2900-0843_Project CHALENG Survey_PO Response to Public Comments_60-day FRN_07292024

07-29-2024

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Homeless Programs Office
Project CHALENG for Veterans
Agency Information Collection Activity:
Project CHALENG for Veterans Survey - OMB Control No. 2900-0843
Project CHALENG for Veterans Survey renewal received two comments in response to
the 60-Day Federal Register Notice, one received June 26, 2024, #lxw-0d9b-fcbd, and
one received July 12, 2024, #lyj-kyq5-ydmq.
VA-2024-VACO-0001-DRAFT-0055– We appreciate the commentor’s suggestions, and
Homeless Programs Office-Project CHALENG for Veterans responds as follows:
•

For Q5/6-Add new race/ethnicity category for “Middle Eastern or North African”
which is now a new OMB standard. VHA agrees it is important to align with OMB
race/ethnicity standards and will make this update to the CHALENG survey.

•

For Q2-For the response of “literally homeless,” break it out into two to
differentiate sheltered (i.e., in shelter) from unsheltered homelessness (i.e., on
streets, public encampment, in car). VHA will make this update to the CHALENG
survey.

•

Consider eliminating Q9 because this seems subjective and presumably all
Veterans who participate are unstably housed to some degree. The current
CHALENG collection includes Veterans who have previously experienced
homelessness and are currently permanently housed. Among that group of
Veterans, 20% responded to Q9 that their permanent housing is at risk. VHA
declines to eliminate Q9, since the perspective of these Veterans may be different
than Veterans whose permanent housing is not at risk, and eliminating Q9 would
eliminate the ability to detect any specific needs among the permanently housed
but at risk of losing housing group.

•

Under the Housing category, include two additional questions, one about “Utility
Assistance” and another on “Preparation for Natural Disaster/Extreme Weather.”
VHA declines to add “Utility Assistance” under the Housing category since it is
already a question in the Income/Benefits Services category. VHA will add
“Preparation for Natural Disaster/Extreme Weather” to the Housing category.

•

Under the Treatment Services category, suggest removing “Treatment for Dual
Diagnosis” because ill-defined and you already ask about Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Treatment. Suggest adding “Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation).” VHA will remove the
“Treatment for Dual Diagnosis” question. VHA will add “Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation)” as a
replacement for “Health and Wellness (preventing illness and prolonging life
through diet, exercise and self care).”

07-29-2024

•

Under the Digital Access category, include two additional questions that ask “Do
you use the Internet to access VA services” and “Do you use any phone apps for
your healthcare?” VHA will make this update to the CHALENG survey.

•

Under the Education/Job Services category, include an item for “Assistance with
Safe Firearm Storage” VHA will include the item “Assistance with Safe Firearm
Storage” but will add it to the Housing category instead of the Education/Job
Services category.

VA-2024-VACO-0001-0164– We appreciate the commentor’s suggestions, and
Homeless Programs Office-Project CHALENG for Veterans responds as follows:
•

That VHA should consider ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected. Perhaps the VHA could ask more detailed questions
in the survey to better understand homeless veterans’ specific challenges. The
current CHALENG collection is detailed and specific in the questions Veterans are
asked to reply to. CHALENG also includes an open-ended qualitative response
option so Veterans may add additional detail to the static questions. Since no
specific change to survey questions is requested, VHA will not modify the
CHALENG collection in response to this suggestion.

•

That VHA should use automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology to help minimize the burden of the information collection
on respondents. VHA offers the CHALENG survey online and it can be accessed
through a direct link or through QR code. To increase accessibility of the survey to
Veterans experiencing homelessness, it is also offered in a paper format for
Veterans who may not have internet access or access to a smart phone, laptop,
or computer. However, the premise of CHALENG is that it directly seeks feedback
from human stakeholders, there is not a way to automate data collection of this
type from other existing data sources. Since CHALENG requires human input,
VHA declines the suggestion to automate data collection.

Homeless Programs Office-Project CHALENG for Veterans appreciates the opportunity
to review and respond to the comments. As noted above, we will make most of the
changes suggested to the information collection, but decline some suggestions due to
their lack of clarity or negative impact on the collection.

Submitted by:
JESSICA BLUE-HOWELLS

Digitally signed by JESSICA BLUEHOWELLS
Date: 2024.07.29 10:35:08 -07'00'

JESSICA BLUE-HOWELLS, LCSW
Deputy National Director, Veterans Justice Programs
Homeless Programs Office Subject Matter Expert,
Project CHALENG for Veterans
Veterans Health Administration