First State Times

Dover, Del. – Now through Friday, March 31, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) invites all residents to complete a confidential housing survey that will guide housing agencies and local jurisdictions in their efforts to:

• Prioritize housing and housing-related services,
• Develop more targeted program and policy responses, and
• Better coordinate the use of federal, state, and local resources.

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole at: https://delawarecommunitysurvey.com/. Responses will be reported in the aggregate in order to protect survey takers’ privacy. All eligible survey takers will be entered into ongoing drawings to win one of five $100 gift cards.

The survey, which is part of a comprehensive statewide housing needs assessment, seeks input on residents’ current and past housing experiences, housing development preferences, and opinions on Delaware’s housing market needs. Hearing directly from residents about their housing situation is imperative for creating effective responses to needs.

Additional components of the needs assessment include data collection and analysis of a variety of data sources, as well as stakeholder interviews and focus groups with residents, community leaders, and housing advocates. The final report will put forth recommendations to address various housing challenges, including the regulatory, financial, and other barriers to the construction of affordable housing. It will be published in late summer or early fall of this year.

“We must reckon with the housing crisis our state is currently experiencing. It’s time to take a new, more aggressive approach, and I’m confident this housing needs assessment will help lead the way,” said Eugene R. Young, Jr., Director of DSHA. “We were pleased to see the community so engaged and supportive during our recent Fiscal Year 2024 General Budget Hearing and look forward to ongoing engagement throughout this needs assessment process.”

DSHA’s most recent Housing Needs Assessment was released in 2015, and it can be viewed here: http://destatehousing.com/FormsAndInformation/needs.php.This survey is not associated with political parties, legislation, or elections. Individuals who require an accommodation to participate in the survey can contact avilia@rootpolicy.com or call (970) 880-1415. An example of a reasonable accommodation would be taking the survey by phone because the survey is difficult to complete through a screen reader. Hard copies of the survey are also available by request.

A pdf of the HNA_Flyer

Original source can be found here.