 HUD’S OFFICE OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH

BIENNIAL REPORT FY 2015-2016

Capacity, Research, Impact

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  |  Office of Policy Development and Research

Contents

Message From the Secretary 

1

Message From the Assistant Secretary 

2

1  Who Is PD&R? 

3

Introduction 

3

Overview, Mission, and Core Function 

3

PD&R’s People and Organization 

4

2  What PD&R Does 

6

How PD&R Sets Its Research Agenda 

6

Core Functions in Action 

7

Collect and analyze national housing market data 

8

Conduct research, program evaluations and demonstrations 

18

Provide policy advice and support to the HUD Secretary and program offices 

28

3  How Work Is Funded 

36

Multidisciplinary Research Team 

39

Data Licenses 

39

Inhouse Research 

40

Research Partnerships 

40

4  How PD&R Shares 

44

PD&R’s Outreach and Dissemination 

44

HUD User 44

PD&R Mobile and Social Media 

45

Convenings 46

Periodicals 

48

PD&R’s Partner Engagement 

54

HUD’S 50th 54

Awards 

55

International and Philanthropic Innovation 59

Looking Ahead 

62

Message From the Secretary

We are living in a Century of 

is the driving force of HUD’s evidence-

Cities—a time when people all 

based policymaking.

over the world are moving to urban centers 

As one example, the findings from PD&R’s 

at a breathtaking pace. Managing the 

groundbreaking  The Family Options Study 

opportunities and challenges of rapid 

led the Administration to seek a historic 

urbanization requires that government 

investment of $11 billion over the next 10 

and our partners in the nonprofit and 

years in community-based, cost-effective 

private sectors strengthen our commitment 

strategies to address family homelessness 

to evidence-based policy. That is exactly 

through a bold FY 2017 budget request. 

what the U.S. Department of Housing 

That would provide 550,000 families with 

and Urban Development (HUD) is doing. 

the assistance they need to lift themselves 

HUD’s policies and programs are informed 

out of homelessness and into opportunity.

by research and evidence, and we are 

investing in innovation, evaluation, and 

PD&R’s work and impact reaches 

the capacity to shape policy decisions by 

far beyond HUD, however. PD&R 

what we learn.

is a clearinghouse for sharing lessons 

and evidence with practitioners in 

HUD’s Office of Policy Development and 

the field—providing current policy 

Research (PD&R) and the  Biennial Report 

information, elevating effective practices, 

FY 2015–2016: Capacity, Research, Impact 

and synthesizing data and evidence in 

underscore what HUD needs to promote 

accessible formats. They are an essential 

the best possible policies and programs: 

component of ensuring a continuous 

accurate data, rigorous research, and 

learning cycle that informs and uplifts 

sound policy advice.  In PD&R, we have 

the fields of housing and community 

the expertise to do precisely that.

development.

•  On data,  PD&R leads HUD’s 

I am immensely proud of PD&R’s many 

continuous efforts to improve our ability 

accomplishments, as this Biennial Report 

to accurately view how our policies 

outlines, and of the investments HUD has 

and programs affect lives and promote 

prosperity in the communities that count 

made in PD&R to ensure it can continue 

on us.

to serve as a force that improves all of 

our work. A robust PD&R is critical to 

•  On research,  PD&R works to rigorously 

fostering strong housing and community 

evaluate HUD’s work—asking the right 

development fields, and its work is central 

research questions so HUD can invest 

public resources wisely, know which 

to building a more responsive HUD 

programs merit funding, and increase 

that achieves our mission of creating 

programmatic impact for the people we 

sustainable, inclusive communities of 

serve.

promise and quality affordable homes 

• 

for all.

On policy advice,  PD&R thoughtfully 

pieces together evidence from within 

HUD and from the field—serving as a 

partner to HUD’s program offices and 

Julián Castro

as an advisor to me and to other senior 

Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban 

leaders. Propelled by the expertise, 

Development

passion, and talent of its staff, PD&R 

1   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Message From the Assistant 

Secretary

It is my pleasure to present to you the  Our story offers some key lessons about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

importance of— 

Development (HUD), Office of Policy 

Development and Research (PD&R) 

•  Developing the broader infrastructure 

that supports research.  This includes 

Biennial Report FY 2015–2016: Capacity, 

securing better vehicles for supporting 

Research, Impact.  The past 2 years have 

research, such as noncompetitive 

been a particularly productive and exciting 

cooperative agreements through  Research 

time for PD&R. Several of our largest 

Partnerships; learning more from the data 

studies (such as the  Family Options Study, 

we collect, through efforts such as cross-

Pre-Purchase Homeownership Counseling 

agency data matching; and investing 

Demonstration and Impact Evaluation,  

in attracting and developing PD&R’s 

and the  Housing Choice Voucher Program 

biggest asset: its people.

Administrative Fee Study) have produced 

•  Focusing on all of PD&R’s core 

results, and the findings are directly 

functions.  In addition to research and 

influencing policy, program, and budget 

evaluation, PD&R provides data and 

decisions. We are successfully employing 

analytical support to program offices 

data matching to greatly expand 

and develops policy for the Secretary and 

knowledge of housing and nonhousing 

HUD. Those functions directly improve 

outcomes and to answer time-sensitive 

program operations and policy decisions, 

policy questions much more quickly. We 

daily.

designed and implemented our first large-

•  Maintaining and leveraging a broad 

scale inhouse rapid-cycle randomized trial 

reach.  PD&R’s connections across HUD 

to test the efficacy of behavioral “nudges” 

(and beyond) have grown considerably 

to increase use of Federal Student Aid 

wider and stronger in recent years. This 

among assisted tenants. We also continue 

improves the relevance of our research 

to push forward a robust pipeline of work 

for the fields of housing and community 

development and the ability of PD&R’s 

that will have impact for years into the 

research to directly inform policy.

future.

This third Biennial Report highlights the 

The advances made in these 2 years build 

most impactful work of the past 2 years, a 

considerably from the previous 6; from the 

cumulative story of PD&R’s growth and 

sustained decision to invest in PD&R and 

ability to build from knowledge creation 

our capacity to create the evidence needed 

to impact. It is with tremendous pride that 

to inform better policy and practice. 

I present it to you, on behalf of the full 

This is the story of building an evidence 

PD&R team.

infrastructure inside a federal agency—

one that can create and use data, analysis, 

and research to inform programs across 

Katherine M. O’Regan

the agency and one that is well-situated to 

Assistant Secretary for Policy Development 

drive that evidence into policy decisions.

and Research

2   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

1  Who Is PD&R?

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Department of Housing and  It focuses on everything that makes up Urban Development (HUD), Office 

PD&R: the mission, people, funding, 

of Policy Development and Research 

projects, data, dissemination and outreach, 

(PD&R) is pleased to present its  Biennial 

and partner engagement. It also focuses 

Report FY 2015–2016: Capacity, Research, 

on what makes PD&R so important: its 

Impact. The report highlights some of 

impact. Throughout the report,  IMPACT 

PD&R’s most notable and transformative 

IN ACTION sections are highlighted 

accomplishments over the past 2 years—

explaining examples of PD&R’s 

from October 1, 2014, through September 

inclusive efforts.

30, 2016.

OVERVIEW, MISSION, AND CORE FUNCTION

PD&R was established in 1973. The  conducting, supporting, and sharing statutory authority for PD&R’s 

research, surveys, demonstrations, 

research activities is in Title V of the 

program evaluations, and best practices. 

Housing and Urban Development Act 

This mission is achieved through three 

of 1970 (as amended in 1973), which 

interrelated core functions as illustrated 

authorizes programs of “research, 

in the figure  PD&R’s Core Functions 

studies, testing, and demonstrations 

and as outlined in the structure of this 

relating to the missions and programs 

report. PD&R provides enterprisewide 

of the Department.” The mission of 

support for HUD and works to achieve 

PD&R is to inform policy development 

the Department’s vision to create strong, 

and implementation to improve life 

sustainable, inclusive communities and 

in American communities through 

quality affordable homes for all.

PD&R Core Functions

3   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PD&R’S PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATION

PD&R’s most important asset is its 

market conditions; conduct special studies; 

team of 141 employees (at time of 

fulfill data requests; and prepare regional 

writing) working across 7 offices and 11 

summaries of housing market conditions 

divisions. One of the many strengths of 

and local housing market profiles for 

this team is the diverse expertise of staff 

publication in U.S. Housing Market 

with backgrounds in economics, political 

Conditions reports.

science, law, public policy, sociology, 

geography, anthropology, criminology, 

Fiscal years (FY) 2015 and 2016 welcomed 

architecture, engineering, urban planning, 

new leadership in PD&R. In April 2014, 

business administration, and public 

Katherine M. O’Regan was confirmed by 

administration. 

the Senate and sworn in as Assistant 

Secretary for Policy Development and 

Among them are PD&R’s 32 field 

Research. In March of 2016, PD&R 

economists, who work in the 10 HUD 

welcomed Matt Ammon as its new General 

regional offices across the country. Field 

Deputy Assistant Secretary. Prior to 

economists are critical not only for PD&R 

joining the PD&R leadership team, Matt 

but for all of HUD, because they conduct 

was director of HUD’s Office of Lead 

comprehensive housing market analyses 

Hazard Control and Healthy Homes and 

for publication; collect and maintain data 

has more than 20 years of experience in a 

on demographic, economic, and housing 

variety of HUD program offices. 

4   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PD&R is its people, and FY 2015 and 2016 

works alongside PD&R’s experts, and gains 

have been a period of investment in 

access to cutting-edge data and research. 

PD&R’s human capital infrastructure. 

PD&R gets the benefit of working with 

PD&R has invested and innovated in new 

these professionals early in their careers and 

ways to attract and develop a diverse and 

leveraging their talent and also gets to train 

talented team. PD&R has developed an 

them on the power and potential of 

infrastructure to recruit new talent to work 

PD&R’s data and research so that they will 

alongside the PD&R team: both interns 

be equipped to utilize PD&R’s resources for 

and—for the first time—recent post-

the rest of their careers. This investment 

doctoral graduates (supported by the Office 

will pay off in both increased reach of 

of Personnel Management Pathways 

PD&R’s research in the field and a pipeline 

Program). This effort has mutual benefits. 

of talent that considers federal service 

This new talent gets a glimpse at life in the 

among their career prospects. A win-win.

research and policy arm of a federal agency, 

5   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

2  What PD&R Does

HOW PD&R SETS ITS RESEARCH AGENDA

PD&R’s research program is essential  housing and community development. 

to helping HUD achieve its mission 

After working through this feedback, 

to create strong, sustainable, inclusive 

PD&R published its first  Research Roadmap 

communities and quality, affordable 

in 2013, listing priority research for 

homes for all. It is critical that PD&R 

HUD for FY 2014 through FY 2018. The 

look ahead not only for the key research 

Research Roadmap has institutionalized 

opportunities it will highlight for Congress 

systems of participation, efficiency,  and 

in the annual budget request but also to 

transparency that have had, and continue 

develop a multiyear agenda that will ensure 

to have, a far-reaching impact. 

a robust pipeline of research for years to 

come. PD&R uses its  Research Roadmap as 

Research Roadmap 2.0: Because the 

a strategic, 5-year plan to guide research 

Roadmap is a living document that drives 

investments and congressional budget 

PD&R’s work on a daily basis, ongoing 

requests.

renewal is crucial to its success. A major 

update to the first FY 2014–2018  Roadmap 

The impetus: PD&R launched the 

began in 2015 with online outreach that 

Research Roadmap very much in response 

asked what questions would be important 

to a 2008 report from the National 

to housing and community development 

Research Council of the National Academy 

over the next 5 to 10 years and where 

of Sciences, titled  Rebuilding the Research 

PD&R has a comparative advantage 

Capacity at HUD, that found PD&R 

in responding to these questions. 

needed to incorporate a more collaborative 

Throughout 2015, e-mail outreach to 

and robust agenda in order to maximize 

federal partners and numerous “idea 

its funding and research capacities. 

lab” meetings generated a surge of fresh 

Since then, PD&R has been committed 

ideas. Further, PD&R opened “Research 

to reestablishing its relevance within 

Roadmap Forums” on huduser.gov, where 

HUD, making it a more collaborative, 

stakeholders could submit ideas and 

enterprisewide resource. 

research questions. They were asked to 

focus especially on areas that have been 

The road traveled: An infusion of 

rapidly evolving in terms of public needs 

funding during FY 2010 (called the 

and policy: housing affordability, mobility, 

Transformation Initiative [TI]) jumpstarted 

education, health, energy and resilience, 

Research Roadmap efforts to establish a 

place-based strategies, homelessness, 

5-year research agenda for HUD. Over 

broadband access, fair housing, and 

the course of a year, PD&R reached 

crosscutting topics. HUD staff participated 

beyond the agency to engage with a range 

in a thoughtful process of evaluating 

of stakeholders, including academics, 

and prioritizing research questions and 

practitioners, advocates, and policymakers, 

developing research project proposals to 

to identify the most policy-relevant and 

address priority questions. 

timely research questions in the fields of 

6   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

The road ahead: The roadmapping 

and solid evidence. The forums on 

process serves to reinforce the importance 

huduser.gov remain open for stakeholders of ongoing outreach and continuous 

to submit ideas at any time—and, 

learning. PD&R expects the resulting 

further, the  Research Roadmap is now an 

FY 2018–2022  Research Roadmap—which 

institutionalized process in PD&R and 

will be published in early 2017—to serve 

a sustainable, renewable tool to create 

as a well-defined, strategic, and responsive 

a menu of options from which future 

plan that will ensure that policy continues 

research agendas can be formed.

to be informed by innovative research 

CORE FUNCTIONS IN ACTION

PD&R’s core functions are to:

•  Collect and analyze national housing 

market data;

•  Conduct research, program evaluations 

and demonstrations; and

•  Provide policy advice and support to the 

HUD Secretary and program offices.

7   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

CONDUCT RESEARCH, PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS

IMPACT IN ACTION:

THE FAMILY OPTIONS STUDY

According to data from HUD’s most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report, more than half a million (517,414) people in families with children used homeless assistance programs in 2014. The  Family Options Study found that the cost to serve a homeless family in emergency shelter for a single month, on average, exceeds $4,800. How could HUD better address this problem? What interventions work best for families with children experiencing homelessness?

Infrastructure for research

To answer these questions, the  Family Options Study was initially funded in 2008 and completed using subsequent appropriations made possible by a substantial increase in research funding beginning FY 2010. Designed as a “gold standard” evaluation with random assignment, over 2,200 families were enrolled into the study from emergency shelter and randomly assigned to one of four interventions: subsidy only (typically in the form of a housing choice voucher [HCV]), project-based transitional housing, community-based rapid re-housing, or usual care. 

Families were followed for 3 years, and a robust data strategy was key to this work. Extensive survey data were collected at two points in time (roughly 20 and 37 months after random assignment) to assess outcomes in five domains of family well-being, including housing stability, family preservation, adult well-being, child well-being, and self-sufficiency. In addition, administrative data sources were also used to track family outcomes, including local Homeless Management Information System data, HUD Public and Indian Housing Information Center/Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System data, National Directory of New Hires data, and Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data.

Data and Analytics

In the future, HUD plans to have the data available at the Census Bureau’s Center for Administrative Records Research and Applications (CARRA) to permit a broad set of researchers to analyze impacts using administrative data matching. For example, this would permit tracking of economic impacts on the parents using unemployment insurance records data.

Informing Policy

The evidence from the  Family Options Study shows the pathway for ending family homelessness: it demonstrates that (1) relative to usual care, a long-term housing subsidy like the HCV reduces returns to homelessness by more than one-half at both 18 months and 37 months; (2) other short-term interventions, such as rapid re-housing and transitional housing, have dramatically higher rates of returns to homelessness than the longer-term subsidy; and (3) absent a long-term housing subsidy, rapid re-housing is much less expensive than transitional housing or usual care. 

“This study gives us the information we needed to make a really bold statement, a request in the FY 2017 budget for $11 billion to end family homelessness. ”

– Ann Marie Oliva,  

Deputy Assistant Secretary  

for Special Needs, HUD

8   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

The policy reach of the study goes far beyond housing outcomes, however. The study found a number of nonhousing benefits associated with receipt of the long-term housing subsidy. Relative to usual care, the offer of a subsidy significantly improved adult well-being (reductions in psychological distress, intimate partner violence), child well-being (reductions in school mobility, reductions in behavior and sleep problems, and more prosocial behavior), as well as increased food security and decreased economic stress. 

The striking impacts of assignment to the subsidy intervention in reducing subsequent stays in shelter and places not meant for human habitation provide support for the view that, for most families, homelessness is a housing affordability problem that can be remedied with long-term housing subsidies without specialized services. 

For the crisis response system, the study provides clear evidence that the high costs of emergency shelter and transitional housing programs do not yield improved outcomes for families when compared with the outcomes of families offered rapid re-housing. In the absence of a sufficient supply of long-term subsidies for families experiencing homelessness, rapid re-housing becomes the most useful response for communities seeking to assist homeless families, as the lower cost of rapid re-housing enables communities to serve more families with their limited resources. 

The findings from the  Family Options Study led the Administration to seek a historic investment of $11 billion over the next 10 years in community-based, cost-effective strategies to address family homelessness through a bold FY 2017 budget request. At the current time, the homeless assistance system does not provide immediate access to long-term subsidies for most families in shelter. This budget request would target significant funding to families experiencing homelessness by supporting a significant expansion in the availability of rapid re-housing and HCVs dedicated to families experiencing homelessness, in essence, aiming to end family homeless.

9   

9 PD&R Biennial Report    FY 20

15–2016

RESEARCH PROJECTS RECENTLY COMPLETED OR CURRENTLY UNDER WAY

Research is core to PD&R’s mission, 

made better, through quick-turnaround 

providing reliable and objective research 

studies as well long-term evaluations that 

on housing and community development 

systematically assess impacts and outcomes 

that is relevant for HUD and for its 

and shed light on paths to improvement. 

constituents, as well as assisting HUD’s 

The following sections discuss the topical 

leadership in making informed policy 

areas of PD&R’s research, the driving 

decisions. PD&R focuses on finding 

research questions, and a few key studies 

definitive answers to questions about 

completed or under way.

what programs work and how they can be 

Children and Families

What research questions is PD&R 

out of foster care and what programs 

answering about Children and Families 

exist to provide housing to this specific 

through its current and recently completed 

set of youth?  

research? The studies and key research 

•   ConnectHome Pilot Program—What 

questions follow.

is the level of in-home high-speed 

Internet access/adoption among K-12 

•   Family Self-Sufficiency Program 

households in the 28 ConnectHome 

Demonstration—Is HUD’s primary 

pilot communities? Among K-12 

program for promoting self-sufficiency 

households without in-home high-speed 

among assisted adults effective at 

Internet, what are the barriers to access/

helping them improve employment and 

adoption? How are newly connected 

earnings over the long run?

K-12 households using the Internet to 

•   Housing for Youth Aging Out of Foster 

improve their quality of life?  

Care—What is the current state of 

housing needs among youth who age 

A CLOSER LOOK

achievement, and health of children aged 3 to 

Housing and Children’s Healthy 

10. Families with eligible children who have 

Development Study—How 

applied for housing assistance will be randomly 

do families make tradeoffs 

assigned to obtain a housing choice voucher 

among location, affordability, 

(HCV) or not. An innovative element in this 

and quality of housing? Does 

research is that a sample of low-income families 

receiving a housing choice 

who did not apply for an HCV will also be 

voucher (HCV) change the 

studied. Baseline and followup measures will 

tradeoffs parents make and 

be collected through in-person surveys with 

impact the quality of housing 

participating households. The study will 

outcomes? Does having an HCV 

investigate how families make housing choices, 

result in better outcomes for 

the impact of these choices on children’s 

children?

outcomes, and the impact of receiving an HCV 

on families’ choices and children’s outcomes. 

The Housing and Children’s Healthy 

Data collection for this study will begin in 

Development Study is funded by the MacArthur 

2017. The first product of this study will be a 

Foundation, the National Institute of Child 

public use data set that will be housed at the 

Health and Human Development (NICHD), 

University of Michigan. HUD is supporting the 

and HUD and is co-funded by the Robert 

study through an interagency agreement with 

Wood Johnson Foundation. The study will 

NICHD and a research partnership award to 

find out how housing options and their 

Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of 

links to neighborhoods and schools affect 

Public Health.

the socioemotional development, academic 

10   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Expanding Housing Opportunity and Affordable Housing Preservation What research questions is PD&R 

answering about Expanding Housing 

Opportunity and Affordable Housing 

Preservation through its current and 

recently completed research? The studies 

and key research questions follow.

A CLOSER LOOK

will include a deep analysis of census data, a 

Assessment of American Indian, 

representative national household survey about 

Alaska Native, and Native 

housing conditions in tribal areas, a qualitative 

Hawaiian Housing Needs— 

lender survey, and case studies about issues 

What is the extent of Native 

for American Indians living in urban areas. A 

American housing needs and 

separate report will communicate findings from 

how are these needs being 

a household survey of Native Hawaiians and 

addressed?

Native Hawaiian stakeholders. 

Congress mandated a study of the housing needs 

of Native Americans because these needs are 

generally known to be severe, but the extent of 

the problems is not well quantified. In addition 

to collecting new data, this study will use U.S. 

Census information describing the needs of the 

Native American, Alaska Native, and Native 

Hawaiian populations. To provide a broader 

context for understanding housing needs 

and conditions in tribal areas, the study will 

also consider their socioeconomic situations. 

Because passage of the Native American 

Housing Assistance and Self-Determination 

Act (NAHASDA) in 1996 fundamentally 

changed the way federal funding is delivered to 

tribal people, issues surrounding the changes 

NAHASDA has introduced also form a key 

part of the study. The study’s components 

11   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

A CLOSER LOOK

Congress required that HUD conduct an 

Evaluation of HUD’s Rental 

evaluation of RAD, particularly focused on the 

Assistance Demonstration 

preservation and improvement of former public 

(RAD)—What is the impact of 

housing units, the amount of capital leveraged 

RAD on (1) the preservation and 

by RAD, and the effect of RAD on tenants. This 

improvement of former public 

study is currently under way, and an interim 

housing units, (2) the amount 

report was published in September 2016. As of 

of private capital leveraged as 

October 2015, properties converting through 

a result of such conversion, and 

RAD have already leveraged $2.5 billion in 

(3) the effect of conversion on 

funding, and RAD appears to put converting 

residents?

properties in a stronger financial position on an 

ongoing basis. PD&R will continue its research 

RAD was authorized by Congress in 2012 

on RAD, particularly by examining how RAD 

to test a new way of helping assisted housing 

affects the physical and financial condition of 

developments address their backlog of capital 

converting properties, and how RAD affects 

needs. RAD enables public housing properties to 

residents of RAD properties. A final report is 

convert to the project-based Section 8 program, 

expected in 2018. 

which is expected to make it easier for them 

to leverage private capital. In its authorization, 

Health and Environment

What research questions is PD&R 

•   Support and Services at Home 

answering about Health and 

Evaluation—Does coordinating 

Environment through its current and 

supportive and healthcare services 

recently completed research? The studies 

among older adults living in affordable 

and key research questions follow.

housing in Vermont result in slower 

growth in healthcare utilization and 

•   Green and Energy Retrofit Assessment—

expenditures and improve quality of 

How effective were grants to public 

life?

housing agencies (PHAs) under the 

•   Creating Walkable & Bikeable 

American Recovery and Reinvestment 

Communities—What are the technical 

Act in reducing utility consumption in 

resources community leaders need to 

public housing?

support development and promotion 

•   Native American Sustainable Building 

of walkable, bikeable communities in 

Practices Demonstration—How can 

small and midsize cities? 

more sustainable construction 

techniques be adopted in Native 

American communities, and what 

are the obstacles to adoption and 

implementation? 

•   Resident Access to Federally Qualified 

Health Center Facilities—Is there an 

inherent policy challenge between 

HCVs and the Health Resources 

& Services Administration’s place-

based efforts to serve underserved 

populations in the context of resident 

access and utilization of federally 

qualified health centers?

12   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

A CLOSER LOOK

will serve low-income HUD-assisted seniors 

Supportive Services 

(aged 62 or older) residing in Section 202 

Demonstration—Can providing 

housing and other HUD-assisted multifamily 

enhanced service coordination 

properties designated for elderly residents. 

and a wellness nurse on site 

The basic demonstration model consists of 

delay nursing home care and 

two core components: (1) an onsite, full-time 

have positive effects on health 

enhanced service coordinator with duties beyond 

outcomes and costs for low-

conventional information and referral functions 

income elderly residents in HUD-

typical of current HUD-funded service 

assisted housing?

coordinators and (2) an onsite, halftime wellness 

nurse who will engage in health monitoring 

The fiscal year 2014 Consolidated 

and promote resident self-care management. At 

Appropriations Act gave HUD the authority 

each property implementing the demonstration 

to develop a demonstration to test a model 

model, an enhanced service coordinator and 

of housing and supportive services with the 

wellness nurse team will work together to 

potential to delay nursing home care for low-

assess residents’ needs, connect residents with 

income elderly residents in HUD-assisted 

appropriate social and health services, and 

housing. HUD has developed the Supportive 

liaise with providers. The demonstration will 

Services Demonstration, which is expected 

be implemented in approximately 40 properties 

to help HUD-assisted seniors age safely at 

over 3 years. HUD expects to make awards and 

home, delay or avoid institutionalized care, 

launch the Demonstration in 2016. HUD will 

and have positive effects on health outcomes 

also conduct impact and process evaluations of 

and healthcare utilization. The demonstration 

the demonstration.

Housing Discrimination 

What research questions is PD&R 

•   Housing Discrimination Against Families 

answering about Housing Discrimination 

With Children in Rental Markets—Is 

through its current and recently completed 

the likelihood of discrimination 

research? The studies and key research 

against families with children in 

questions follow.

rental markets influenced by family 

composition, unit size, and testers’ 

•   Housing Discrimination in the Rental 

race and ethnicity? 

Housing Market Against People Who Are 

•   Rental Housing Discrimination on the 

Deaf and People Who Use Wheelchairs: 

Basis of Mental Disabilities—Do people 

National Study Findings—To what 

with mental disabilities experience 

extent are people with physical 

discrimination in the rental housing 

disabilities living in HUD-assisted 

market due to their disability and, if 

housing experiencing discrimination?

so, to what extent?

•   Housing Search Process of Racial and 

Ethnic Minorities—How do racial and 

ethnic minority groups differ in their 

rental housing search processes? 

13   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

A CLOSER LOOK

pilot test of discrimination against transgender 

A Paired-Testing Pilot Study 

people in a single metropolitan market. 

of Housing Discrimination 

The study will build upon recent work that 

Against Same-Sex Couples and 

generated a national estimate of discrimination 

Transgender Individuals—What 

against same-sex couples using a paired-testing 

is the best technical design 

methodology via e-mail. The current project 

to obtain a baseline in-person 

will expand to in-person testing and will also 

measurement of housing 

include a side-by-side comparison of standalone 

discrimination faced by same-

e-mail tests in one market. The goal is to 

sex couples and transgender 

compare the utility of e-mail-only testing with 

individuals?

the utility of testing that culminates in an in-

person visit.

The purpose of this study is to pilot techniques 

designed to obtain a baseline in-person 

measurement of housing discrimination faced 

by same-sex couples in at least two metropolitan 

rental markets. The study will also include a 

Informing HUD Programs 

What research questions is PD&R 

•   Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency 

answering to Inform HUD Programs 

Service Coordinators (ROSS-SC) 

through its current and recently completed 

Evaluation—Is ROSS-SC funding 

research? The studies and key research 

being used effectively and efficiently by 

questions follow.

grantees to hire and maintain service 

coordinators to help public housing 

•   Housing Choice Voucher Program 

residents attain economic and housing 

Administrative Fee Study—How much 

self-sufficiency or to age in place and 

does it cost a PHA to run an efficient 

maintain independent living?

HCV Program for the purpose of 

•   Evaluation of the HUD-DOJ Pay for 

developing a formula for allocating 

Success Permanent Supportive Housing 

administrative fees? 

Demonstration—Is providing 

•   Family Self-Sufficiency Evaluation—

permanent supportive housing within 

What are the impacts of the Family 

a pay-for-success framework an 

Self-Sufficiency program on families 

effective and cost-effective approach 

who receive HCVs?

to addressing the housing needs of 

•   Evaluation of Moving to Work: Activities, 

re-entrants experiencing homelessness 

Outcomes and Impacts, and Program 

either immediately following release 

Performance—What can HUD learn 

from jail or shortly thereafter? 

from Moving to Work initiatives 

•   Evaluation of the Section 811 Project 

about how to deliver federal housing 

Rental Assistance Program (Phases I 

assistance to achieve goals of cost 

and II)—What are the successes and 

efficiency, client self-sufficiency, and 

challenges in the implementation of a 

increasing housing choice? 

new model of housing assistance for 

•   Family Self-Sufficiency Sustained Income 

extremely low-income people with 

Growth Analysis—What is the trajectory 

disabilities? What approaches have 

of earned income among Family Self-

been more successful at attracting 

Sufficiency Program participants?

units to the program and providing 

14   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

supportive and integrated housing to 

•   Evaluation of the Jobs Plus Pilot 

the target population? How effective 

Program—How has the initial cohort 

is the new model of housing assistance 

of nine PHAs participating in the Jobs 

for extremely low-income people with 

Plus Pilot program implemented the 

disabilities? What is the impact of 

three core components of the program 

the program on participants’ access 

(employment-related services, financial 

to supportive services and on quality 

incentives, and Community Support 

of life, housing and health outcomes? 

for Work), and to what extent have the 

What are the implementation 

grantees engaged PHA residents? 

challenges and successes?

•   First-Time Homebuyer Education and 

Counseling Demonstration and Impact 

Evaluation—What impact does 

offering homebuyer education and 

counseling have on low-, moderate-, 

and middle-income prospective 

first-time homebuyer outcomes in 

three domains: (1) homeownership 

preparedness and search; (2) financial 

literacy, capability, and management; 

and (3) homeownership sustainability?  

A CLOSER LOOK

expenditures under the traditional rent system. 

Rent Reform Demonstration— 

Four Moving to Work public housing agencies 

What is the effect of an 

are participating: DC Housing Authority, 

alternative rent structure in 

Lexington Housing Authority, Louisville 

the HCV Program on families in 

Metropolitan Housing Authority, and San 

terms of employment, income, 

Antonio Housing Authority. The alternative 

and hardship, and on PHAs 

rent intervention changes the percentage of 

in terms of administrative 

income paid for rent, eliminates deductions, 

efficiencies, subsidy amounts, 

changes the utility allowance, changes the 

and number of families served?

frequency of income recertification, and 

requires a minimum rent that is directly payable 

The Rent Reform Demonstration is designed to 

to the landlord. New policies on hardship will 

test an alternative to the current HUD-assisted 

be in force. Rent reform may affect assisted 

rent structure using a randomized controlled 

housing residents in terms of the rents they pay, 

trial to assess its effect on the income, earnings, 

the amounts they save and earn, and the income 

and hardship of the residents who rely on 

stream to the housing agency that administers 

housing choice vouchers. The main goals of 

the housing subsidy. A baseline report is 

the new rent policy are to (1) increase tenants’ 

expected in early 2017, an interim report is 

employment and earnings in order to help them 

expected in early 2018, and a final report 

become more self-sufficient; (2) reduce the 

including an analysis of household outcomes 30 

complexity and burden (and, thus, the cost) of 

months after random assignment is expected in 

administering the rent policy; and (3) achieve 

late 2019.

these outcomes without increasing (and possibly 

reducing) total housing subsidy expenditures 

for a given number of households relative to 

15   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

IMPACT IN ACTION:

THE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 

DEMONSTRATION AND IMPACT EVALUATION

As a key example of leveraging research for policy, PD&R has successfully implemented the first large-scale randomized experiment designed to reliably assess the impact of homebuyer education and counseling for a diverse sample of prospective first-time homebuyers on a range of outcomes (mortgage preparedness, homebuyer outcomes, and loan performance). From September 2013 to January 2016, over 5,850 prospective low-, moderate-, and middle-income first-time homebuyers from 28 metropolitan areas were recruited through three national lenders and randomly assigned to a control group receiving no services or to one of two modes of homebuyer education and counseling (remote or in-person services). 

This study is critical because it will help HUD understand whether first-time homebuyer education and counseling can be used to expand access to credit and help customers make better choices and achieve housing and financial stability. The study will shed light on what motivates homebuyers to take advantage of education and counseling services, what type of education and counseling they prefer (online, telephone, in-person), and how HUD’s housing education and counseling program can be made more effective. HUD and the housing counseling industry can use these data to inform and improve outreach efforts, messaging, and participation incentives.

The  Early Insights report, featuring 12-month results on the first 2,377 study participants, was published in June 2016 on huduser.gov. The study has already provided information on key issues such as takeup rates (in-person education and counseling had much lower takeup rates than online education or remote telephone counseling), as well as preliminary results that are encouraging in terms of increased mortgage literacy, greater appreciation for communication with lenders, and improved underwriting qualifications. This study’s early findings are consistent with the results of other homebuyer education and counseling studies, though few of those studies are randomized experiments and none are as large scale as this one. 

What makes this demonstration unique is that the 

recruitment and enrollment process relied on lenders 

recruitment of prospective first-time homebuyer 

customers who had applied for prequalification, 

preapproval, or a loan across the 28 study sites. PD&R 

worked with three large national lenders who conducted 

outreach to over 136,000 customers, mailed over 136,000 

letters, made over 500,000 recruitment calls, and referred 

over 18,000 eligible customers to the study team. The 

level of private-sector commitment and resources to 

design and implement such a large-scale and complex 

study cannot be understated. This represents PD&R’s 

first involvement in a public and private partnership to 

conduct a large-scale randomized experiment.

This study promises to become a foundational source of 

evidence for policymakers, lenders, and housing 

counseling practitioners and advocates regarding the 

impacts and effectiveness of homebuyer education and 

counseling. Although it is too early to say, if homebuyer 

education and counseling turns out to help homebuyers 

reap the benefits of homeownership and minimize the 

risks, then homebuyer education and counseling could be 

a cornerstone of successfully expanding homeownership 

opportunity and decreasing mortgage delinquency and 

foreclosures.

16   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Homelessness

What research questions is PD&R 

•   Evaluation of the Rapid Re-Housing 

answering about Homelessness through its 

for Homeless Families Demonstration 

current and recently completed research? 

Program—What do the rapid re-

The studies and key research questions 

housing programs established in the 

follow.

23 demonstration communities look 

like and how do they differ from 

•   Study of PHAs’ Efforts to Serve People 

each other and from the design they 

Experiencing Homelessness—To what 

initially described in their proposal? 

extent do PHAs serve and/or prioritize 

What happened to the families 

homeless households for assistance? 

who were served through the rapid 

What are PHA perceptions of barriers 

re-housing programs launched by the 

to, or concerns about, increasing the 

demonstration after the assistance 

number of homeless households served 

concluded? 

or targeting homeless households for 

•   Evaluation of the FUP/FSS Demonstration 

priority housing assistance? 

Program—How effective is combining 

•   Homelessness Prevention Study—How 

HCVs for eligible youth lacking 

were the homelessness prevention 

adequate housing under the Family 

programs funded by the Homelessness 

Unification Program with assistance 

Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing 

under the Family Self-Sufficiency 

Program implemented? What lessons 

Program? 

can be drawn for future research on 

•  The  Family Options Study—What are 

homelessness prevention? 

the impacts of various housing and 

services interventions for homeless 

families with children?

Place-Based Initiatives

What research questions is PD&R 

five sites to receive HUD Choice 

answering about Place-Based Initiatives 

Neighborhood implementation grants?  

through its current and recently completed 

•   Evaluation of the Rural Innovation 

research? The studies and key research 

Fund—What types of projects did 

questions follow.

the Rural Innovation Fund (RIF) 

fund, how successful were grantees at 

•   Choice Neighborhoods research—What 

leveraging additional funding, and 

were the baseline conditions and 

what were the impacts of the larger 

redevelopment strategies of the first 

RIF grants?

Veterans

What research questions is PD&R 

•   Veterans Homelessness Prevention 

answering about Veterans through its 

Demonstration Evaluation (VHPD)—

current and recently completed research? 

How can HUD, VA, and the U.S. 

The studies and key research questions 

Department of Labor work together 

follow.

and improve collaboration to more 

effectively serve homeless and at-

•   HUD-VASH Exit Study—What factors 

risk veterans? What was the impact 

lead to veteran program exits from the 

of the VHPD on veterans at risk of 

HUD-U.S. Department of Veterans 

homelessness?

Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing 

program?  

17   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND DISSEMINATE NATIONAL HOUSING MARKET AND OTHER DATA IMPACT IN ACTION:

SMALL DIFFICULT DEVELOPMENT AREAS

PD&R annually designates Difficult Development Areas (DDAs), defined as areas with high construction, land, and utility costs, for purposes of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program. Owners of LIHTC 

developments who locate their properties in DDAs are eligible for up to an additional 30-percent increase in tax credits to enable the creation of affordable housing in these high-cost, typically higher-rent areas. This boost in tax credits provides a valuable and often crucial incentive for developers of affordable housing. Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code directs HUD to designate DDAs separately for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The number of areas HUD may designate is limited by statute to no more than 20 percent of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan population, respectively.

Data and Analytics

Historically, HUD designated entire metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) as metropolitan DDAs, using metropolitan Fair Market Rents (FMRs) relative to an area’s income limit. All neighborhoods in the MSA received the tax incentive, regardless of costs or rent. This limited the number of metropolitan DDAs to between approximately 30 and 40 

metropolitan areas each year, primarily in California and Florida. In practice, many developers received the DDA boost from locating in the lower-cost sections of these metropolitan areas. Although this provided new or renovated affordable housing in the highest-cost cities, that housing may not have required additional tax credits to offset higher development costs. In addition, many undesignated metropolitan areas contained higher-cost neighborhoods that were not eligible for the additional tax credits, posing a deterrent to developing affordable housing in areas of opportunity throughout the country.

HUD reexamined its FMR calculations in 2010 based on the advent of the 5-year American Community Survey data aggregations as a replacement for the decennial census long-form survey. This new data source provides researchers with long-form survey detail but is updated annually instead of decennially. Annually updated data at this granular level enabled HUD to zoom in from the MSA level and instead calculate FMRs by ZIP Codes, due to their nearly universal availability and ease of understandability. These new FMRs are Small Area FMRs (for a greater discussion, see page 35). Following the development of ZIP Code-based SAFMRs, HUD examined the ability to designate DDAs by ZIP Code and the effect it would have to distribute affordable housing toward neighborhoods with potentially greater opportunities for resident access to employment and education. 

Informing Policy

PD&R began exploring this change in 2011 and requested public comment at that time. Although HUD announced its intention to adopt this methodology in 2012, the change was not officially incorporated until the designation of the 2016 DDAs in order to provide the industry with significant advanced notice because their financing arrangements often take several years to assemble.

Credit allocations using the more targeted approach of ZIP Code designations began on July 1, 2016. The move to ZIP Code designations has spread the benefit associated with DDAs to each metropolitan area and nearly every state. 

In 2015, metropolitan DDAs were concentrated in 2 states, California and Florida, and overall limited to 11 states plus Puerto Rico. The 2016 SDDAs cover parts of 300 metropolitan areas in 46 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Further, this change will provide LIHTC tenants access to better neighborhoods, jobs, and schools. The average poverty rate in DDAs, for example, fell 25 percent, from 14.6 to 10.9 percent, compared with the poverty rate in the areas that would have been designated under the old methodology.

18   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

DATA

PD&R creates, publishes, and maintains 

maintains this national data infrastructure 

a vast array of data critical for research, 

by supporting five major national housing 

policy development, and program 

surveys as well as other sources of national 

implementation in the field of housing 

housing data.

and community development. PD&R 

The American Housing Survey

The American Housing Survey (AHS) 

“I’m very pleased that HUD 

is the richest source of information 

is adding the Milwaukee 

about the nation’s housing stock and 

the characteristics of its occupants, and 

Area Renters Study (MARS) 

it has an important role in assessing the 

eviction questions to the 

performance of government housing 

2017 American Housing 

programs. PD&R provides funding, 

Survey. The new data will 

oversight, and leadership on the AHS 

help enable us to better 

while the U.S. Census Bureau provides 

operational management and conducts 

understand—and hopefully 

data collection. The funding devoted 

address, eviction throughout 

to the AHS in FY 2015 enabled PD&R 

America.”

to conduct the 2015 AHS with 25 

metropolitan surveys and to maintain an 

– Matthew Desmond

oversample of HUD-assisted units in order 

author of Evicted

to gain reliable statistics on HUD-assisted 

tenants’ views of the condition of their 

housing. The FY 2015 funding level also 

enabled the design and implementation 

of three topical modules on subjects of 

interest, including access to arts and 

culture, food security, and housing 

counseling. FY 2016 funding enabled 

PD&R to begin developing a web-based 

instrument and provides funding for the 

2017 AHS national sample. As part of the 

redesign process, HUD is exploring how 

best to use publically and commercially 

available data resources to reduce 

respondent burden and improve accuracy 

of respondent-reported information.

19   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

IMPACT IN ACTION:

MATCHING HUD ADMINISTRATIVE DATA TO HOUSING SURVEYS

Since 1989, HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau have matched administrative data on HUD-assisted tenants to the American Housing Survey (AHS). The matched data are used to generate the report “Characteristics of HUD-Assisted Renters and Their Units.” This report is available for 1989, 1991, 1993, and 2003 on huduser.gov. Reports for the 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013 HUD/AHS matches are currently in development. The public can create their own custom tables from the 2013 HUD/AHS matched data using the AHS Table Creator: http://sasweb.ssd.census.gov/ahs/

ahstablecreator.html.

The match between the AHS and HUD administrative data has revealed a number of interesting findings. Compared with unsubsidized renter households, households in public housing units are less likely to be crowded (3 vs. 4 percent) and more likely to receive food stamp benefits (55 vs. 12 percent).

•  Public housing residents are less likely to have a full-service grocery store within 15 minutes of their home (70 vs. 82 percent).

•  They are more likely to always use public transportation to get to work or school (18 vs. 9 percent) and are less likely to have a vehicle to use to evacuate during a disaster event (50 vs. 82 percent).

•  Households in public housing are more likely to say they would have to live in a shelter if they were evicted (9 vs. 2 percent).

HUD administrative data on HUD-assisted units have also been matched to the American Community Survey (ACS), making it possible to analyze veteran status, Internet availability, and racial subcategories. To date, matching has been completed for 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

•  The 2013 HUD/ACS match revealed that 269,000 HUD-assisted households house at least one veteran. 

•  Findings on Internet connectivity suggest that assisted households with children under 18 are less likely to have a computer or laptop and less likely to have a high-speed Internet subscription than unassisted households with children. Before the match, the extent of Internet connectivity among HUD assisted households was not known. These findings have provided important context for the ConnectHome initiative.

•  The HUD/ACS match also provides insights into the racial composition of HUD-assisted households and the gap between the households eligible for HUD assistance and those receiving assistance. Renters of Chinese descent make up the largest Asian-American subgroup in HUD-assisted housing, representing nearly 50,000 households. Asian-Americans of Indian and Japanese descent had the smallest share of renter households that both were eligible for HUD assistance and were receiving it (6 and 8 

percent, respectively). 

Future data-matching efforts between HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau include projects matching Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) data to census surveys. When matched to the AHS and ACS, the resulting data will provide information on the housing quality, affordability, and demographic makeup of single-family homes supported by FHA mortgage insurance. The matched FHA/census data can be used to determine housing costs and rates of renter occupancy and remodeling activity within units with FHA mortgages. The FEMA data match will help both HUD and FEMA understand the socioeconomic characteristics of households with and without flood insurance.

20   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

The Rental Housing Finance Survey 

The newest of the national surveys is the 

The second RHFS was conducted in 2015 

Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS), 

and data will be available to the public 

which includes a nationally representative 

in fall 2016 or early 2017. In addition to 

sample of data on the financing of 

data on the financing of multiunit rental 

multiunit rental housing. The first RHFS, 

housing, the 2015 RHFS will include data 

conducted in partnership with the U.S. 

on the financing of single-family rental 

Census Bureau, was in 2012, and data were 

homes. HUD is planning to conduct the 

made available to the public in early 2014. 

third RHFS in 2018.

Fair Market Rent Data

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are gross rent 

8 contracts, determine initial rents for 

estimates that include the shelter rent plus 

housing assistance payment contracts in 

the cost of all necessary utilities except 

the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room 

telephones, cable or satellite television 

Occupancy program, and serve as a rent 

service, and Internet service. Using data 

ceiling in the HOME rental assistance 

from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American 

program.

Community Survey (ACS), HUD annually 

estimates FMRs for each metropolitan 

HUD has developed Small Area Fair 

area and each nonmetropolitan county 

Market Rents (SAFMRs) by calculating 

to ensure that a sufficient supply of 

FMRs by ZIP Codes within metropolitan 

rental housing is available to program 

areas. Since FY 2013, HUD has conducted 

participants. By law, in any fiscal year, 

a Small Area FMR Demonstration 

HUD must publish and make available the 

program at five PHA sites across the 

final FMRs for use at the start of that fiscal 

country to learn valuable information 

year (October 1). 

about the implementation and acceptance 

of SAFMRs. The demonstration program 

HUD uses FMRs primarily to determine 

ended on September 30, 2016. HUD 

payment-standard amounts for the HCV 

hopes to expand the use of SAFMRs in the 

Program, determine initial renewal rents 

near future.

for some expiring project-based Section 

Income Limits Data 

Federal law requires HUD to set income 

Section 8 Income Limits for every FMR 

limits that determine the eligibility of 

area, with adjustments for family size and 

applicants for HUD’s assisted housing 

for areas that have unusually high or low 

programs. One of the major active assisted 

income-to-housing-cost relationships. 

housing programs is the Section 8 HCV 

HUD publishes Section 8 Income Limits 

Program. HUD’s Section 8 Income Limits 

at three levels: Low-Income (80 percent of 

begin with the production of Median 

area MFI), Very Low-Income (50 percent 

Family Income (MFI) estimates. HUD 

of area MFI), and Extremely Low-Income 

uses the Section 8 program’s FMR area 

(greater of 30 percent of area MFI or the 

definitions in developing MFI estimates; 

Federal Poverty Guidelines as published 

therefore, HUD develops income 

by the U.S. Department of Health and 

estimates for each metropolitan area, parts 

Human Services, capped at the Very Low-

of some metropolitan areas, and each 

Income level).

nonmetropolitan county. HUD calculates 

21   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy Data

HUD has continued to receive annual 

prevalence of housing problems among 

custom tabulations from the ACS. These 

different types of households, such as 

data, known as the Comprehensive 

those including elderly members, people 

Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) 

with disabilities, and minorities. Local 

data, demonstrate the extent of housing 

governments use the CHAS data for 

problems and housing needs, particularly 

their Consolidated Plans and for the new 

for low-income households. The CHAS 

assessment of fair housing (AFH).

data are also important for considering the 

Administrative Data

In addition to supporting the major 

Multifamily New Construction and 

surveys discussed previously, HUD also 

Substantial Rehab, Section 236, and 

maintains and makes public data using 

other multifamily programs.  Picture data 

HUD’s administrative systems. HUD 

are currently available through 2015 and 

maintains data on the approximately 5 

can be found on huduser.gov. 

million households living in public and 

•   LIHTC Data. PD&R annually collects 

assisted housing and on community and 

data on properties placed in service 

housing investments made from such 

through the LIHTC. The data are 

programs as the Community Development 

provided to PD&R by the state and local 

Block Grant program, HOME Investment 

housing finance agencies (HFAs) that 

Partnership, and the low-income housing 

administer the LIHTC and includes 

information on location, unit size, and 

tax credit (LIHTC). 

other federal subsidies received. The 

•   Picture of Subsidized Households. 

database currently includes data on all 

Picture of Subsidized Households is a 

properties placed into service from the 

master compilation of information on 

beginning of the LIHTC through 2014, 

subsidized housing from HUD’s major 

but the most reliable information begins 

data collection systems. The report is 

in 1995, when PD&R began collecting 

useful in answering public policy and 

the data.

program questions without revealing the 

PD&R also collects demographic and 

identity of individual assisted families. 

economic information from state HFAs 

It presents statistics on the number and 

on tenants in LIHTC-financed units as 

characteristics of households that receive 

required by the Housing and Economic 

assistance through federal housing 

Recovery Act of 2008. These data are 

programs, including socioeconomic 

and demographic information such as 

published in a report summarizing 

family income, race, ethnicity, age of 

race and ethnicity, disability status, 

head of household, number of household 

family composition, annual household 

members, disability, and location and 

income, rent burden, and use of rental 

type of neighborhood. For the report, 

assistance by state. The most recent 

PD&R aggregates household data by 

report includes tenants in LIHTC units as 

program and at various geographic 

of December 31, 2013.

levels—national, state, city, county, 

and census tract. It includes the public 

housing program, HCVs, mod-rehab, 

22   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

GIS WITH A PURPOSE

PD&R has played a key role in developing 

•  In August of 2015, HUD released the 

HUD’s geospatial capabilities over the 

HUD Resource Locator (HRL), a 

past several years. PD&R designed and 

mobile and web application designed to 

developed HUD’s Enterprise Geographic 

connect HUD customers with current 

Information System (eGIS) platform, a 

information on the availability of 

common geospatial infrastructure shared 

affordable housing in proximity to any 

given location. Since its initial release, 

agencywide. The eGIS platform supports 

the HRL has seen over 200,000 unique 

a number of HUD program functions 

user sessions. HUD released a much-

and serves as the Department’s primary 

improved version 1.1 of the HRL in June 

source for geospatial data, services, 

2016. Since then, daily traffic to the 

and applications. PD&R designed and 

site is up 18 percent, with weekly usage 

developed the geodatabase and service-

approaching 7,000 user sessions. 

oriented architecture that forms the 

•  In September of 2015, HUD released 

backbone of the eGIS platform, and it 

the eGIS Storefront, a one-stop shop for will continue to oversee the operation, 

HUD staff, grantees, and the general 

maintenance, and further development 

public to search or browse HUD’s 

of the platform. To support this effort, 

growing catalog of GIS data, services, 

PD&R manages a contract that the entire 

and applications. The provisioning of 

Department is leveraging to create and 

geo-enabled HUD administrative and 

manage Geographic Information System 

other housing-related data in open, 

(GIS) solutions.

machine-readable format through the 

eGIS Storefront is enabling private-

In addition, PD&R continues to maintain 

sector innovation through coding events 

the Geocoding Service Center that 

like the HUD Zillow Hackathon and geocodes the addresses from all of HUD’s 

initiatives such as The Opportunity 

programs and is a critical component 

Project.

in supporting HUD’s GIS initiatives. 

•  In December of 2015, HUD released 

PD&R leads the Department’s Geospatial 

version 3.0 of the Affirmatively 

Coordinating Committee, a formal 

Furthering Fair Housing Data and 

governance body that manages HUD’s 

Mapping Tool (AFFHT). AFFHT 3.0 

geospatial portfolio, establishes standards 

focused on HUD’s local government 

and operational protocols for the eGIS 

grantees, providing them with access to 

platform, develops the agency’s geospatial 

the data and maps they need to conduct 

the required AFH. A subsequent update 

requirements, and supports the creation of 

to AFFHT, version 3.1, completed in 

future geospatial solutions. 

July 2016, includes several enhancements 

Over the past year, the eGIS team has 

that improve support for the analysis of 

successfully completed several projects 

publicly supported housing component 

of the AFH and improve accessibility for 

that have added value and brought new 

disabled users. 

capabilities to HUD’s geospatial portfolio.

•  In June of 2016, HUD released the 

Preservation Mapping Tool (PMT) 

internally. The PMT provides HUD 

staff in the Office of Housing with 

information about all remaining 

mortgage maturities scheduled to occur 

over the next 25-year period. The tool 

provides visibility on the location of 

23   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

legacy HUD properties relative to each 

The eGIS team is working on several new 

other: whether they are clustered in one 

applications, which include—

or two regions of the country or if they 

are scattered in various locations across 

•  The Community Assessment Reporting 

all 50 states. Output generated by the 

Tool (CART)—When finished, CART 

tool’s reporting functionality can be 

will provide a standardized, easy-to-

customized by the user to supplement 

read report about HUD’s investment 

strategic plans for outreach and technical 

in any given community, whether it be 

assistance on a year-to-year basis.

a congressional district, municipality, 

county, metropolitan area, or state at the 

touch of a button, replacing what has 

historically been a manual and laborious 

“The Affirmatively Furthering 

process. The application will be internally 

Fair Housing Data and 

and externally facing, and its use will be 

Mapping Tool (AFFHT) plays 

promoted to Congressional and locally 

elected officials.

a critical role in helping HUD 

•  Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing 

and its grantees achieve 

Data and Mapping Tool 4.x—HUD is 

the goals of the updated 

expecting to release new functionality 

Affirmatively Furthering 

in 2017 to provide data and mapping 

Fair Housing Rule. The data 

support for PHA and state assessments 

of fair housing. The eGIS team will be 

and mapping capabilities 

completing multiple releases for AFFHT 

provided by the AFFHT 

to include enhancements such as PHA 

really help grantees ‘see’ 

service area definitions and custom 

reporting for user-specified, substate 

their communities thru the 

geographic areas.

data, and in completing a 

•  Rental Assistance Demonstration Site 

thorough assessment of 

and Neighborhood Site Standards—The 

fair housing (AFH).  The 

eGIS Team will be working on a solution 

to assist HUD staff who review RAD 

provision of consistent data 

applications for site and neighborhood 

via the AFFHT exemplifies 

standards. The solution will allow HUD 

a fundamental change in 

staff and RAD applicants to quickly test 

whether the location of a planned RAD 

the relationship between 

development is in an area of minority 

HUD and grantees to one of 

concentration based on the rule specified 

collaborative partnership.”

in the official public notice. Trend 

data will also be provided to help staff 

– Gustavo Velasquez 

determine if the proposed development is 

Assistant Secretary for Fair 

in a “revitalizing area.” This solution will 

Housing and Equal Opportunity, 

reduce grantee and staff burden while 

HUD

streamlining this particular aspect of the 

RAD application process.

24   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

IMPACT IN ACTION:

PD&R AND DISASTER RECOVERY

HUD provides important support to communities that experience disasters. PD&R has two main responsibilities when a disaster hits, support for the immediate disaster response and for long-term recovery. The following is a profile of the disaster response to the August 2016 flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Immediate Response

One of PD&R’s first tasks is to assess whom is affected immediately after a disaster. This poses data challenges. 

For the August 2016 Baton Rouge flooding, PD&R was able to share with local staff more information faster due to HUD and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) investments in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Both FEMA and HUD have significantly enhanced their GIS capacity in recent years, to the point that both aggregate the data from all or nearly all of their programs and make that information available publicly. For the August 2016 flooding in Louisiana, both agencies made their data available in a way that they could easily be merged. 

For HUD, this provided significant value for—

1.  Identifying the extent to which the various households that had a relationship with HUD—public housing, housing choice vouchers, multifamily assisted and insured, single-family insured—have been impacted by the flooding and help target HUD’s outreach to partners in the community.

2.  Projecting early what types of long-term recovery needs are likely.

In addition to understanding whom is affected, PD&R staff provide update information on predisaster market conditions, were on the ground in Baton Rouge helping FEMA in assessing damage, and facilitated data matching with FEMA data to identify what prestorm homeless and HUD assisted households were displaced and living in temporary housing in order for HUD staff on the ground to speed up their move back into permanent housing.

Long-Term Recovery

A key piece of long-term recovery work is accomplished through supplementary disaster funding through the Community Development Block Grant. Although the provision of such funding is up to Congress, understanding the scale of the damage and nature of recovery work is key to determining the dollar amount of such funding. PD&R 

provides estimates based on FEMA data on the scope of impacts (including whether structures were destroyed or damaged) and historical approaches to funding.

“PD&R has been a great partner in our disaster response and recovery.  They have been with us since Katrina hit more than 10 years ago and their timely data and analysis have been beneficial to our teams on the ground working to provide guidance to survivors in Baton Rouge in 2016”  

– Earl Randall,  

New Orleans Field Office Director, HUD

25   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

ADDITIONAL DATA EFFORTS

Housing Scorecard

PD&R obtains data from many sources to 

to purchase a home. In addition to the 

compile the monthly Housing Scorecard, 

monthly national Housing Scorecard, 

which documents progress toward the 

PD&R prepares a regional scorecard 

efforts to stabilize the housing market and 

addendum on a quarterly basis for 

help American homeowners recover from 

selected metropolitan area markets. Each 

the Great Recession. A rental affordability 

addendum details the unique way that the 

index, which measures the ability of a 

Great Recession has affected each of these 

renter household with median income to 

housing markets and how communities 

lease a home, was added to the Scorecard 

have incorporated the Administration’s 

in September 2016. The index is compared 

housing and neighborhood aid programs 

with NAR’s quarterly composite housing 

into local strategies to stabilize their 

affordability index, which measures the 

housing markets and to advance the 

ability of a family with median income 

recovery. 

Housing Market Reports 

PD&R’s field economists prepared more 

inventory characteristics of a specific 

than 100 Comprehensive Housing Market 

housing market area during three periods: 

Analysis reports for selected metropolitan 

from 1990 to 2000, from 2000 to the 

housing market areas during FY 2015 

as-of date of the analysis, and from the 

and 2016. These reports, located on 

as-of date to a 3-year forecast date. The 

huduser.gov, assist and guide HUD in its 

reports present counts and estimates of 

operations and have proven to be useful to 

employment, population, households, and 

builders, mortgagees, and others concerned 

housing inventory. Recent reports include 

with local housing condition trends. For 

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland; 

each analysis, field economists develop a 

Bloomington, Illinois; Myrtle Beach-

factual framework based on information 

Conway-North Myrtle Beach, South 

available, as of a particular date, from both 

Carolina-North Carolina; Phoenix-Mesa-

local and national sources. Each analysis 

Scottsdale, Arizona; San Antonio-New 

takes into consideration changes in the 

Braunfels, Texas; and San Francisco-San 

economic, demographic, and housing 

Mateo-San Rafael, California.

26   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

IMPACT IN ACTION:

HUD-NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS DATA LINKAGE

In FY 2015, PD&R shared housing assistance administrative data from 1996 through 2014 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for data linkage. Through their inhouse data linkage program, NCHS linked longitudinal HUD data with two of the largest cross-sectional population health surveys—the National Health Interview Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in its effort to link health and housing data. 

Released publicly in March 2016, the linked data set contains HUD administrative data linked to 14 years (1999 

through 2012) of cross-sectional health survey data. This data set allows researchers to examine the relationship between assisted housing and factors that influence health status, chronic disease, healthcare utilization, morbidity, and mortality. Prior health and housing studies focused on localized studies and anecdotal information; however, this new data product is particularly impactful because it allows for national prevalence estimates of health outcomes among HUD-assisted children and adults—estimates that were previously unobtainable. 

Research studies using the linked HUD-NCHS data revealed key findings and provided invaluable evidence that housing is a key social determinant of health.

•  A recently published study revealed that HUD-assisted children experience lower blood lead levels when compared with peer counterparts not receiving housing assistance (Ahren K., et al., 2016).

•  Consistent with the momentum of the smoke-free public housing rule, the linked data also provided important prevalence estimates regarding cigarette smoking. The prevalence of current cigarette smoking among HUD-assisted adults from 2006 

through 2012 was 33.6 percent, and over one-half of all adults reported attempts to quit (Helms et al., 2016). These findings highlight the potential of secondhand smoke incursion and the need to provide targeted cessation support to assisted residents.

•  Lastly, a collaborative U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-HUD study found that assisted renters had higher levels of health insurance and lower levels of unmet need due to cost relative to people who were not assisted but would go on to receive HUD assistance in less than 2 years (Simon A., et al, 2016).

These key findings represent only a small portion of the larger HUD portfolio of work using the HUD-NCHS 

linked data. By conducting secondary data analysis using the linked data, PD&R researchers are establishing health and housing evidence and providing data to promote informed policymaking. 

In addition to concrete research findings, the data linkage also highlighted the impact of PD&R’s interagency data linkage initiatives. The interagency Memorandum of Understanding allowed both agencies to conduct the linkage cost free. The linkage was mutually beneficial to both HHS and HUD. By leveraging PD&R’s geocoding services, HUD agreed to geocode NCHS health survey data. In return, NCHS conducted linkage processes. NCHS-HUD 

interagency projects bring together experts from both sectors, allowing for robust and meaningful research. 

In summary, the HUD-NCHS data linkage aligns with HUD’s strategic goal to utilize housing as a platform to improve quality of life. The linked data set allows PD&R researchers to conduct robust inhouse research to further examine housing as a social determinant of health. Key findings have provided evidence about health and housing to promote informed policymaking.

27   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PROVIDE POLICY ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO THE SECRETARY AND PROGRAM OFFICES

IMPACT IN ACTION:

THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE 

FEE STUDY

Since the 1974 creation of the Section 8 tenant-based program, now called the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, HUD has provided administrative fees to public housing agencies (PHAs) to administer the program (maintain wait lists, conduct intake and income verification, inspect units). The fee amount paid to PHAs has evolved over time for a variety of reasons, some based on hypothesized cost relationships and some based on budget needs, but in the 2000s Congress had begun to question the method being used.

Infrastructure for Research

To answer this question, planning began with modest funding from PD&R and the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) in September 2009. The opportunity to do a comprehensive study was made possible by the large increase in research funding in HUD’s FY 2010 and an agreement by congressional appropriators that this was a study that needed to be done.

The  Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Fee Study was designed to evaluate the amount of funding needed to administer a high-performing, efficient HCV Program based on direct measurement of the work actually performed by HCV administrators and a detailed collection of overhead and nonlabor costs associated with the program at a sample of 60 high-performing PHAs. 

Through a very detailed and methodical approach, this study captured all costs incurred (labor, nonlabor, direct, indirect, overhead costs) at a broad sample of 60 PHAs operating high-performing and efficient HCV programs across the country between 2012 and 2014. Through an innovative use of Random Moment Sampling, the study directly measured the time PHA staff spent on the HCV Program overall and on core program activities, collecting 581,000 

data points from more than 900 PHA employees. The study used these data to model the total administrative cost per HCV for each PHA in the study, as well as costs for the major tasks involved in HCV administration at different types of PHAs operating in different labor and housing markets and serving different client populations. 

Data and Analytic Support 

Critical to using the results in the study to develop a new formula for determining the appropriate amount of funding was to establish what the relationship is between data reported by PHAs, such as whom they serve and where they serve them, with the data collected from the 60 PHAs. PD&R staff maintain these data and worked with the research team to identify the administrative data that were the best predictors of cost.

After analyzing over 50 cost variables with theoretical and statistical relationships to the costs measured, the study proposed a new administrative fee formula based on seven cost drivers that cover the actual costs to administer the HCV Program. The study’s recommended formula accurately predicts 63 percent of the variance in agency costs among the 60 PHAs studied, whereas the current formula predicts only 33 percent of the variance in agency costs.

28   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Informing Policy

The study found overall that the HCV Program is significantly underfunded. For the July 2013-through-June 2014 

period, the fees received by the average PHA covered only 77 percent of the estimated cost to administer the program.

The study also showed that the funds could be more efficiently targeted using the recommended formula from the study. Using the study results, HUD published a proposed rule to change the HCV administrative fee formula to reflect the study findings.

This study shows how a scientific and robust research, 

designed and implemented by PD&R, has answered two 

critical questions for the nation’s largest housing assistance 

program: (1) How much would be needed annually to 

fund HCV Program appropriately? (2) How should those 

funds be allocated to individual PHAs? PD&R developed 

evidence, incorporated input from a diverse array of expert 

and industry technical reviewers, incorporated public 

comment, and worked with key PIH staff to support an 

increased budget request for administrative fees and develop 

a proposed rule that would improve the allocation of HCV 

Program funding and improve program operations.

“The Administrative Fee Study provided us with the hard data and analysis we need to show how much it really cost to administer our largest housing assistance program and the changes we need to make for the administrative fee formula to reflect those actual costs.”  

– Michael Dennis,  

Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD

29   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

POLICY

PD&R provides policy advice and support 

for program and policy design and 

to the Secretary and program offices. 

implementation and for new initiatives. 

PD&R’s deep knowledge of HUD 

The following sections outline excerpts of 

programs, history, policy and research 

work in this arena. 

means it serves as a cross-HUD resource 

HUDSTAT

The Government Performance and Results 

sometimes from partner agencies, attend 

Act Modernization Act of 2010 calls upon 

these meetings to address challenges, 

agencies to use evaluation and research 

review metrics, improve internal and 

to identify evidence-based strategies for 

external collaboration, and increase 

reaching intended objectives. PD&R’s 

performance. PD&R made significant 

research and evaluation program focuses 

contributions to the assessments of progress 

on HUD’s strategies for achieving its 

in achieving strategic objectives during 

strategic goals. One way that PD&R 

the past 2 years. Contributions include the 

contributes evidence to achieving the 

provision of data to measure key metrics 

Department’s goals is through HUDStat.

such as rates of severe rent burdens and 

affordable housing construction. Research 

HUD conducts regular data-driven 

evidence is essential to conversations about 

performance reviews—HUDStat 

moving the needle on key metrics. For 

meetings—that focus on quarterly progress 

example, PD&R developed metrics to 

toward achieving each of HUD’s priority 

assess whether HUD-assisted children live 

goals. The Secretary and senior leadership 

in neighborhoods with proficient schools.

from throughout the agency, and 

HOUSING AND EDUCATION

A continued focus at HUD is the 

1.  Leveraging public and private 

importance of housing as a platform 

partnerships that support educational 

for healthy child development and 

attainment of residents, improve 

upward mobility. HUD has moved more 

access to high-quality educational 

robustly into that space, and PD&R has 

materials and college preparation 

been a thought partner in that effort. 

resources, and gather and disseminate 

In recognition of the importance of 

best practices to the field. HUD has 

education, HUD established an agency 

signed several Memorandums of 

priority goal of improving the educational 

Understanding (MOUs) with private 

attainment of HUD-assisted residents. 

partners (The Campaign for Grade 

In order to meet the goal, PD&R has 

Level Reading, Bill & Melinda Gates 

partnered across the Department on three 

Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, 

major work streams.

Learning for Life, and First Book) 

that have increased residents’ access to 

educational materials and PHAs’ and 

housing owners’ capacity to implement 

education strategies.

30   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

2.  Increasing coordination with 

approaches to increase HUD residents’ 

federal partners (such as the U.S. 

completion of the FAFSA and access to 

Department of Education) to develop 

higher education. (See  IMPACT IN 

interagency strategies and improve work 

ACTION for further discussion). 

in the field.

Second, PD&R is advising HUD in the 

3.  Encouraging data sharing and 

development of a “local data sharing 

research between housing providers 

road map,” which will offer 

and education systems to better 

communities a guide to how they can 

understand residents’ educational needs 

better understand the educational 

and the impact of strategies to address 

performance of children in assisted 

them. First, PD&R coordinated a 

housing and better target data-driven 

signed data sharing agreement with the 

interventions.

Department of Education’s Federal 

Student Aid office that permits HUD 

to better understand rates of Free 

Application for Federal Student Aid 

(FAFSA) completion and other 

outcomes among HUD-assisted youth 

and young adults. Building off this 

agreement, PD&R has launched 

experiments and an education navigator 

program funded by ROSS to test 

31   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

IMPACT IN ACTION:

INCREASING COMPLETION RATES OF THE FREE APPLICATION FOR 

FEDERAL STUDENT AID AMONG HUD-ASSISTED YOUTH

Another data matching success has helped HUD learn more about whether assisted residents are applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and pursuing higher education. PD&R, in partnership with the Social and Behavioral Sciences Team (SBST) and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) has completed its first inhouse, low-cost, large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT). The goals of this project were to (1) nudge HUD-assisted youth ages 17 to 20 in households receiving housing choice vouchers (HCVs) to complete the FAFSA and (2) explore PD&R’s capacity to conduct inhouse research and collaborate with other agencies.

Completing the FAFSA is a complex process, but it is also a necessary process in order to receive federal student financial aid. Unfortunately, many youth and young adults who qualify for financial aid never receive it because they simply fail to complete a FAFSA. Using insights from the social and behavioral sciences, PD&R, SBST, and FSA designed a series of nine mailings that varied in sender, content, and format to test whether this approach could increase FAFSA completion rates among HUD-assisted youth. Mailings either incorporated FSA’s logo or First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative (sender); included standard language from FSA or a personal note from the First Lady (content); and were formatted as a standard letter, standard letter with a paper FAFSA application, or postcard (format).

In March 2016, approximately 45,000 mailings (5,000 of each type) were sent across the country to randomly selected youth ages 17 to 20 in HCV households. FAFSA completion rates were assessed in August 2016 using HUD-FSA linked administrative data; completion rates in the nine groups were compared with completion rates in a control group of approximately 158,000 youth in HCV households who did not receive a mailing. Preliminary analysis found no significant effect of sending mailings on the rate of FAFSA completions, although the most effective sender was the First Lady using her personal story and the most effective format was the letter including the paper FAFSA.

Although this first experiment had no significant effects, this was over all a success for PD&R. This was the first large-scale RCT HUD has ever conducted fully inhouse, and from project conception to results the entire experiment was conducted in a year. Importantly, this also demonstrated PD&R’s ability to effectively work with partner agencies and link administrative data to support research, and PD&R has moved forward with two additional experiments.

32   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PROSPERITY PLAYBOOK

As recent research has made evident, there 

residents, philanthropists, developers, 

are still many communities in all regions 

and advocates—from across each region 

of the country where upward mobility is 

shared input. These diverse voices are 

thwarted—where a child’s future earnings 

critical to the success of Prosperity 

and adult outcomes are significantly 

Playbook as HUD leverages and 

impeded by the neighborhoods in 

strengthens current partnerships in the 

which they live. Findings from that 

region to accelerate existing activities, 

research support a balanced approach of 

amplify the impact of that action 

empowering economic mobility while 

across the region, and catalyze other 

also reinvesting in and developing access 

communities across the country to act. 

to opportunity in neighborhoods. That is 

These communities have each kicked 

why HUD, in collaboration with partner 

off work plans on key issues to move 

organizations at the local and national 

forward with support from HUD.

levels, launched a new initiative early in 

2.  Online toolkit.  As a result of the 

2016 called Prosperity Playbook. Through 

ongoing work in each of the initial 

Prosperity Playbook, HUD is partnering 

contributing regions, Prosperity 

with a handful of cities and their 

Playbook includes, among other new 

surrounding regions to plug into existing 

resources, an online toolkit of curated 

efforts that address expanding economic 

case studies and best practice that 

mobility and housing affordability. 

support the objectives of the initiative. 

The partners’ objectives are to (1) learn 

The toolkit can be accessed on 

from communities that are already 

huduser.gov.

engaging and innovating in these areas 

and (2) collaborate with communities in 

3.  Community of Practice.  Recognizing 

highlighting and amplifying promising 

the value of local leadership and the 

approaches.

innovative ideas at the community 

level, Prosperity Playbook serves as a 

Prosperity Playbook fully recognizes the 

platform for exchange between cities 

value of local leadership and local ideas 

and between HUD and local partners. 

as well as the need to create a platform to 

As part of this effort, the Prosperity 

share those ideas across regions and across 

Playbook Community of Practice 

the country. Prosperity Playbook has three 

is a network of leaders dedicated to 

major components.

addressing the fundamental equity 

considerations that are at the forefront 

1.  Regional convenings.  Prosperity 

of the challenges in their cities. This 

Playbook kicked off with a community 

active network will be a resource to its 

tour to the initial five contributing 

members, not only to share the great 

places: the Kansas City, Missouri 

work taking place across the country 

region; the Twin Cities region of 

but also to serve as a bridge to the next 

Minnesota; the Greater Atlanta, 

Administration and ensure that HUD 

Georgia region; the Denver, Colorado 

and its partners continue to build upon 

region; and the San Francisco Bay Area 

their progress.

in California. At each of these sessions, 

moderated by Assistant Secretary 

Katherine M. O’Regan and Principal 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Harriet 

Tregoning, stakeholders—mayors, 

33   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Collaboration is the foundation of 

PD&R has played an integral role in 

Prosperity Playbook. In addition to the 

Prosperity Playbook—from providing 

mayors and diverse stakeholders who have 

policy advice to frame the initial concept, 

signed on to support Prosperity Playbook 

to leadership by Assistant Secretary 

in their region, the initiative is also 

O’Regan and former Policy Deputy 

supported by a team of national partners: 

Assistant Secretary Lynn Ross, to hosting 

the American Planning Association, 

and updating the toolkit (led by the 

Enterprise Community Partners, the 

Office of International and Philanthropic 

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and the 

Innovation [IPI]) on huduser.gov.

National League of Cities. 

ROLE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS

Using evidence-based approaches in 

PD&R is essential to the Department’s 

the budget-making process can lead 

regulatory efforts. Every proposed and final 

to important gains in areas ranging 

rule HUD puts forward must be 

from reducing veterans’ homelessness 

accompanied by a Regulatory Impact 

to improving educational outcomes. 

Analysis (RIA). The RIA includes an 

The FY 2017 budget proposed to take 

analysis of direct and indirect economic 

additional evidence-based approaches 

impacts, a quantification of nonmarket 

to scale. It also strengthened the base 

costs and benefits, a discussion of the need 

of available evidence to enable future 

for the policy, an analysis of alternative 

Administrations and the Congress, as well 

regulatory actions considered, and in some 

as state, local, and tribal leaders, to drive 

cases, an analysis if the impact on small 

even more resources to policies backed 

entities. The completion of an RIA requires 

by strong evidence. PD&R is essential 

coordination with HUD program offices, 

to that process—PD&R partners and 

the Office of General Counsel, other 

advises program offices on their budget 

agencies, and the Office of Management 

requests to ensure they are informed by 

and Budget (OMB). This effort is led by 

evidence. PD&R provided dashboards of a 

the Economic Development and Public 

variety of demographic and programmatic 

Finance Division in PD&R’s Office of 

information to support requests for 

Economic Affairs and is a key example of 

funding in a variety of areas.

PD&R’s central and cross-Departmental 

role in policymaking. In addition, PD&R 

reviews the rules of other agencies that may 

affect housing or mortgage markets when 

requested by OMB.

34   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

IMPACT IN ACTION:

SMALL AREA FAIR MARKET RENTS 

PD&R’s work on Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) is an example of taking its expertise on data into policy action. A critical component of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is the opportunity for families with a voucher to select the neighborhood and housing unit they wish to live in within the financial limits of the subsidy the HCV provides. The amount of the subsidy is determined by several factors including the family’s income, and the payment standard set by the PHA administering the HCV, which is based on the Fair Market Rent (FMR) calculated by PD&R.

FMRs are gross rent estimates of rent plus necessary utilities. HUD sets FMRs to assure that a sufficient supply of rental housing is available to program participants. To accomplish this objective, FMRs must be both high enough to permit a selection of units and neighborhoods and low enough to serve as many low-income families as possible. 

Currently they are set at the 40th percentile—which should give families access to 40 percent of standard quality units in the metropolitan area. However, these units may not be located across all portions of an FMR area. In practice, there may be few rental units in high-opportunity neighborhoods with commensurate high rental rates that HCV holders can afford. If one were to step back and design the HCV Program today utilizing advances in data collection techniques and availability of such data, coupled with the knowledge that rental housing market conditions vary by neighborhood, it is unlikely that the design would include a single FMR for an entire metropolitan area. 

However, due to data limitations at the onset of FMR calculations, that was the most precise measurement available. 

HUD reexamined its FMR calculations in 2010 based on the advent of the 5-year American Community Survey data aggregations as a replacement for the decennial census long-form survey. This new data source provides researchers with long-form survey detail but is updated annually instead of decennially. Annually updated data at this granular level enabled HUD to zoom in from the metropolitan level and instead calculate FMRs by ZIP Codes due to their nearly universal availability and ease of understandability. These new FMRs are SAFMRs. 

HUD recognized using SAFMRs to set payment standards represents a fundamentally different way of operating the HCV Program in metropolitan areas; therefore, HUD is testing SAFMRs through a demonstration program to better understand the programmatic impacts of changing the way HCV payment standards are set. HUD created a random selection algorithm to select PHAs to be offered the opportunity to participate in the demonstration. Five PHAs accepted HUD’s offer to participate and used SAFMRs in their HCV Program operations from FY 2013 to FY 2016. 

In addition to the five demonstration PHAs, housing authorities across the Dallas, TX HUD Metro FMR area have been using SAFMRs since FY 2011 as part of a fair housing lawsuit settlement. HUD has reviewed promising research from Dallas that demonstrates tenants are choosing and able to move to areas with less crime and lower poverty. Coupling this research with findings from Raj Chetty on the benefits to children’s lifetime outcomes of living in low-poverty neighborhoods, HUD began the process of expanding the use of SAFMRs to targeted areas where a significant portion of voucher holders live in high-poverty areas and where SAMFRs might help families access better neighborhoods.

In 2015, HUD published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to begin the process of expanding SAFMR 

usage. Based on the comments received on the advanced notice, and HUD’s continued experience with SAFMRs, HUD published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in June of 2016. HUD hopes to complete the rulemaking in the near future and is committed to delivering a final rule that improves voucher holders’ ability to access higher-opportunity areas in the places where HCV households are particularly concentrated in high poverty neighborhoods, and SAFMRs are most likely to be effective while taking into account the public comments provided on the proposed rule.

35   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

3  How Work Is Funded

The core of PD&R’s funding is 

for the next several decades. Prior to this 

appropriated through what is called 

infusion of funding, the National Research 

the Research and Technology (R&T) 

Council’s 2008 evaluation of PD&R, 

account. This core R&T funding 

Rebuilding the Research Capacity at HUD, 

establishes the nation’s basic infrastructure 

pointed to the inadequacy of evaluation 

of housing data and research, through 

resources, limited to R&T, for informing 

regular surveys, data compilation of 

the Department on how to invest program 

HUD’s administrative data across all 

resources with the greatest effectiveness, 

of HUD’s programs, core research and 

efficiency, accountability, and innovation. 

evaluation in the areas of housing and 

The FY 2010 TI resources were an answer 

community development, and public 

to the call from the National Research 

dissemination of the data and research.

Council for more research and evaluation 

resources.

From FY 2010 to FY 2014, additional 

funds were appropriated for research, 

However, beginning in FY 2015 and 

evaluation, and demonstration under a 

continuing in FY 2016, no funds were 

separate account: HUD’s Transformation 

appropriated for TI and instead research, 

Initiative (TI) account. The TI account 

evaluations, and demonstrations were 

was initially established as a percentage 

funded from a modest increase to the 

amount of program fund dollars to 

R&T account. Acknowledging the 

serve as a predictable, flexible stream of 

discontinuation of the TI account, the 

funding – the kind that is ideal for high-

President’s FY 2017 budget request 

quality research and evaluation projects 

supports a well-planned, rigorous, 

and program demonstrations that inform 

sustained, and effective evaluation program 

sound policymaking and effective program 

through a percentage set-aside of program 

implementation. The first year of TI, 

account funds being allocated to the R&T 

FY 2010, was an important moment in 

account.

PD&R’s history because it provided a 

large infusion of funding to support the 

The following graph shows the history 

of PD&R for research, evaluations, and 

complex and important research studies 

demonstrations from FY 2008 through 

that will inform national housing policy 

FY 2016.

36   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

A CLOSER LOOK

development. Taking this longer view—

The Impact of the Transformation 

studying enduring policy questions that bridge 

Initiative

Administrations—is one of the most important 

roles that a policy research office within a 

Large-scale studies, employing the rigorous 

federal agency, such as PD&R, can assume. 

methodologies needed for causal inference, are 

Doing so requires the investment of both 

the primary projects PD&R has dedicated its 

resources and time, along with the appropriate 

increase in research and evaluation funding—a 

high-quality methodology, to measure efficacy 

marked change from previous decades. PD&R 

and impacts.

has initiated seven large-scale, multiyear studies 

since 2009, each expected to cost more than 

It is important to note that Transformation 

$5 million: the  Family Self-Sufficiency Program 

Initiative (the infusion of $135 million in 

Evaluation; Pre-Purchase Homeownership 

funding PD&R received from 2010 through 

Counseling Demonstration and Impact 

2014) enabled PD&R to launch these studies. 

Evaluation;  the  Family Options Study; Rent 

The level of funding provided for research and 

Reform Demonstration; Housing Discrimination 

demonstrations through PD&R’s typical annual 

Study; Housing Choice Voucher Program 

appropriations has been insufficient to launch 

Administrative Fee Study;  and  Assessment of 

these types of large-scale, ambitious projects; they 

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native 

were possible only through significant infusions 

Hawaiian Housing Needs.  

of funding (or much greater average annual 

appropriations). The fact that findings from these 

Combined, these studies represent two-thirds 

studies are highlighted throughout this report as 

of PD&R’s funding for research and evaluation 

some of PD&R’s most impactful work reinforces 

since 2009. They aim to answer fundamental 

the importance of such funding infusions for 

questions about policy effectiveness and 

building evidence that informs policy. 

impact, the type needed for long-term policy 

In FY 2015, Congress appropriated $50 

Congress enacted $60 million in R&T 

million in core R&T funds for PD&R. 

funds for PD&R. In addition, there was a 

In addition, there was a $2.744 million 

$10.872 million carryover, recaptured and 

carryover, for a total of $52.744 million. 

reimbursed funds, for a total of $70,872 

A great portion of the core R&T funding 

million. The following table details actual 

was used for housing surveys, including 

obligations for FY 2015 and projected 

the AHS. The core R&T account also 

obligations for FY 2016.

funds four other housing surveys and 

knowledge management. In FY 2016, 

37   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY OBLIGATIONS

Dollars in Thousands

FY 2015 

FY 2016 

(ACTUAL)

(PROJECTED)

Core research and technology (R&T)

$33,082

$47,891

Knowledge management/research support

5,778

6,396

Program metrics/urban data

1,742

2,167

Housing finance studies

299

0

Research partnerships

1,504

476

Housing technology

218

252

Research, evaluations, and demonstrations

1,999

4,169

Pay for Success evaluation

0

1,000

Total core R&T

$44,622

$62,351a,b

FY = fiscal year.

a Recaptured and reimbursed funds included.

b Projected carryover of $8.521.

RESEARCH, EVALUATIONS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OBLIGATIONS IN 

THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNT

Dollars In Thousands

FY 2015 

FY 2016 

(ACTUAL)

(PROJECTED)

Pre-Purchase Counseling

$1,999

$127

Sustainable Mobility

0

322

Multidisciplinary Research Team

0

220

Accelerating Disaster Recovery

0

1,000

FAFSA Outreach

0

100

Evaluations of Energy Performance in Public Housing

0

400

Homeless Youth Research

0

2,000

Total

$1,999

$4,169

FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

FY = fiscal year.

38   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAM

The Multidisciplinary Research Team  •  Opting In, Opting Out A Decade Later: (MDRT) is an ongoing contract 

Multifamily Housing Preservation 

initiated in 2014 to manage a team of 

Study—Study of multifamily housing 

qualified researchers to expand the ability 

preservation, rates of prepayment, and 

of PD&R to obtain high-quality, short-

opting out of HUD assistance contracts 

turnaround research to help support 

using administrative data; updates 2006 

“Opting in, Opting Out” study. 

HUD’s priority policies and goals. The 

MDRT is unique in that the research 

•   Effect of Qualified Al ocation Plan (QAP) 

is intended to be produced in a timelier 

Incentives on the Location of LIHTC 

manner, as opposed to PD&R’s larger 

Properties—Examines whether and how 

research contracts that typically have 

the features of state QAPs shape the 

siting patterns of LIHTC developments.

longer time horizons for completion.

•   The Quality of America’s Assisted Housing 

Projects completed through MDRT 

Stock: Analysis of the 2011 and 2013 

include— 

American Housing Survey—Analysis of 

housing quality in public and assisted 

•   Picture of Disability and Designated 

housing using HUD tenant identifiers in 

Housing—Analysis of need and 

the AHS. 

availability of accessible housing 

for HUD-assisted households with 

•   Exploratory Study of Project-Based Rental 

disabilities using HUD program data 

Assistance (PBRA)—A study exploring 

and ACS data. 

HUD administrative data to inform the 

design of a future evaluation of PBRA 

•   Accessibility of America’s Housing Stock: 

Transfer Authority.

Analysis of the 2011 AHS—Analysis of 

accessibility of U.S. housing stock by 

Learn more about MDRT and access 

housing market characteristics as well as 

published reports on huduser.gov at https://

resident characteristics using core data 

www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/

and special accessibility module of the 

mdrt_reports.html

2011 AHS. 

DATA LICENSES

PD&R inaugurated a data license 

sustainable and inclusive communities, and 

program in 2014 to provide HUD 

HUD assets). Such licenses are appropriate 

an innovative vehicle for low cost-high 

when (1) important policy-relevant 

return research investments. Given the 

research questions can be answered only by 

authority to enter into a Data License 

using, among other resources, personally 

Agreement with research organizations identifiable information in the possession 

for the explicit purpose of conducting 

of HUD; (2) the research organization 

research projects that inform HUD’s 

can offer adequate safeguards for the 

policies and programs, PD&R approved 

confidentiality of the data if HUD shares 

32 licenses for FY 2015 and 2016. With 

the data with that organization; (3) the 

no out-of-pocket cost, these agreements 

research organization does not need 

leverage a large amount of research aligned 

funding or other resources from HUD 

with PD&R’s current research agenda (for 

to carry out the research project; (4) the 

example, homeownership and housing 

research organization will destroy all 

finance, affordable rental housing, housing 

personally identifiable information received 

as a platform for improving quality of life, 

from HUD at the expiration of the license.

39   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

INHOUSE RESEARCH

PD&R also advanced its research 

•  Tribal HUD-VASH.  FY 2015 

agenda in FY 2015–2016 by beginning 

appropriations allocated $4 million for a 

long-term inhouse research projects prior 

rental assistance and supportive housing 

to receiving annual appropriations to 

demonstration program for Native 

launch the major evaluations. This strategy 

American veterans who are homeless 

enabled staff to gain valuable expertise and 

or at risk of homelessness living on or 

near a reservation or other Indian areas. 

begin projects more quickly. Two examples 

Although the appropriation did not 

of projects undertaken include—

set aside funds for an evaluation of the 

•  Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs) 

demonstration, all participating Tribally 

are a vehicle by which PHAs can fund 

Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) 

utility-related improvements to the 

have agreed to cooperate in an evaluation 

capital stock of their projects, borrowing 

consistent with HUD’s congressional 

against future utility subsidies that will 

mandate to ensure that supportive 

not have to be paid if the improvements 

services are effectively delivered to 

are made. PD&R staff conducted a pilot 

Native American veterans and to better 

review of the effectiveness and value of 

understand how rental assistance is being 

the program at nine sites. The authors 

utilized by grantees. PD&R is actively 

found that a majority of the study’s 

collaborating with HUD’s Office of 

PHAs felt that their executed EPCs were 

Native American Programs and the 

beneficial, but that these findings might 

VA to analyze program successes and 

not have been completely representative 

obstacles on the road toward ending 

of PHAs that have executed an EPC 

veteran homelessness in Indian country. 

and that utility savings are difficult 

As part of this inhouse research strategy, 

to quantify using existing data 

PD&R assisted in designing a modified 

collection methods. The research team 

form to specially track Tribal HUD-

recommended an advisory panel of PHAs 

VASH administrative data. Future 

that have successfully used the program 

analysis may leverage opportunities to 

to assist new applicants, thereby reducing 

link these data to VA administrative 

application review time, the modification 

records to better understand the needs 

of existing data collection efforts, and a 

and trajectories of those served. Staff also 

national evaluation of the program.

visited three TDHE participants in the 

early stages of implementation to gain a 

better understanding of local variation 

in program approaches, with plans 

to conduct additional site visits as the 

program matures.

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS

The Consolidated Appropriations 

Through Research Partnerships, PD&R is 

Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114–53, 

better able to—

approved December 11, 2015) FY 2016 

appropriation authorizes PD&R to enter 

•  Direct funds to research that meets 

Department needs and priorities.

into noncompetitive cooperative agreements 

for research projects that are aligned with 

•  Translate research findings into lessons 

PD&R’s research priorities and that will help 

for policy. 

inform HUD’s policies and programs. These 

•  Maximize HUD’s data by enabling 

projects are cal ed “Research Partnerships.”

researchers to revisit them. 

40   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

•  Source local findings with potential 

single-family and multifamily housing 

national applicability.

finance in a reformed housing finance 

•  Share the cost of research.

system.

The two primary documents that 

2.   Affordable quality rental housing.  HUD 

provide a framework for HUD’s research 

is interested in research that improves 

priorities are HUD’s Strategic Plan, which 

the efficiency and effectiveness of 

specifies the Department’s mission and 

HUD’s housing programs (for example, 

strategic goals for program activities, 

public housing, HCVs, assisted 

and the  HUD Research Roadmap, which 

multifamily programs, and Federal 

is PD&R’s research agenda. PD&R 

Housing Administration insurance), 

developed and published this research 

which include, but are not limited 

agenda to focus research resources on 

to (a) improving program operations 

timely, policy-relevant research questions 

and responses to changing market 

that lie within the Department’s area of 

conditions, (b) identifying rent subsidy 

comparative advantage. This focus on 

approaches that could more efficiently 

comparative advantage has a corollary, 

and beneficially meet the full range 

which is the accompanying need for 

of housing needs, and (c) better 

PD&R to collaborate with other research 

understanding how HUD’s programs 

organizations to support their comparative 

are affected by tenant and landlord 

advantage in areas that are mutually 

behavior

important. See page 6.

3.   Housing as a platform for improving 

quality of life.  HUD is interested in 

The authority that Congress provided 

how HUD-provided housing assistance 

HUD to enter into noncompetitive 

can be best used to improve quality 

cooperative agreements for research is a 

of life, including, but not limited to 

central tool for fulfilling the Roadmap’s 

(a) improving educational outcomes 

vision for research collaboration. Projects 

and early learning and development; 

inform important policy and program 

(b) improving health outcomes; (c) 

objectives of HUD that are not otherwise 

increasing economic security and self-

being addressed and that focus on one of 

sufficiency; and (d) improving housing 

HUD’s research priorities, including—

stability for vulnerable populations, 

1.   Strengthening housing markets: 

including elderly people, people with 

homeownership and housing finance.  

disabilities, homeless families and 

HUD is interested in research in 

individuals, and those individuals and 

many areas of homeownership and 

families at risk of becoming homeless.

housing finance, which include, 

4.   Resilient and inclusive communities.  

but are not limited to (a) improving 

HUD’s goal of advancing resilient and 

outcomes for struggling homeowners 

inclusive communities seeks innovative 

and communities in the areas of 

and transformational evidence-based 

foreclosures, mortgage modification 

approaches to deal with longstanding 

protocols, and real-estate owned 

and emerging community development 

properties; (b) finding ways that are 

challenges in suburban, rural, and tribal 

safer for both borrowers and lenders 

areas. HUD is interested in research 

to extend mortgage credit to first-

questions such as, but not limited to 

time homebuyers and homeowners 

(a) leveraging cost-effective housing 

with less-than-stellar credit; and (c) 

technology in HUD-funded housing 

updating federal support structures for 

or other housing to accomplish key 

41   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

HUD priority goals; (b) understanding 

5.   HUD assets.  HUD has made, and 

and addressing persistent segregation 

continues to make, significant 

along racial, ethnic, and economic 

investments in research assets, 

lines, including the role of promising 

including program demonstrations 

community development and 

and data sets, that PD&R is interested 

housing strategies for strengthening 

in seeing leveraged in ways that may, 

communities; (c) strengthening 

or may not, be specifically referenced 

community resilience in the face of 

in the  Research Roadmap or HUD’s 

climate change, disasters, pestilence, 

Strategic Plan. Such studies demonstrate 

and energy shocks; and (d) improving 

a broader usefulness of HUD’s research 

integrated and regional planning for 

assets that further increases the return 

cross-agency alignment, such as land 

on these investments for the taxpayer.

use and transportation.

Research Partnerships: Completed and in-Progress Efforts

TITLE

PARTNER

STATUS

Aging in Place: Managing the Use of Reverse 

Mortgages to Enable Housing Stability

The Ohio State University 

In progress 

Bringing Life Course Home: Improving 

Health Through Housing Stability and 

Boston Medical Center, 

Support

Boston University 

In progress 

Brokering the Geography of Opportunity: 

How Landlords Affect Access to Housing 

Johns Hopkins University, 

and Neighborhood Quality Among HUD 

Harvard University 

In progress 

Assisted Renters 

Chicago Regional Housing Choice Initiative 

Evaluation

RAND Corporation 

Completed April 

2016 

Coming Home: An Evaluation of NYCHA’s 

Family Reentry Pilot

Vera Institute for Justice 

In progress

Evaluation of Innovative Family Self-

Sufficiency (FSS) Programs Administered by 

the Nonprofit Working Capital Compass in  Abt Associates 

In progress

Partnership with the Massachusetts Public 

Housing Authority

High Cost Lending in Rural America and 

Middlebury College, U.S. 

Completed 

the Great Recession

Department of Agriculture 

Economic Research Service  January 2014

HOPE VI: Data Compilation and Analysis

Case Western University

Completing 

closeout

Housing Tenure, Disaster, Damage and 

Displacement: An Analysis of the New 

Orleans American Housing Survey 2004–

Brown University

In progress

2009

How Housing Affects Young Children

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg 

School of Public Health

In progress

New York City Center for 

Economic Opportunity 

Jobs-Plus Cost Study

Social Innovation Fund 

Completed 

(CEO SIF), Mayor’s Fund to  November 2016

Advance New York City

42   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Research Partnerships: Completed and in-Progress Efforts (cont) TITLE

PARTNER

STATUS

Light-Gauge Cold-Formed Steel Framed 

University of California San  Completing 

Building Shake Table Test Program

Diego

closeout

Mining MTO: Housing Assistance Leavers 

and Vulnerable Female Youth

Urban Institute

Completed 

February 2014

Modeling Temporary, Interim, and 

Permanent Housing Demand & Capacity for  Old Dominion University In progress

Medically Fragile and Vulnerable Population

Moving to Opportunity: Platform to 

Improve Health

Johns Hopkins University

In progress

Relationship Between Receipt of Housing 

Washington State 

Assistance and Social Health

Department of Social and 

In progress

Health Services

Rental Data: Improving Renter’s Security 

Policy Economic Research 

through Credit Reporting Payment Data

Council (PERC)

In progress

Rethinking FSS: A Plan for Building More 

Evidence on What Works to Improve 

Employment Outcomes and Economic 

MRDC

Completed 

Security for Recipients of Section 8 Housing 

January 2015

Choice Vouchers— Resubmission

The Economic Boom in Eagle Shale: Impacts 

on Accessible and Affordable Housing for the  University of Texas San Vulnerable Populations

Antonio

In progress

The High Cost of Cities, Gentrification and 

Voucher Use: Exploring Access to Quality 

New York University- 

Homes and Neighborhoods

Furman Center

In progress

The Housing Opportunity and Services 

Together (HOST II) Demonstration

Urban Institute

In progress

The Housing Opportunity and Services 

Together (HOST) Demonstration

Urban Institute

Completed June 

2014

The Impact of Children’s Housing on Their 

Long-Term Economic Outcomes: Linking 

Intergenerational Labor Market Outcomes, 

University of Maryland, 

Completing 

Residential Mobility, and Neighborhood 

Census Bureau, Harvard 

closeout

Quality for Households Receiving Housing 

University

Assistance

Understanding the Market for Reverse 

Mortgages

Columbia University

In progress

Using Parcel and Household Data to 

Evaluate the Low- Income Housing Tax 

University of Florida 

Credit and Housing Choice Voucher 

Shimberg Center for 

In progress

Programs: Transportation, Crime, Education  Housing Studies

and Tenant Choice

Voices of Youth

Chapin Hall at the 

University of Chicago

In progress

43   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

4  How PD&R Shares

PD&R’S OUTREACH AND DISSEMINATION

PD&R continues to innovate the 

Internally, one of the ways PD&R meets 

way it disseminates research and 

these goals is by operating the HUD 

reach out to its stakeholders, using 

library. The HUD library facilitates 

cutting-edge communication vehicles 

research and analysis for the entire 

and technology. Over the past 2 years, 

Department. It assists members of HUD 

PD&R has continued to expand 

staff in developing thorough, well-

outreach and dissemination efforts with 

informed policies that improve the quality 

an eye toward achieving four goals: (1) 

of life for every American. The HUD 

sharing information, research findings, 

library provides access to electronic and 

and best practices; (2) translating 

print research materials to help employees 

housing and urban development policy 

further the mission of HUD.

and research to improve practice; (3) 

increasing the availability of high-

Externally, PD&R meets its outreach 

quality research on issues of housing 

and dissemination goals through HUD 

and community developments; and (4) 

User, PD&R mobile and social media, 

ensuring stakeholders have quick access to 

convenings, periodicals (on line and in 

information on a variety of platforms.

print), a competition, and several awards.

HUD User

At the core of PD&R’s dissemination 

flow. The HUD User website is updated 

work is huduser.gov, through which all 

regularly with the latest publication and 

of PD&R’s research and communication 

data releases. 

HUD User Usage FY 2015–2016

FY 2013 

FY 2014 

FY 2015 

FY 2016 

(ACTUAL)

(ACTUAL)

(ACTUAL)

(ESTIMATE)

Total number of downloads

14.5 million

16.9 million

17.8 million

18.4 million

Average downloads per 

month

13 million

1.4 million

1.5 million

1.5 million

Number of visits per month

625,794

913,417

625,278

634,576

Orders processed

1,133

1,025

830

680

Publications disseminated

77,218

87,000

78,848

103,557

44   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Number of Downloads From HUD User by Fiscal Year (in millions)

PD&R MOBILE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

In addition to its mobile apps,  Fair Market 

and LinkedIn. During PD&R events such 

Rent and Income Limits and  The Edge, 

as the Quarterly Updates, live conversation 

PD&R has also expanded its social media 

occurs via Twitter, and those viewing 

presence over the past 2 years. PD&R has 

the webcast are encouraged to submit 

a growing presence on Facebook, Twitter, 

questions using Twitter or e-mail.

HUD User Facebook Likes by Fiscal Year

45   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

HUD User Twitter Followers by Year

PD&R also coordinates with housing, 

bloggers to leverage content from huduser.

planning, and community development 

gov on external blogs.

CONVENINGS

Not only does PD&R regularly host a 

•  PD&R Quarterly Updates.  PD&R 

number of events, but PD&R is also 

Quarterly Updates highlight economic 

represented at partner events through 

and housing market changes and include 

staff participation and exhibiting. During 

a focused panel discussion on current 

FY 2015–2016, PD&R engaged in 

issues in housing and community 

the following conferences, events, and 

development. The Quarterly Updates are 

often held in conjunction with a recent 

convenings.

issue of  Evidence Matters. The events 

are attended by a range of HUD staff as 

well as external stakeholders. To make 

the events even more accessible, the 

Quarterly Updates are webcast live, then 

archived and made available for viewing 

at a later date on huduser.gov.

•  Expert Convenings. The topics for 

which HUD may seek expert input 

include performance metrics, current 

thinking, or past experiences that 

can help improve policy and manage 

programs more effectively and ways 

HUD can increase its accountability and 

ensure effective use of public resources. 

HUD produces a written summary 

of the results of these forums and the 

practical advice they generate.

46   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PD&R Convenings

EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

PARTNERS

How Housing Matters

October 16, 

The Building  The MacArthur Foundation 

2014

Museum

and the Urban Institute

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

Effects of Housing and 

October 23, 

HUD 

Neighborhood on Children

2014

Headquarters

Expert Convening:  

Assessment Tools for Allocating  November 5, 

HUD 

National Alliance to End 

Homelessness Assistance: State 

2014

Headquarters Homelessness

of the Evidence

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

Community Recovery and 

January 9, 

HUD 

Resilience

2015

Headquarters

Expert Convening:  

March 19, 

HUD 

Rent Reform Demonstration

2015

Headquarters MDRC

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

March 24, 

HUD 

Native American Housing

2015

Headquarters

Expert Convening:  

The Housing Affordability 

Habitat for Humanity 

Opportunity: Lowering Costs 

April 7, 2015

HUD 

Headquarters International and Enterprise 

and Expanding Supply

Community Partners

Expert Convening:  

Housing Choice Voucher 

Program Administrative Fee 

April 17, 2015

HUD 

Headquarters

Study Public Briefing

The Innovation in Affordable 

Housing Student Design and 

Planning Competition Awards 

April 21, 2015

HUD 

Headquarters

Presentation

Expert Convening:  

An Integrated View of Federal 

May 7, 2015

HUD 

Housing Program Costs

Headquarters

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

Investing in People and Places 

June 25, 2015

HUD 

for Upward Mobility

Headquarters

The Family Options Study: 

18-Month Outcomes

July 8, 2015

HUD 

Headquarters

Expert Convening:  

The National ConnectHome 

August 18–19,  HUD 

White House and 

Summit

2015

Headquarters EveryoneOn

Expert Convening:  

Systems Evaluations for Place-

September 15,  HUD 

Based Initiatives

2015

Headquarters

Expert Convening:  

Community College Student 

September 16,  HUD 

Housing Insecurity

2015

Headquarters

HUD at 50: 

September 17,  HUD 

History in the Making

2016

Headquarters

47   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PD&R Convenings (cont)

EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

PARTNERS

Expert Convening: Senior 

Housing and Services: 

September 29,  HUD 

Challenges and Opportunities 

2015

Headquarters

in Rural America

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

Planning and Partnering for 

October 1, 

HUD 

Regional Impact

2015

Headquarters

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

HUD at 50: History in the 

January 12, 

HUD 

Making

2016

Headquarters

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

Managing Community Change:  April 11, 2016

HUD 

A Dialogue on Gentrification

Headquarters

The Innovation in Affordable 

Housing Student Design and 

Planning Competition Awards 

April 19, 2016

HUD 

Headquarters

Presentation

Research Partnerships Project: 

Eagle Ford Shale: Impacts 

on Accessible and Affordable 

March 16, 

HUD 

University of Texas at San 

Housing for Vulnerable 

2016

Headquarters Antonio

Populations in Small Rural 

Communities

Preserving a Deep, Liquid and 

Stable Market for Mortgage 

June 24, 2016

HUD 

Servicing Assets 

Headquarters Ginnie Mae

Small Area Fair Market Rents 

Briefing

June 30, 2016

HUD 

Headquarters

Habitat III:  

After Quito: Implementation of  July 11, 2016

HUD 

the New Urban Agenda

Headquarters

PD&R Quarterly Update: 

Child Well-Being and Healthy 

July 26, 2016

HUD 

Homes

Headquarters

PERIODICALS

PD&R produces several periodicals as 

part of its outreach to a broad audience. 

All of these periodicals aim to provide 

evidence around policy, although each uses 

a different medium to target a different 

constituency. 

48   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

The Edge.  The Edge, PD&R’s online 

The Edge every 2 weeks. In FY 2016,  The 

magazine, provides a message from PD&R 

Edge averaged 81,600 views per month, a 

leadership, and a wide range of information 

71-percent increase since FY 2014. In 

about housing and community 

October 2016, PD&R released a 

development issues, research, policy, and 

substantial redesign of  The Edge intended 

best practices in housing and community 

to enhance the user experience further.

development. New content is published in 

The Edge: Most Viewed Articles, FY 2015–2016

ARTICLE NAME

DATE POSTED

1.  Managing Community Change: A Dialogue on Gentrification

5/2/2016

2.  Environmentally Sustainable Neighborhood Revitalization in 

6/20/2016

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

3.  Exploring Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

2/23/2015

4.  The SC2 National Resource Network: A Place-Based Federal 

6/20/2016

Delivery System for Strong Cities

5.  From Habitat II to Habitat III, An Interview with Ismael 

6/20/2016

Guerrero

6.  Rapid Re-Housing for Homeless Families Demonstration 

4/18/2016

Program Evaluation Reports

7.  Safe and Supported Community Plan Assists Homeless LGBTQ 

5/2/2016

Youth in Hamilton County, Ohio

8.  Instituting Smoke-Free Public Housing: Economic Impacts

6/6/2016

9.  Rent-to-Own Program Rehabilitates Abandoned and Foreclosed 

10/20/14

Properties

10.  Exploring Racial Segregation and Income Inequality Patterns and 3/22/12

Relationships

Average  The Edge Page Views per Month by Fiscal Year

49   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Evidence Matters.   Evidence Matters 

issues and its subscriber base has grown 

is published quarterly and designed to 

to more than 25,000.  Evidence Matters 

highlight policy-relevant research that 

is guided by an advisory committee 

connects policymakers at all levels, as well 

comprised of representatives from several 

as researchers, advocates, and industry 

HUD program offices. The following 

members, with clear, accessible, and timely 

issues of  Evidence Matters were published 

information. Since it was first published 

during the past two fiscal years.

in 2011,  Evidence Matters has released 17 

Evidence Matters Issues FY 2015 and FY 2016

Winter 2015: Disaster Recovery and 

Resilience

Lead: Federal Disaster Policy: Toward a 

More Resilient Future

Research Spotlight: The Research Basis 

for Disaster Resilience

In Practice: Preparing for the Next 

Disaster: Three Models of Building 

Resilient Communities

Fall 2014: Impacts of Housing on 

Children

Lead: Housing’s and Neighborhoods’ 

Role in Shaping Children’s Future

Research Spotlight: How Housing 

Mobility Affects Education Outcomes 

for Low-Income Children

In Practice: Protecting Children 

From Unhealthy Homes and Housing 

Instability

Spring 2015: Housing in Indian 

Country

Lead: Obstacles, Solutions, and Self-

Determination in Indian Housing Policy

Research Spotlight: Who Counts? 

Identifying Native American 

Populations

In Practice: Local Initiatives Promote 

Homeownership in Indian Country

50   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Summer/Fall 2015: Regional Planning

Spring 2016: Housing Finance

Lead: Partnerships and Planning for 

Lead: Pressing Challenges in Housing 

Impact

Finance: Credit Access and Seniors’ 

Research Spotlight: Strategies for 

Mortgage Debt

Regional Collaboration

Research Spotlight: The Evidence 

In Practice: Moving Toward a 

on Homeownership Education and 

Sustainable Future: Three Models of 

Counseling

Regional Planning

In Practice: Increasing Access to 

Sustainable Mortgages for Low-Income 

Borrowers

Winter 2016: Housing and Health

Lead: Leveraging the Health-Housing 

Summer 2016: Housing and Crime

Nexus

Research Spotlight: Smoke-Free Public 

Lead: Housing, Inclusion, and Public 

Housing: Research and Implementation

Safety

In Practice: Financing Effective Housing 

Research Spotlight: Neighborhoods 

Interventions With Pay for Success

and Violent Crime

In Practice: Reducing Offender 

Recidivism and Reconnecting 

Opportunity Youth

51   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Cityscape.   Cityscape is a 

•  How well the HCV Program reaches 

multidisciplinary scholarly journal 

high-opportunity neighborhoods.

that PD&R publishes three times a 

•  The relative effectiveness of for-profit 

year to advance the state of knowledge, 

and nonprofit developers of low-income 

policy, and practice in the areas of 

housing in meeting the multiple goals of 

HUD’s mission. Each issue includes 

such developments.

a Symposium of scholarly papers on a 

Departments are short papers to help 

common theme. In FY 2015 and 2016, 

scholars or new students explore the areas 

Cityscape symposia covered (1) how 

of HUD’s mission. In FY 2015 and 2016, 

spatial analytic methods can assist in 

these papers included (1) Impact, which 

understanding urban problems; (2) how 

details and explains the benefit and cost 

communities can make themselves more 

calculations for new HUD regulations; 

affordable, accessible, and efficient; (3) 

(2) Policy Briefs; (3) Graphic Detail, 

the latest results on the prevalence of 

which illustrates the power of maps to 

discrimination in the housing market; 

inform public policy and social science; 

(4) how cities can most equitably 

(4) Foreign Exchange, which describes 

regulate street vending; (5) how credit 

policy innovations in housing and urban 

markets may fail to serve vulnerable 

development in other countries that may 

populations; and (6) gentrification in 

be of interest to U.S. readers; (5) Industrial 

America. 

Revolution, which illustrates the potential 

The Point of Contention is a high-level 

of technological innovation in residential 

debate on areas in which scholars do not 

construction to affect society; (6) Spatial 

agree. In FY 2015 and 2016, the areas 

Analysis and Methods (SpAM), which 

of disagreement were (1) the future of 

takes the reader step-by-step through 

homeownership in the United States, 

pioneer techniques in the analysis of 

and (2) whether driverless cars will 

geographic information; (7) Evaluation 

reshape land use in the metropolis.

Tradecraft, which reports on the improving 

technical basis for program evaluation; and 

The refereed papers in FY 2015 and 

(8) Data Shop, which introduces the reader 

2016 explored such issues as— 

to new data sets and new procedures for 

•  Rebuilding decisions after hurricanes.

using the data in familiar sources.

•  Zoning changes needed to accommodate 

micro-apartments.

•  Investor approaches to purchasing 

foreclosed properties in a high-rent area.

•  The cost-effectiveness of housing 

homeless seniors.

•  Outcomes of the Neighborhood 

Stabilization Program.

•  Positive and negative outcomes of 

families who have left assisted housing.

•  Whether the government-sponsored 

enterprises meet the credit needs of 

underserved communities. 

•  HUD’s success in engaging nonprofit 

organizations in delivering services to the 

homeless.

52   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Cityscape Board

Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Brandeis 

Matthew E. Kahn, University of 

University

California, Los Angeles

Ira Goldstein, The Reinvestment Fund

Jens Ludwig, University of Chicago 

Richard K. Green, University of 

Mary Pattillo, Northwestern University

Southern California

Carolina Reid, University of California, 

Mark Joseph, Case Western Reserve 

Berkeley

University

Patrick Sharkey, New York University

C. Theodore Koebel, Virginia Tech

Cityscape Guest Editors

Nov 14: Paul Joice and Meena Bavan

Mar 16: Raphael Bostic (USC), Annette Kim 

Mar 15: Ron Wilson

(USC), Abel Valenzuela (UCLA)

July 15: Regina Gray

Jul 16: Padma Raman and Pamela Lee

Nov 15: Margery Turner (Urban Institute) 

Nov 16: Ingrid Gould Ellen (NYU), Lei 

and Judson James

Ding (Philadelphia Fed)

Insights.  The  Insights series was 

•  Community Housing Impacts of 

reintroduced in 2015 to allow PD&R staff 

the Military Housing Privatization 

to examine special issues and policies of 

Initiative  (October 2015). This issue of concern to HUD. They are available on 

Insights explores evidence and context 

huduser.gov. The list of  Insights published for decisionmakers considering issues 

in FY 2015–2016 follows; PD&R expects 

related to privatized housing on military 

posts and the effects on surrounding 

to publish additional  Insights in the future.

communities.

•  Barriers to Success: Housing 

Insecurity for U.S. College Students 

( February 2015). This issue of  Insights 

explores problems related to housing 

for postsecondary students. Many 

college students struggle to find 

adequate, affordable housing options 

near their campus. Colleges appear to 

systematically underestimate students’ 

off-campus living costs, and it is 

estimated that at least 58,000 college 

students are homeless.

•  Ensuring Equitable Neighborhood 

•  Breaking Down Barriers: Housing, 

Change: Gentrification Pressures on 

Neighborhoods, and Schools of 

Housing Affordability. This report 

Opportunity  (April 2016).  This report reviews recent research and identifies key 

reviews recent research and identifies 

steps policymakers can take to ensure 

key steps policymakers can take to 

that development in high-demand 

improve children’s access to high-quality 

and gentrifying areas is inclusive and 

neighborhoods  and schools. In particular, 

equitable. In particular, this report 

this report suggests housing strategies 

suggests strategies that can help maintain 

that could help the nearly 4 million 

affordable housing and foster integrated 

children who already receive federal 

communities.

housing assistance.

53   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

PD&R’S PARTNER ENGAGEMENT

HUD’S 50TH

In celebration of HUD’s 50 anniversary, 

•  Ingrid Gould Ellen and Jessica Yager of 

PD&R published a commemorative book 

New York University’s Furman Center 

HUD at 50: Creating Pathways to 

examine how HUD’s treatment of race 

Opportunity, including expert articles on 

and poverty have reflected broader shifts 

HUD’s history, impact on housing finance 

in American attitudes, with a focus on 

and community development issues, and 

rental housing programs and fair housing 

law. 

future challenges. The publication looks 

back on HUD’s history and looks forward 

•  Raphael Bostic of the University of 

to ways the agency might evolve. It 

Southern California’s Sol Price School of 

includes thorough analyses of not only how 

Public Policy takes a long view of urban 

programs succeeded, but also how they 

development over the nation’s history, 

looking especially at the rise, fall, and 

sometimes fell short and what was done in 

rebirth of cities.

response. The first chapter, authored by Jill 

Khadduri of Abt Associates, lays out the 

•  Susan Wachter of the Wharton School 

Department’s history in detail through the 

at the University of Pennsylvania and 

Arthur Acolin, a Ph.D. student at the 

priorities and legacy of each 

University of Southern California’s Sol 

Administration. The remaining five 

Price School of Public Policy, chronicle 

chapters address themes that are central to 

the evolution of the federal role in 

HUD’s mission and describe how HUD 

homeownership and mortgage finance, 

has altered its policies to meet the changing 

from HUD’s inception through the 

needs of the American people.

system’s reforms following the Great 

Recession.

•  Marge Turner, Mary Cunningham, and 

Susan Popkin of the Urban Institute 

consider HUD’s critical work serving 

vulnerable populations—especially its 

ongoing work to end homelessness—

and the need to expand access for 

poor families to opportunity-rich 

neighborhoods.

•  Finally, Erika Poethig, Rolf Pendall, and 

Pam Blumenthal—also from the Urban 

Institute—analyze the interactions 

between demographic shifts and housing 

policy, including the changing needs 

posed by domestic migration and the 

aging population.

In addition, on huduser.gov:

•  50 years of HUD is explored through 

photos that document the evolution of 

the Department’s efforts to improve 

people and places

•  Related publications take a historical 

perspective on a range of topics—

54   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

manufactured housing, international 

the evolution of HUD’s public-private 

history, key contributors to HUD’s 

partnerships.

energy efforts, a history of PD&R, and 

•  HUD’s historical timeline is available.

AWARDS

PD&R continues its longstanding 

following section. Detailed descriptions 

commitment to identifying and sharing 

on all award winners can be found on 

innovative best practices. An important 

huduser.gov/awards, and case studies 

vehicle for identifying these efforts is the 

provide detailed information on many of 

awards program. PD&R manages the 

the winners found at https://www.huduser.

well-regarded HUD Secretary’s awards and 

gov/portal/casestudies/home.html.

the student competition described in the 

THE INNOVATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDENT DESIGN AND 

PLANNING COMPETITION

Since 2014, HUD PD&R has invited 

incorporate new construction, they must 

interdisciplinary teams of three to five 

consider elements of design, community 

graduate students from accredited 

development, and financing in order to 

educational institutions across the United 

provide an all-encompassing plan and 

States to participate in its annual 

solution that would allow the housing 

Innovation in Affordable Housing Student 

authority to meet its goal of offering the 

Design and Planning Competition (IAH). 

area’s families safe and sustainable 

The competition aims to address the need 

affordable housing. Students also need to 

for quality, affordable housing, which can 

demonstrate their understanding of the 

help strengthen the social and physical 

needs of the intended residents,the zoning 

fabric of communities. Each year, teams 

restrictions, and leveraging opportunities. 

work to solve problems and craft solutions 

$20,000 and $10,000 are awarded to the 

in response to a project encountered by a 

winning and runner-up teams, respectively, 

PHA. Whether teams decide to rehabilitate 

to help with the costs of executing their 

existing buildings or demolish and 

exceptional affordable housing plans.

55   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

After a jury of five academics, practitioners, 

•  2015.  Louisiana’s Houma Terrebonne 

planners, and architects narrows down the 

Housing Authority (HTHA) partnered 

submissions to four finalist teams, those 

with IAH for the second annual 

teams are invited to walk the grounds of 

competition from October to March 

the project sites and hear from members 

of 2015. HUD and HTHA challenged 

of the community. The competition 

multidisciplinary teams of graduate 

culminates with a final presentation at 

students to consider the complex 

challenges associated with offering safe 

HUD Headquarters in Washington, D.C., 

and sustainable affordable housing 

where the jury hears each finalist team’s 

to the area’s seniors. PD&R Assistant 

presentation, asks questions, and then 

Secretary O’Regan announced the 

deliberates on that year’s winner. Detailed 

results in March 2015 after final jury 

descriptions on all previous award winners 

deliberations. The first place award went 

can be found at huduser.gov/awards.

to the team from New York University 

(NYU). The competition jurors praised 

•  2016.  The Housing Authority of the 

the NYU team members for their 

City of Santa Barbara, California 

sophisticated design that minimized the 

(HASB), partnered with IAH in 2016. 

bulk of the building, thereby responding 

HASB challenged multidisciplinary 

to the local architectural context. The 

teams of graduate students to consider 

team also received very high marks for 

the complex challenges associated with 

its innovative financing scheme that 

rehabilitating one of the authority’s 

included a mixed-use redevelopment to 

housing structures, called Monteria, 

incorporate retail for income purposes, 

or demolishing it and creating 

creating positive communitywide impact. 

new construction. Following final 

The new construction development also 

presentations at HUD Headquarters and 

included an Early Childcare Center and a 

the jury’s deliberation, HUD Deputy 

variety of onsite services and activities to 

Assistant Secretary Nani Coloretti 

address the needs of the community. The 

announced the results. The University of 

University of California, Los Angeles was 

Texas, Austin team received the $20,000 

the runner-up team. Its solution was gut 

award for their proposal. This redesign 

rehabilitation of the building with an 

of Monteria resulted in 39 additional 

emphasis on energy efficiency and strong 

units for a total of 67 renovated homes, 

healthcare partnerships. The jurors 

which led to increased density and 

felt that the team demonstrated a deep 

provided housing opportunities for very 

understanding of the senior population 

low-income families. It accommodates 

and its needs. They also liked the team’s 

a centralized Family Opportunity 

approach to material reuse as well as the 

Center, includes an Education Center, 

proposed new modular façade, which 

and improves the water infiltration and 

utilized innovative materials and design 

capture on site. The runner-up was a 

concepts.

team from the University of Maryland, 

which received $10,000 toward its 

PD&R launched its fourth year of the IAH 

affordable housing plan. This team 

in the fall of 2016.

proposed new construction that included 

48 affordable housing units within 19 

three-story townhouses, 14 two-story 

townhouses, and a four-story multifamily 

development that includes a food co-op, a 

community center, and easy access to the 

nearby community garden.

56   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

SECRETARY’S AWARDS

The HUD Secretary’s Awards, managed 

•  The Annie E. Casey Foundation 

by PD&R, honor projects that exemplify 

(Baltimore, Maryland): Opportunity 

excellence in four categories: community 

Collaborative 

planning, historic preservation, affordable 

•  Ann Arbor Area Community 

housing design, and cooperative public/

Foundation (Ann Arbor, Michigan): 

private efforts. HUD presents the 

Washtenaw Coordinated Funders

awards annually in partnership with 

•  Communities Foundation of Texas 

several leading housing and community 

(State of Texas): Educate Texas

development organizations.

•  Community Foundation of the New 

The Secretary’s Award for Excellence 

River Valley (Southwestern Virginia): 

Aging in Place Leadership Team

in Historic Preservation.  HUD presents 

the Secretary’s Award for Excellence 

•  Seattle Foundation (King County, 

in Historic Preservation in partnership 

Washington): Communities of 

with the National Trust for Historic 

Opportunity 

Preservation to recognize efforts that both 

•  Greater Kanawha Foundation 

advance the nation’s historic preservation 

(Charleston, West Virginia): Investing 

goals and provide affordable housing and 

in Our Communities: West Side of 

economic development opportunities for 

Charleston 

low- and moderate-income residents.

•  Toledo Community Foundation 

(Toledo, Ohio): Overland Initiative—

•  2015 Winner: 3010 Apartments, St. 

Partners for Places

Louis, Missouri

•  Incourage Community Foundation 

The Secretary’s Award for Community 

(Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin): 

Foundations.  The Secretary’s Award 

Blueprints for Tomorrow

for Community Foundations recognizes 

excellence in public-philanthropic 

partnerships that have both transformed 

the relationship between the sectors and 

led to measurable benefits in terms of 

increased economic employment, health, 

safety, education, sustainability, inclusivity 

and cultural opportunities, and/or housing 

access for low- and moderate-income 

families. These partnerships serve as 

worthy models for other communities. 

HUD presents the award in partnership 

with the Council on Foundations’ Public-

Philanthropic Partnership Initiative.

•  2016 Winners:

•  Montgomery County Foundation 

(Montgomery County, Pennsylvania): 

Your Way Home

•  The Boston Foundation (Boston, 

Massachusetts): Success Boston

57   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

The Secretary’s Opportunity and 

architecture that demonstrates overall 

Empowerment Award.  HUD has 

excellence in terms of design in response 

issued the Secretary’s Opportunity and 

to both the needs and the constraints of 

Empowerment Award since 1998 in 

affordable housing.

partnership with the American Planning 

Association. This award recognizes 

•  2015 Winner: Step Up on 5th, Santa 

Monica, California 

excellence in planning that has led to 

measurable benefits in terms of increased 

•  2016 Winner: Lakeside Senior 

economic employment, education, or 

Apartments, Oakland, California

housing choice or mobility for low- and 

Creating Community Connections 

moderate-income residents. The award 

Award.  This award recognizes projects 

stresses tangible results and recognizes 

that incorporate housing within other 

the planning discipline as an important 

community amenities for the purpose of 

community resource. It emphasizes how 

either revitalization or planned growth.

creative housing, economic development, 

and private investments are used in, or in 

•  2015 Winner: Co-op Plaza 

Redevelopment, Brattleboro, Vermont 

tandem with, a comprehensive community 

development plan.

•  2016 Winner: Dorchester Art + Housing 

Collective, Chicago, Illinois

•  2015 Winner: Mueller Redevelopment, 

Community-Informed Design Award.  

Austin, Texas 

This award recognizes design that supports 

•  2016 Winner: Homeless Solutions 

physical communities as they rebuild 

Community 10-Year Plan, City of 

social structures and relationships that may 

Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio

have weakened because of out-migration, 

The Secretary’s Housing and 

disinvestment, and the isolation of inner-

Community Design Awards.  The 

city areas.

American Institute of Architects, in 

conjunction with the Office of the 

•  2016 Winner: Disaster Recovery Round 

Secretary of HUD, recognizes excellence 

2, Houston, Texas

in affordable housing architecture, 

Alan J. Rothman Award for Housing 

neighborhood design, participatory design, 

Accessibility.  The purpose of this award 

and accessibility. These awards, offered 

is to recognize exemplary projects that 

across several categories, demonstrate 

demonstrate excellence in improving 

the key role that design plays in building 

housing accessibility for people with 

thriving homes and communities in 

disabilities. This award is named for Alan 

addition to providing examples of 

Rothman, a longtime former PD&R 

important benchmarks in the housing 

employee and recognized leader in 

industry. 

accessibility design and architecture.

Excellence in Affordable Housing 

•  2016 Winner: Port Townsend 

Design Award.  This award recognizes 

Residence, Port Townsend, Washington

58   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

INTERNATIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC INNOVATION

PD&R works to position HUD as a hub 

outcomes and reduce back-end spending 

for innovation by building partnerships, 

on crisis care services, corrections systems, 

sourcing innovations, and aligning and 

and homeless shelters. The PFS model 

leveraging resources from across the globe 

is essential in incentivizing preventative 

and across sectors, all toward HUD’s 

measures targeted at a high-cost, high-

mission to create strong, sustainable, 

need population and a model where an 

inclusive communities and quality 

opportunity exists to be adapted by other 

affordable homes for all. Highlights from 

HUD program offices.

the FY 2015–2016 period include— 

On June 24, 2016, HUD announced that 

Pay for Success Demonstration.  Pay for 

HUD and DOJ awarded $8.7 million 

Success (PFS) bridges the gap between 

to seven organizations from across the 

fewer federal resources and increasing 

country to advance the PFS model by 

needs and demands—now and in the 

expanding permanent supportive housing 

future. A PFS contract allows government 

for persons cycling between the criminal 

to pay for services when predetermined 

justice and homeless service systems. IPI is 

performance measures are reached, 

continuing to find ways to develop the PFS 

primarily in providing more cost-effective 

mechanism across HUD programs.

services to a vulnerable population. A 

PFS partnership leverages private capital; 

Disaster Resilience and Responding to 

taps into new funding opportunities; 

Climate Change.  The Rebuild by Design 

shifts outlay risk to philanthropic and 

competition, a multistage planning and 

private investors; monetizes social impact/

design competition to promote resilience 

outcomes of social services; and realizes 

in the Sandy-affected region, developed 

costs savings for government, ultimately 

The Rockefeller Foundation as the leading 

connecting performance outcomes to 

funding partner and the Deutsche Bank 

financial return. IPI and several other 

Americas Foundation, Hearst Foundation, 

HUD program offices continue to be 

the JPB Foundation, the Surdna 

engaged in a PFS demonstration to test 

Foundation, and the New Jersey Recovery 

the effectiveness and financial feasibility 

Fund contributed expertise and resources. 

of the permanent supportive housing 

The Rebuild by Design competition set 

model. The demonstration targets the 

new standards for robust community 

reentry population who frequently cycle 

engagement, active collaboration with 

in and out of the shelter and corrections 

state and local government partners, and 

systems. HUD, along with the Bureau of 

indepth research.

Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of 

To help build the permanent capacity of 67 

Justice (DOJ), announced the availability 

jurisdictions eligible for HUD’s National 

of approximately $5 million to structure 

Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC), 

a PFS demonstration funded out of the 

HUD expanded its partnership with the 

Second Chance Act in the FY 2014 

Rockefeller Foundation and launched a 

budget. The demonstration measures the 

National Capacity Building Initiative in 

potential savings accrued when permanent 

summer 2014. Rockefeller teamed with 

supportive housing is applied to a specific, 

350 public- and private-sector experts to 

measurable target population through 

host nine Resilience Academies around 

PFS financing. By pairing stable housing 

the country. The Resilience Academies 

with social services, permanent supportive 

were designed to help NDRC entrants 

housing will deliver better participant 

strengthen their proposals and ensure that 

59   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

their projects would be successful even if 

Development. PD&R used a broad 

they did not win the competition. These 

and inclusive approach, leveraging the 

academies offered participants information 

international Habitat processes within the 

and technical resources that HUD could 

United States with the goal of fostering 

not otherwise provide.

dialogue around policy and practice 

domestically. Secretary Castro led the U.S. 

Other Philanthropic Engagement.  

delegation to Habitat III, held in 

PD&R entered into a number of MOUs 

Quito, Ecuador.

with philanthropy and philanthropy-led 

organizations in partnership with HUD 

Over the course of 2 years, PD&R 

program offices to further HUD goals. 

convened partners—within HUD, 

During this 2-year period, MOUs with 

across federal agencies, and with outside 

philanthropic organizations include—

organizations—and acted as a platform for 

the United States to engage in the global 

•  An MOU with the Bill & Melinda 

preparations, including providing feedback 

Gates Foundation’s Pacific Northwest 

Initiative and the MacArthur Foundation 

to UN Habitat’s Issue Papers and Policy 

in 2015 in a “National Partnership 

Unit Frameworks, soliciting and providing 

on Housing and Education” to learn 

nominations for U.S. participation as 

from partnerships between PHAs and 

Technical Experts on Policy Units, and 

education systems. 

lifting up the variety of voices in the U.S. 

•  An MOU with the AARP Foundation 

context to the global dialogues.

regarding cooperation on research and 

The U.S. Habitat III National Committee, 

initiatives addressing an aging society. 

consisting of over 40 organizations—

•  An MOU with the Campaign for Grade-

federal agencies, civil society, academia, 

Level Reading, to support partnerships 

and philanthropy—was convened to help 

between PHAs and local communities 

lead the broad and inclusive domestic 

participating in grade-level reading 

process. Three subcommittees were 

efforts. 

formed to focus on the domestic Habitat 

•  An MOU with KaBOOM! and 

preparatory processes.

philanthropic partners to launch the 

Play Along the Way program, promoting 

1.  The National Report Subcommittee 

development of innovative designs 

contributes to and provides feedback 

integrating play features in urban 

on the U.S. 20/20 Habitat III Report 

infrastructure. 

prepared by HUD and other federal 

PD&R’s international engagement.  

partners. 

PD&R cultivates relationships with 

2.  The Education and Outreach 

partners across geographical boundaries 

Subcommittee engages communities 

and sectors hosting learning exchanges, 

to advance the public understanding of 

networking across agencies, and building 

urban development issues and trends in 

thoughtful and productive partnerships 

the United States.

with lasting and wide-ranging effect.

3.  The Connecting the U.S. to Global 

Habitat III.  PD&R, on behalf of 

Conversations Subcommittee engages 

HUD and in partnership with the 

all levels of U.S. government in 

U.S. Department of State, led the U.S. 

a discussion of sustainable urban 

preparatory process in advance of Habitat 

development, connects this dialogue 

III, the third United Nations (UN) 

to Habitat III and other relevant 

Conference on Housing and Sustainable 

global conversations, and highlights 

international best practices.

60   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

The U.S. domestic preparations focused 

Citiscope, and the Wilson Center on July 

on three themes: Investing in People 

11, 2016.

and Communities for Upward Mobility, 

•  Learning from the City: The Midwest 

Securing Housing Options for All, and 

Regional Convening on Habitat III, in 

Responding to Change and Building 

Chicago, Illinois, on March 31, 2016.

Resilience.

•  The City We Want & Need: A Mid-

In partnership with HUD’s regional and 

Atlantic Regional Convening on Habitat 

III, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 

field offices and outside partners, IPI 

May 17, 2016.

helped host a series of convenings across 

the country as part of the preparations for 

•  Rocky Mountain West Convening on 

Habitat III.

Habitat III, in Denver, Colorado, on May 

20, 2016.

•  Habitat III & Why Urbanization is 

•  Miami Convening on Habitat III 

Critical to U.S. Foreign Policy, co-hosted 

engaged high school students in larger 

by the State Department on February 22, 

dialogues on resilience, housing options, 

2016.

and investing in people and places, in 

•  Resilient and Sustainable Cities: From 

Miami, Florida, on June 13, 2016.

COP21 to Habitat III, organized by 

•  Southwest Border Colonias: Housing 

Next City and Georgetown University on 

and Sustainable Development In The 

March 1, 2016. 

21st Century, in El Paso, Texas, on June 

•  Localizing the SDGs: How Cities Can 

22–23, 2016.

Help Achieve the 2030 Agenda, co-

As part of the global leadup to Habitat III, 

hosted by USAID, the Urban Institute, 

in May 2016, IPI helped coordinate 

and the Wilson Center on April 25, 2016.

Secretary Castro’s address to the United 

•  Cities in an Age of Insecurity, held by 

Nations in New York City, where he shared 

the Atlantic Council to discuss how the 

his thoughts on how cities can thrive in the 

world’s cities can be made more resilient 

21st century. In addition, IPI helped 

to violence and insecurity on June 22, 

prepared the U.S. delegation for Habitat 

2016.

III, led by Secretary Castro.

•  After Quito: Implementation of the 

New Urban Agenda, co-hosted by the 

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, HUD, 

61   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

Looking Ahead

PD&R leverages independent research,  administrative data. Specifically, the key evaluation, and data collection and 

data include HUD’s tenant databases 

analysis to help drive impact through an 

(already maintained within CARRA), 

evidence-based agenda. This Biennial 

Moving to Opportunity data (currently 

Report underscores the value of making 

moving to CARRA), and the  Family 

investments in research and evaluation 

Options Study data (to be moved in 

FY 2017). Our IAA and data sharing 

and their potential to inform better policy 

with the Census Bureau will greatly 

and practice. The outcomes of this work 

increase external researchers’ access 

are a result of a focus on strengthening 

to HUD administrative and research 

PD&R, particularly on our capacity and 

data, within a secured infrastructure.

infrastructure, that has enabled us to 

•  The second is that HUD and the Census 

adapt and build on the foundation of our 

Bureau have also signed a Joint Statistical 

expertise—data, research, and policy. 

Project Agreement that will commit us 

Looking ahead means learning from the 

to partner on linking housing data to 

past and continually adapting based on 

nonhousing data sources already acquired 

by the Census Bureau, to be available 

lessons learned from within PD&R, as 

for internal researchers at each agency. 

well as from program offices we support. 

By enabling HUD staff working on 

Learning from practice means PD&R’s 

these projects to access the data linked 

work will continue to influence policy 

via CARRA remotely, we are enabling 

and programs and to strengthen HUD’s 

much faster policy/evaluation work 

budgets, legislative proposals, and 

and providing new opportunities for 

regulations.

PD&R staff.

Looking ahead also means getting the 

In all, the Biennial Report showcases a 

most out of our research—documenting 

collection of impactful work, led by its 

outcomes and impact, disseminating the 

greatest asset, its staff. They have the 

results, and taking advantage of emerging 

passion, expertise, and commitment to 

opportunities for additional cross-agency 

drive PD&R’s data, research, and policy 

work. Data matching in particular is a key 

work, and, as I conclude my first year 

piece of our data infrastructure moving 

as PD&R’s General Deputy Assistant 

forward, and a place where we are making 

Secretary, this report makes clear that 

forward-looking investments today. As 

PD&R’s people are the foundation to 

one example, HUD has entered into two 

PD&R’s robust pipeline of work that will 

agreements with the U.S. Census Bureau 

shape the larger fields of housing and 

to greatly broaden access to HUD data 

community development for years to come.

and matching with non-HUD data for 

approved internal and external researchers.

Matthew Ammon

•  The first is an Inter-Agency Agreement 

General Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of 

(IAA) with the Center for Administrative 

Policy Development & Research

Records Research and Applications 

(CARRA) to link data from HUD’s 

tenant databases and select randomized 

control trials with the Census Bureau’s 

survey data collection and other 

62   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

63   PD&R Biennial Report    FY 2015–2016

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research

Washington, DC 20410-6000

January 2017

Document Outline

Contents 

Message From the Secretary

Message From the Assistant Secretary

1 Who Is PD&R?

Introduction

Overview, Mission, and Core Function

PD&R’s People and Organization

2 What PD&R Does

How PD&R Sets Its Research Agenda

Core Functions in Action

3 How Work Is Funded

Multidisciplinary Research Team

Data Licenses

Inhouse Research

Research Partnerships

4 How PD&R Shares

PD&R’s Outreach and Dissemination

PD&R’s Partner Engagement

Looking Ahead