How do you assess the housing needs and demand of your community?

1 Define your scope

The first step is to define the scope of your housing analysis, which means identifying the geographic area, the time horizon, and the data sources that you will use. The geographic area can be your jurisdiction, a subarea, or a region, depending on the scale and purpose of your plan. The time horizon can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term, depending on the goals and policies that you want to address. The data sources can include census data, housing market data, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other relevant information that can help you understand the current and projected housing situation in your area.

2 Assess the supply

The next step is to assess the supply of housing in your area, which means analyzing the characteristics, conditions, and affordability of the existing and planned housing stock. Some of the questions that you can ask are: How many housing units are there, and what types and sizes are they? How old are they, and what is their physical condition and quality? How much do they cost, and how affordable are they for different income groups? How well do they match the preferences and needs of the current and future residents? How are they distributed across the area, and how accessible are they to services and amenities?

3 Assess the demand

The third step is to assess the demand for housing in your area, which means estimating the current and future population and household characteristics, preferences, and needs. Some of the questions that you can ask are: How many people live in your area, and what are their demographic and socioeconomic profiles? How many households are there, and what types and sizes are they? What are their housing preferences and needs, and how do they vary by age, income, lifestyle, and special needs? How much are they willing and able to pay for housing? How are they affected by external factors, such as economic trends, migration patterns, and environmental changes?

4 Identify the gaps

The fourth step is to identify the gaps between the supply and demand of housing in your area, which means comparing the existing and projected housing stock with the current and future housing needs and preferences. Some of the questions that you can ask are: How well does the supply of housing match the demand of housing in terms of quantity, quality, affordability, and diversity? What are the housing problems and challenges that your area faces, such as shortages, mismatches, deterioration, cost burdens, displacement, or homelessness? What are the opportunities and constraints that your area has for addressing these problems and challenges, such as land availability, infrastructure capacity, market forces, regulatory frameworks, or funding sources?

6 Develop the strategies

The final step is to develop the strategies for your housing plan, which means identifying the actions, programs, policies, and partnerships that you will implement to achieve your housing goals. Some of the questions that you can ask are: What are the best practices and innovative solutions that you can adopt or adapt for your housing system, such as incentives, regulations, subsidies, or collaborations? What are the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, such as local government, private sector, nonprofit sector, or community groups? What are the resources and timelines that you will need to allocate and coordinate for your housing plan implementation?

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?