Rapp Housing survey template

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Rappahannock County Survey of Housing Status & Need

Rappahannock Community Housing Partnership

Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors

Dear Rappahannock County Resident or Employee,

Today, Rappahannock County is experiencing important housing and economic changes. A lack of reliable and recent data prevents county administrators and community members from understanding the impact of these changes on our county. This survey, conducted by Rappahannock Community Housing Partnership, is designed to identify the housing concerns of residents in this area so that our leaders can develop the appropriate housing policies and programs that focus on our current housing status and concerns.

To obtain the information necessary to develop these policies and programs, we are studying local housing needs and all factors that affect the availability of housing in this area.

You are part of a (random) sample of people who live or work in Rappahannock County and whose opinions are important to describing our housing situation. To assure that the attitudes and experiences of all local residents and employees are represented, it is very important that each questionnaire be completed and returned. We have assigned each survey an identification number so that we can process the questionnaire when it returns. No names or addresses will be placed on the surveys or used in our housing report. Please feel free to use the space in the margins to make additional comments.

When the survey is completed, we will be happy to share the results with you. You may receive a summary of our report by writing, “Copy of results requested” on the back of the envelope, and printing your name and address below it. Please do not put this

information on the survey itself.

If you have questions, feel free to write or call during business hours. If you would like more information on RCHP, please visit the website at www.rapphomes.org. Thank you so much for your help.

Kind Regards,

Chris Moyles, Castleton, VA

Executive Director

FHC

chris@fauquierhousing.org

Lea Vittitow

Project Coordinator

RCHP

lea-rchp@hotmail.com

Rappahannock County Survey on Housing Status & Need

Instructions: To determine the housing situation in Rappahannock, we need information about your housing experience, adequacy, affordability, and support service needs.

For each question, please fill in the blank or circle the number that describes your situation or opinion.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Q-1) Where do you live? ______________________ (town/county) ____ months/years of residence

Q-2) Where do you work?

______________ (town/county)

______________ employer (optional)

__________ months/years of employment

Q-3) How far do you commute roundtrip? ___________

Q-4) How much time does your roundtrip commute take? ____________

Q-5) What is your occupation? _____________

Q 6) What is your age? ______

HOUSING EXPERIENCE

Q-7) Which best describes the building you live in? (Circle one)

1. Mobile home on its own lot ____ year built

2. Mobile home in a mobile home park ____ year built

____ # of units in park

3. One-family house detached from any other house

4. One-family apartment attached to another house or building

(an addition, garage apartment, walkout basement apartment, barn or stable apt.)

5. Apartment building with 2 or more units with separate entrances ___# of units

6. Apartment building with 2 or more units with a shared main entrance ___# of units

7. Townhouse (with shared side walls only) ____# of connected townhouses

8. Other (explain)____________________________________________

Q-8) Is your dwelling: (Circle one)

1. Owned by someone in this household buying it with a mortgage or loan

2. Owned by someone in this household free and clear (paid for)

3. Rented for cash rent

4.Occupied rent-free without payment of cash rent __ family __non-family (check one)

5Occupied as job arrangement

Q-9) How long have you lived in this home?

______ number of years (If less than one, write number of months here _____)

Q-10) About when was your home first built? (Circle one)

1. 2000-2007 7. 1940-1949

2. 1990-1999 8.1939 or earlier

3. 1980-1989 9. Don’t know

4. 1970-1979

5. 1960-1969

6. 1950-1959

Q-11) Are you employed outside your County of residence?

1. No

2. Yes

Q-12) Which of the following best describes your current situation? (Circle one) You . . .

a. choose to live close to where you work

b. choose to work close to where you live

c. would prefer to move closer to where you work

d. would prefer to work closer to where you live

Q-13) Have you experienced any of the following difficulties in housing yourself or your family? (Circle all that apply)

1. Shortage of affordable rental housing

2. Limited numbers of affordable homes for sale

3. Available, affordable homes are poor quality or too small

4. Don’t have enough money for required down payment on a home

5. Can’t qualify for a mortgage at today’s interest rates and home prices

6. Trouble qualifying for home financing because of credit rating

7. Finding housing that is both accessible for my disability (or that of household member)

and affordable

8. Other, explain _________________________

Q-13a) If you circled any of the above, which ONE was the most important problem?

____# of question

Q-14) In looking for a place to live, do you think you may have been discriminated against for any reason?

1. No

2. Yes

Q-14a) If yes, why do you think you may have been discriminated against? (Circle all that apply)

1. Race or ethnic status 6. Because someone in my household is disabled

2. Sexual Orientation 7. Other, explain ______________________________

3. Income level

4. My children were not welcome

5. I/we are receiving public assistance

HOUSING ADEQUACY

Q-15) Overall, how do you feel about your present housing situation?

1. Very satisfied

2. Satisfied

3. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

4. Dissatisfied

5. Very dissatisfied

Q-16) How many bedrooms are in your home? (How many would you list if the home was on the

market for rent or for sale?)

___ bedrooms

Q-17) How many bathrooms are in your home?

___ bathrooms

Q-18) For your family, is the size of your home or apartment: (Circle one)

a. just right b. too small c. too large

Q-19) Does your home have: (Circle all that apply)

1. Cold, piped water

2. Hot, piped water

3. Flush toilet(s)

4. A tub and/or a shower

5. Connection to public/city sewer

6. Connection to septic tank or cesspool

7. Connection to public/city water

8. A well/spring with safe water supply

9. Complete kitchen facilities (range, refrigerator, and sink)

10. An outhouse or privy

Q-19a) If your house does not have indoor plumbing, where do you get your drinking water?

Please explain _________________________________________________________

Q-20) Does your home have: (Circle all that apply)

1. At least one entry with only one or no steps

2. Entrance(s) with more than one step

3. Ramped entrance instead of or in addition to steps

4. Front door wide enough for wheelchair passage (at least 32” clear passage)

5. Bathroom door wide enough for wheelchair passage (at least 32” clear)

6. Room to maneuver a wheelchair in the bathroom

7. Room to maneuver a wheelchair in the kitchen

8. Grab rails near the tub or shower

9. Grab rails near the toilet

Q-21) Please rate the following aspects of your living environment: (Circle numbers)

5-Excellent 4-Very 3-Good 2-Fair 1-Poor

House structural condition 5 4 3 2 1

Exterior appearance of home 5 4 3 2 1

Yard/lot size 5 4 3 2 1

Adequate heating 5 4 3 2 1

Sanitation and safety 5 4 3 2 1

Security from crime 5 4 3 2 1

Quality of neighborhood 5 4 3 2 1

Distance from work 5 4 3 2 1

Occupancy costs 5 4 3 2 1

Q-22) Which one best describes the condition of your home?

1. Excellent, no repairs needed

2. Good, only a few minor repairs needed

3. Adequate, needs many, but mostly minor repairs

4. Poor, needs major repairs – please list ____________________________________

5. Very poor, needs to be torn down

Q-23) Do you agree that this community has any of the following housing problems?

1-Disagree 2- Agree 3-Definitely Agree 4-Don’t Know

(not a problem) (minor Problem) (a Major problem)

Enough different dwelling types 1 2 3 4

Enough affordable homes for sale 1 2 3 4

Enough affordable rental units 1 2 3 4

Enough subsidized/assisted housing 1 2 3 4

Enough housing for the elderly 1 2 3 4

Enough housing the for physically disabled 1 2 3 4

Too much poor, dilapidated housing 1 2 3 4

Too much vacant/abandoned housing 1 2 3 4

Q-24) Do you feel that County funds should be spent to address the above problems?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don’t know

Q-25) Would you say that it is difficult for the following people to find appropriate and affordable

housing in your community? (Circle all that apply)

1-Not difficult 2-Somewhat difficult 3-Very difficult 4-Not sure

Married couples without children 1 2 3 4

Married couples with children 1 2 3 4

Un-married couples without children 1 2 3 4

Un-married couples with children 1 2 3 4

Single parents with children 1 2 3 4

Single persons living alone 1 2 3 4

People with disabilities 1 2 3 4

Older people aged 55-79 1 2 3 4

Older people aged 80 or older 1 2 3 4

Q-26) What types of housing should your community encourage more of? (Circle all that apply and note whether each should be rental and/or owned)

Rental Homeownership

1. Subsidized housing for low income elderly 1 2

2. Affordable housing for low income elderly 1 2

3. Subsidized housing for non-elderly low income families 1 2

4. Affordable housing for local workforce 1 2

5. Accessible/adaptable housing for disabled persons 1 2

6. None of the above—adequate housing is available 1 2

7. Other ________________________

Q-27) Do you know of someone who has left the county because they could not find affordable housing?

1. Yes, could not find affordable rental

2. Yes, could not find affordable house to buy

3. Yes, could not find either an affordable rental or house to buy

4. No

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, PREFERENCES AND COST BURDENS

Q-28) Are you sharing housing with someone else because you have to in order to afford it?

1. No

2. Yes

Q-29) If housing that better suits your needs was available, how would you feel about moving or selling your home?

1. No desire to move/sell

2. Would like to move/sell

3. Definitely want to move/sell

4. Definitely expect to move/sell

5. Definitely plan to move/sell

Q-30) During the past year, did you try to find better and/or more affordable housing?

1. Better 2. More Affordable 3.Both 4. No, neither

Q-31) If able to move to other housing you could afford, would you prefer to . . .

1. Rent 2. Own 3. Other, explain _______________________________

Q-32) If you were able to move to other housing, would you consider the following options? (Circle one answer for each)

Definitely Probably Not Probably Definitely

Not Not Sure Yes Yes

1. Sharing a home with a non-related Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

person/family

2. Buy a mobile home located in a rented Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

space in a park/on my own lot

3. Buy a mobile home and place Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

4. Buy a duplex and rent out ½ Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

5. Buy a single-family home Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

6. Buy a townhouse

(shares side walls with next house) Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

7. Rent in a duplex house. Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

8. Rent in a tri- or four-plex house. Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

9. Rent a single-family house Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

10. Rent an apartment in building Def-No Prob-No Unsure P-Yes Def-Yes

with 5+ units

Q-33) Which of the above housing options would you most prefer? (write number on line)

#____ Most Prefer #____ Second Most Prefer

Q-34) What is your housing/income ratio?

You can figure this ratio buy following this simple formula:

1) Add your monthly rent or mortgage payment to your estimated average monthly utility costs to get your total monthly housing cost, then

2) Divide the total monthly housing cost by your monthly income before deductions. The result is:

IF YOU RENT, please answer these questions:

Q-35) Why do you choose to rent? (Circle all that apply)

1. Planning to stay a short time

2. Little or no upkeep required

3. Can’t afford to buy a home

4. Other, explain _____________________________________

Q-36) What is your monthly rent? $_______

Q-35a) Has your rent increased since you started renting? 1.Yes 2.No

Q-35b) How much is the increase? $______

Q-35c) Over how many years? ______yrs.

Q-37)

Are you interested in buying a home?

1. No

2. Yes

Q-37a) If yes, what is your affordable price range?___________________

Q-37b) If yes, would a 10% down payment on a home in that range be a problem?

1. No

2. Yes

IF YOU OWN (including mobile home owners who rent their lot space), please answer these questions:

Q-38) What is the value of your home, that is, how much do you think this house and lot

would sell for if it were for sale?

1. $100,000 or less 8. $600,001 - $750,000

2. $100,001 - $175,000 9. $750,001 - $1,000,000

3. $175,001 - $250,000 10. $1,000,001 or more

4. $250,001 - $325,000

5. $325,001 - $400,000

6. $400,001 - $475,000

7. $475,001 - $600,000

Q-39) About how much is the monthly first mortgage payment (principal, interest, homeowners’ insurance, and real estate taxes)? If the mortgage is paid off, please write zero (0). $___________

Q-40) If not included in the house payment, how much is the average total monthly cost for heat, electricity, and water/sewer? $___________

Q-41) How much is your household’s total monthly income from all jobs and other sources—before deductions? $____________

HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICE NEEDS

Q-42) Do any of the following conditions interfere with the daily activities of anyone in your household? (Circle all that apply)

1. Physical disability

2. Developmental disability such as mental retardation

3. Mental health/emotional problem

4. Alcohol or drug dependence

5. HIV or AIDS-related complex

Q-43) Does any adult or child in your home have a physical, mental or other health condition

lasting for six months or more that: (Circle all that apply)

1. Interferes with ability to care for personal needs (bathing, dressing)

2. Makes it difficult to get around inside the the house

3. Limits the kind or amount of work the person can do at a job

4. Prevents this person from working at a job

5. Makes it difficult to get in and out of the house

Q-44) In the past year, did anyone in your household need or receive outside help (from non- relatives) with any of the following? (Circle all that apply)

Needed Received

Child care services 1 2

Household tasks (such as yard work or heavy cleaning) 1 2

Personal care (bathing, dressing, etc.) 1 2

Home health assistance 1 2

Meals delivered to your home 1 2

Transportation services 1 2

Q-45) Has anyone in your household received any of the following in the past year?

(Circle all that apply)

1. Food stamps

2. Energy assistance

3. Public housing assistance

4. Section 8 housing certificate or housing voucher

5. Have not received subsidized housing assistance, but am on a waiting list

Finally, we have some questions about your household (for the statistical analysis):

Q-46) Please list everyone who lives in your household, starting with yourself:

Who? (e.g., wife, husband, son, daughter, parent, friend) Age(in years) Sex (M = Male;F = Female)

Please do not write names

1. _______________________________ ______ ____

2. _______________________________ ______ ____

3. _____________________________ ______ ____

4. _____________________________ ______ ____

5. _____________________________ ______ ____

6. _____________________________ ______ ____

Q-47) Which of these best describes your household?

1. One person living alone

2. Married couple with no children

3. Married couple with children

4. Un-married couple with children

5. Un-married couple without children

6. Single Parent Family

7. Includes at least one person who is unrelated to me

8. Other ________________________________________

Q-48) Household member’s race and ethnic background: (Fill in the correct numbers)

# of Males # of Females

White ___ ____

African American ___ ____

American Indian ___ ____

Asian or Pacific Islander ___ ____

Hispanic ___ ____

Other ____________________ ____ ____

Q-49) How many people now living in this household work outside the home for pay?

______ persons

Q-50) What is the employment status of the householders? (Circle the appropriate numbers)

Yourself Spouse or partner Roomate

Employed or self-employed full-time 1 1 1

Employed or self-employed part-time 2 2 2

Retired 3 3 3

Disabled 4 4 4

Full-time homemaker 5 5 5

Full-time student 6 6 6

Unemployed, but looking for work 7 7 7

Unemployed and not looking for work 8 8 8

Other, explain _________________________________

Q-51) What category best describes your total household income from all sources – before