused from the group.  

There are no “right” or “wrong” answers to the questions. We are interested to learn about your perspectives and experiences. You don’t have to answer all of the questions if you do not wish to, and you can choose to leave the focus group at any time. The focus group will last about 2 hours. 

Benefits 

Your answers will contribute to research that will inform future program planning at HUD to reduce negative impacts on rental housing and renter populations in communities affected by disasters. There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this focus group, but there are larger societal benefits. 

Risks 

There are no known physical risks to you in taking part in this study. However, there is a small psychological risk that you will think some questions are sensitive or that they may elicit an emotional response. If any question makes you feel uncomfortable, you certainly don’t have to answer it or participate in that part of the discussion. The research team will keep information you share during the focus group confidential. 

Thanking you for your time 

Whether or not you take part in this focus group, you will receive a $50 gift card. Refreshments will also be served during the focus group.  

Confidentiality 

The research team will keep information that you share confidential as we develop notes and reports about the study. Our reports will not include your name or any other information that could be used to identify you. Recordings from the focus group will be stored in a secure digital folder that can be used by only the researchers in this study. Notes from the focus group will be locked in an office. We guarantee the confidentiality of the notes and recorded information from the focus group, and will destroy recordings as soon as final de-identified notes are completed. If you agree to take part in this study, you must also agree to not share the names of or comments from other members of the focus group with people outside of the focus group.  

Participation is Voluntary 

Your participation in this study, if you agree to take part, is voluntary. You have the right to stop your participation at any time without penalty. You also have the right to not answer any or all questions during the focus group. If you are uncomfortable with the audio recording, we understand, and we will excuse you. 

Questions 

If you have any questions about this focus group, including those about your rights as a member of the study, please call the lead researchers at the Urban Institute, Daniel Teles (dteles@urban.org) or Sara McTarnaghan at (smctarnaghan@urban.org) or the Institutional Review Board (202–261–5632). This review board oversees the protection of people who take part in research studies. 

Agreement Statement 

Do you agree to take part in Urban Institutes’ Study on disaster recovery outcomes for rental housing, renter households, and affordable housing residents?   

Yes ______ No ______ 

Date of consent: ____________________________________ 

Initials of focus group participant: ____________________________________ 

Counter signature of focus group moderator: ____________________________________