Econometrica’s Legacy of Research for HUD

Econometrica’s Legacy of Research for HUD

by | Published on Apr 26, 2018 | 2018, Econometrica Remembers Pivotal Projects

Econometrica, Inc., has been providing support to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since 2002. Almost since that beginning, we have produced many research publications, alone or in collaboration with other notable firms such as Abt Associates, Urban Institute, and ICF International. Our areas of research vary but often include program evaluation, in-depth analysis of American Housing Survey (AHS) data, and studies providing insights into implications of policy, programs, or regulations. Our work is most often produced for HUD’s Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R).

Two of the leading authors of our research related to AHS are Dr. Frederick Eggers and Dr. Fouad Moumen. AHS is sponsored by HUD and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey is the most comprehensive national housing survey in the United States. They are renowned experts in this dataset and have been supporting work related to it for nearly their entire careers. Some of their works include:

In addition to their publications listed at PD&R, additional items may be found at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs.html. You can read more about Econometrica’s legacy of AHS work in this blog post.

Some of the other notable Econometrica-supported research includes:

All publications available online and produced for PD&R can be accessed at these links: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/taxonomy/term/2811 and https://www.huduser.gov/portal/taxonomy/term/3437.

We are proud of the important work we do and hope that our contributions to this research can improve design, increase knowledge, advance understanding, and inspire further investigation!

About Econometrica:
Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers and business development.

HUD contracted Econometrica to provide these support services, including direct TA and group learning (training) across the HUD portfolio of housing agencies, which includes more than 3,500 PHAs. HUD Field Offices, a group of PHAs with similar needs, or an individual PHA could request TA from the project’s Government Technical Monitor.

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Our Inaugural Housing and Community Development Contract Awarded in 2002

Our Inaugural Housing and Community Development Contract Awarded in 2002

by | Last updated Feb 24, 2018 | Published on Jan 24, 2018 | 2018, Econometrica Remembers Pivotal Projects

In 2002, Econometrica was awarded its first-ever contract from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The contract originated in the Office of Policy Development and Research, and the work was an evaluation of the HUD Mark-To-Market (M2M) program—a program designed to address the rapidly increasing costs in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured stock that is supported by Section 8 (also known as project-based) assistance. In many cases, these Section 8 contracts provide for rents above local market levels. The M2M program brings rents down to market levels while simultaneously preserving low-income housing affordability by allowing HUD to reduce the Section 8 rents to market levels and reduce the FHA mortgage on the property, if necessary, to a level that lower rents can support. The program’s goals are thus to preserve low-income rental housing affordability while reducing the long-term costs of federal rental assistance and minimizing the adverse effect on the FHA insurance funds. The program also aims to establish a network of locally based entities to administer the program.

The objective of Econometrica’s study was to evaluate the implementation of the M2M program to date in terms of cost effectiveness and participant and resident satisfaction.

Our study included three primary analysis activities: (1) a Process Analysis of the administrative mechanisms implementing the M2M program; (2) a Retrospective Statistical Analysis of trends in participation levels, estimates of savings to the government resulting from the program, measures of program efficiency, and preliminary indications of program outcomes; and (3) a Prospective Analysis case study to document the restructuring process for 15 properties undergoing restructuring in 2003.

Econometrica successfully met its commitments under this contract, and HUD accepted our final report for publication. This inaugural HUD contract has led to many more contracts in the ensuing years; we currently count more than 60 contracts and cooperative agreements awarded by HUD and several others related to HUD programs and regulations awarded by state and local governments. Incidentally, the HUD official who oversaw this pivotal project, Dr. Jennifer Stoloff, is also now a full-time Econometrica employee!

The evaluation report is available online at https://www.huduser.gov/portal//Publications/pdf/M2MEva.pdf. You may also learn more about the M2M program at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/presrv/presmfh/aboutm2m.

The objective of Econometrica’s study was to evaluate the implementation of the M2M program to date in terms of cost effectiveness and participant and resident satisfaction.

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2017 National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

2017 National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

by | Last updated Dec 21, 2017 | Published on Dec 21, 2017 | 2017, News

Annually, in conjunction with the winter solstice, the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Consumer Advisory Board, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council recognize those who have died homeless in the preceding year. The 2017 National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day will take place on Thursday, December 21.

Econometrica is a technical assistance provider and research organization that delivers professional services to federal, state, and local governments, as well as to nonprofit and quasi-governmental organizations. Throughout the years, we have supported research inquiries[1][2][3][4] that included homelessness as a topic, and we have provided referrals to specific homelessness-related technical assistance to some of the grantees we assist. We also have staff members who have donated their time in the annual Point in Time count, for which they have helped identify and account for sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a given night in January. This annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Continuums of Care.

The work we do, especially as it relates to public and affordable housing as well as health, demonstrates our commitment to understanding, reducing, and eliminating homelessness in the United States. On the occasion of the 2017 National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, we pause to pay respects to those lives lost, and we reaffirm our efforts to provide services that work toward preventing future such deaths.

[1] https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/ahs/2010_high_rent_burdens_v2.pdf

[2] https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/housing-needs-native-hawaiians.html

[3] https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/HNAIHousingNeeds.html

[4] https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/NAHSG-UrbanStudy.html

The 2017 National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day will take place on Thursday, December 21.

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Econometrica: Black Lives Matter

Econometrica: Black Lives Matter

Econometrica actively stands with the Black community, our colleagues, their families, and clients in the fight against racism, injustice, and inequality.