Presented by 

Calvin C. Johnson, PhD 

Deputy Assistant Secretary 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Office of Policy Development and Research

FCSM 2020 Research and Policy Conference 

HUD’s Experience Supporting and Enhancing 

Its Data Infrastructure and Use
Presentation Outline:

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• Learning Agenda 

• Tenant Data Warehouses 

• Data License Agreement 

▪ Sponsorship at Research Data Centers 

• Research Partnership 

• Data Linking
Learning Agenda

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• A multi-year learning agenda or “evidence-building plan” 

• Set of research questions addressing critical knowledge 

gaps in support of evidence-based policy 

▪ Set of projects to answer research questions

• Developed with stakeholder input 

• A strategic view supporting shorter-term planning 

• Basis for annual research plans shared with Congress for 

our budget request

HUD’s Learning Agenda: Research Roadmap
1. Community Development and 

Place-based Initiatives 

2. Core Housing Programs 

3. Disaster Response and 

Preparedness 

4. Fair Housing and Discrimination 

5. Housing Finance and Affordable 

Housing Supply

6. Housing and Health 

7. Indian and Rural Issues 

8. Self-sufficiency and Economic 

Opportunity 

9. Single Family Homeownership 

10. Vulnerable and Special 

Populations 

11. Enhanced Data and Methods

HUD’s Learning Agenda: Topical Categories
Where? 

• Policy Development and Research (PD&R) 

▪ Office of Research, Evaluation and Monitoring

▪ Office of Economic Affairs

▪ Office of Policy Development

▪ Office of Innovation

Who? 

• Social Science Analysts/Economists/Statisticians (PhD/MA/MS) 

• Primary project manager with ownership of the evaluation requirements

Quick Note: Evaluation Functions – Where/Who?

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Tenant Data Warehouses

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HUD’s tenant data are stored and maintained in two data 

warehouses. 

• Inventory Management System/PIH Information Center (IMS/

PIC)

• Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System (TRACS)

These systems of record serve as the authoritative sources 

from which HUD develops data marts to support a large share 

of its evidence-building on housing assistance programs.

HUD’s Tenant Data Warehouses

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HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) 

develops data marts to support internal and external evidencebuilding. 

Data Content for:

• 9.5 million individuals in 4.5 million households

(Approximately 3.5 million children across all households)

• Households: 

▪ 41 percent non-elderly non-disabled

▪ 37 percent elderly

▪ 22 percent non-elderly disabled

HUD’s Tenant Data Warehouses

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• Monthly subsidy to make housing rental more affordable to 

extremely low-income renters 

▪ Subsidy covers the difference between reasonable rent and 30 

percent of household’s adjusted income

• Two categories of rent subsidy programs 

▪ Project based housing

▪ Tenant based housing

Quick Note: HUD’s Rent Subsidy Programs

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Data License Agreement

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PD&R has the authority to enter into a Data License 

Agreement with research organizations: 

• important policy-relevant research questions can only be answered by using 

personally identifiable information in the possession of HUD

• the research organization can offer adequate safeguards for the 

confidentiality of the data 

• the research organization does not need funding or other resources from 

HUD to carry out the research project

• the research organization will destroy all personally identifiable information 

received from HUD at the expiration of the license

Data License Agreement

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PD&R priorities for entering into a Data License Agreement 

with qualified researchers will fall into one of the following 

areas: 

• Homeownership and housing finance

• Affordable rental housing

• Housing as a platform for improving quality of life

• Sustainable and inclusive communities

• HUD Assets

Data License Agreement

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In Spring 2017, HUD moved two of its randomized evaluation datasets 

to the Census allowing access to researchers within a Research Data 

Center (RDC). These were the first experimental study data in the 

Census Bureau Data Linkage Infrastructure. 

• Moving to Opportunity (MTO)

• Family Options Study 

In addition to piloting the use of this infrastructure to access HUD’s 

randomized evaluation datasets, HUD wanted to promote further 

evidence-building efforts requiring additional data linking.

Sponsorship at Research Data Centers

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Research Partnership

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PD&R has the authority to accept unsolicited research 

proposals that address current research priorities. 

Requirements:

• Eligible applicants

• Provide cost sharing for at least 50 percent of total project cost 

from philanthropic entities or Federal, state or local government 

agencies

* The Department is interested in increasing participation of MSIs and HBCUs and 

encourages applicants that are not themselves MSIs or HBCUs to partner with these 

organizations.

Research Partnership

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PD&R priorities for cooperative agreements on Research 

Partnerships fall into one of the following areas: 

• Promote Economic Opportunity

• Enhance Rental Assistance

• Reduce the Average Length of Homelessness

• Support Sustainable Homeownership and Financial Viability

• Remove Lead Hazards from Homes

• Provide Effective Disaster Recovery

• Opportunity Zones

• Reduce Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing

Research Partnership

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Data Linking

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Data linking with HUD’s administrative data provides a key 

opportunity for evidence-building. Linked data is integral to 

our evaluation, research and other evidence-building efforts. 

• HUD’s learning agenda specifies policy-relevant analysis requiring linked 

data

• Nearly all (if not all) our evaluations and demonstrations require linked data 

with local, state, and/or federal government

• Monitoring HUD’s mission performance draws on linked data

• Inter-agency evaluation and research partnerships rely on linked data to 

investigate segments of the population we share an interest in serving 

Data Linking

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• National Directory of New Hires 

• Center for Medicare and Medicaid 

• National Health Interview Survey 

• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 

• Financial Student Aid 

• American Community Survey 

• National Flood Insurance Program

Data Linking with Federal Partners

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Thank You!

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