In April of 2007, the New York State Independent Living Center (NYSILC) distributed a survey instrument to help assess accessible, affordable, and integrated housing needs to appropriate statewide email lists. The survey was conducted through SurveyMonkey.com, an online assessment tool. The survey, “Statewide Housing Needs Assessment”, consisted of thirty-six questions including background information and demographics, general housing questions, and accessible and affordable housing questions. See Attachment I for a copy of the Survey Instrument and Attachment II for copies of data in the Response Summary.
There were one hundred and twenty-two (122) responses to NYSILC’s housing survey. There were responses from localities across the state. Some of the locations included: New Rochelle, Yonkers, Bronx, Cazenovia, Albany, Waterford, North Chili, Wallkill, Staten Island, Syracuse, Amsterdam, New Windsor, Rochester, Baldwinsville, Montgomery, White Plains, Hyde Park, Highland Lake, Yorktown Heights, Cicero, Brooklyn, Jamestown, Kingston, Webster, Fort Ann, Middletown, Newburgh, Millwood, Plattsburgh, New York, Oswego, Cortland, Manlius, Fayetteville, Pulaski, Fulton, Horseheads, Liverpool, Penfield, Henrietta, Beaver Dams, Elmira, Greenville, Hilton, Seneca Falls, Montour Falls, Ballston Spa, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Unadilla, Savona, Buffalo, Latham, Lewiston, Vermontville, and Queensbury. Communities were characterized and sorted out by cities (39%), suburbs (40%), and rural towns (21%).
As far as gender demographics were concerned, many more females responded to the survey than males. Seventy-three percent were female. The largest percentage of respondents, seventy–two percent (72%) are between the ages of twenty-three (23) and fifty-four (54). Twenty-three percent (23%) are between fifty-five (55) and sixty-four (64), four percent (4%) are between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-two (22), and two percent (2%) are between age six (6) and age seventeen (17). In addition, one respondent was under age six (6) and one was over age sixty-five (65). Questions were also asked regarding race and ethnicity with eighty-two percent (82%) of respondents being white, thirteen percent (13%) being African American, four percent (4%) are Hispanic, and one percent (1%) other.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of the survey respondents have a disability. When asked to identify their primary disability, it ranged from physical (51%), mental health (27%), cognitive (12%), visual (9%), hearing (6%), and other (16%). Other disabilities mentioned included; environmental, learning, autism, and speech.
Of those without a disability, sixty-two (62%) live with a person with a disability. This includes parents (41%), spouses (12%), children (21%), and partners (5%). The remaining percentages are split up between roommates, support staff, and siblings.
Most respondents reported the size of their household as one to two people (54%), while others responded that they have a household size of three to four (29%), four to six (16%), or more than six (1%).
The respondents were also asked about their voting habits. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of those who answered the survey are registered to vote and most of them voted on the last Election Day (73%). Of the twenty-seven percent (27%) who did not vote on the last Election Day, eight percent (8%) of them have voted within the year, eleven percent (11%) of them last voted over two years ago, and eight percent (8%) could not remember when they last voted.
Respondents were also asked questions about their employment, education, and household income. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the respondents have an undergraduate degree and twenty-seven percent (27%) have a graduate degree. In addition, twenty-three percent (23%) of the respondents had some college education while only seventeen (17%) have not.
Half of the respondents (50%) are full-time workers while fifteen (15%) are part time, and thirty-five percent (35%) are unemployed. Of those who are employed, on average, they live seventeen (17) miles from their employer, with the shortest distance being under a mile and the farthest being ninety (90) miles. Respondents reported their commuting time as an average of around thirty (30) minutes, with the shortest commute being under five (5) minutes and the longest commute reaching up to two (2) hours.
Questions regarding annual household income and income sources were also asked. It was found that nineteen percent (19%) of respondents have a annual household income less than $12,500, eleven percent (11%) have an annual household income between $12,500 and $20,000, twenty-six percent (26%) reported income between $20,000 and $40,000, twenty-nine percent (29%) reported income between $40,000 and $80,000, and fifteen (15%) have an annual household income over $80,000 dollars. These sources of household income include the following; employment (72%), government benefits (31%), and pension (8%). Respondents also reported income from these additional sources; rent, child support, and investments.
The survey then moved on to questions regarding housing. It was reported that fifty-five percent (55%) rent their living accommodations and forty-five (45%) own them. Although many respondents were unsure about the exact square footage of their house, the average reported square footage of all living accommodations was 1,823 square feet. Most people who responded live in three bedroom homes. However, others live in homes ranging from one to five bedrooms, apartments ranging from studio’s to two bedrooms, two or three bedroom trailers, or multi family co-op’s. Of the fifty-nine percent (59%) who owned a home or a condo co-op, forty-five percent (45%) have a mortgage. Of the remaining percentage that rent, fifty-one percent (51%) are the leaseholders. When those who rent were asked if they were interested in owning their own home, thirty-nine (39%) said yes and eight percent (8%) were not sure.
Although most respondents either personally have a disability or live with someone with a disability, only fourteen percent (14%) of respondents do receive rental subsidy and housing assistance. The remaining percentage do not receive any type of assistance. In addition, eighteen percent (18%) live in an apartment with reduced rent and eighty-two percent do not. Respondents were also asked to estimate the percentage of their income that is spent on their housing. On average, it was found that thirty to forty five percent (30 – 45%) of their annual income was spent on housing alone. It was reported that almost half of the houses or rental properties were in need of accessible modifications or improvements (47%). Six percent (6%) of respondents are actually at risk of institutional placement because of inaccessible living options, in addition to another three percent (3%) who were unsure as to whether or not they were at risk. Those who answered that they were at risk reported that a fourth were at risk today, one fourth within six months, an eighth within one year, one fourth within two years, and an eighth within three years. Eight percent (8%) of respondents are already on a waiting list for accessible housing, with an average waiting time thus far of fifty-four (54) months, with some people reporting waits as high as ten (10) years. Eleven percent (11%) reported that they are on a waiting list for affordable housing, with an average waiting time thus far of fifty-seven (57) months, with some people reporting waits as high as eleven (11) years. Seven percent (7%) of respondents are on a waiting list for a rent subsidy. The average wait on the rent subsidy list thus far is twenty-nine (29) months, with the highest wait reported at three (3) years. Some respondents reported being on more than one list. Nine percent (9%) of those who responded to the survey are on both the accessible and affordable housing waiting lists. The last question asked was the number of times respondents had moved in their entire lifetime. On average, it was reported that most people moved seven (7) times in their lifetime. However, the number of moves ranged from a few people who had never moved to a handful of people who had moved well over fifteen (15) times.
Attachment I – Survey Instrument
1. What is your age range?
Under 6
6 – 17
18 – 22
23 – 54
55 – 64
65 over
2. Gender? (Pick One)
Male
Female
Other (please specify)
3. Race/Ethnicity (Pick One)
White
Black
Hispanic
Native American
Asian/Pacific Islander
Unknown
Other (please specify)
4. Do you have a disability?
Yes (Answer Question 5)
No (Answer Question 6)
5. What is your primary disability? (After answering go to question #8)
Physical
Cognitive
Hearing
Visual
Mental Health
Other
6. Do you live with a disabled person?
Yes (Answer question #7)
No
7. What is your relationship with the disabled person? (Pick One) (After answering go to question #8)
Parent
Spouse
Partner
Child
Roommate
Support Staff
Other (please specify)
8. What is your zip code?
9. How would you characterize your community? (Pick One)
City
Suburb
Rural
10. What is your highest level of education? (Pick One)
Less than high school
High school diploma/GED
Some college
Undergraduate Degree
Graduate Degree
11. What is the size of your household? (Pick One)
1 – 2
3 – 4
4 – 6
More than 6
12. Employment Status? (Pick One)
Unemployed
Part – time
Full – time
13. How far do you live from your employment?
Number of miles
Commuting time
14. What is your annual household income? (Pick One)
0 – 12,500
12,500 – 20,000
20,000 – 40,000
40,000 – 80,000
80,000 +
15. What is the source of your household income? (Check all that apply)
Employment
Pension
Government Benefits
Trust Fund
Other (please specify)
16. Do you rent or own your living accommodations?
Rent
Own
17. What is the size of your housing? (Express either in total square footage or by house/apartment type)
Total Square Footage
House/Apartment Type (1, 2, 3 bedroom, studio, efficiency, etc.)
18. What is the percentage of your annual household income spent on housing?
19. If you own your home, condo co-op do you have a mortgage? (Pick One)
Not sure
Yes
No
I do not own a home
20. If you are a renter, is the lease in your name or are you a roommate? (Pick one)
I am the Leaseholder
I am the roommate
I have no lease
I do not rent or lease
21. Do you have a rental subsidy or other housing assistance? (Pick one)
Yes
No
Not sure
22. Do you live in an apartment with reduced rent?
Yes
No
23. Are you interested in owning your own home? (Pick One)
Yes
No
Not sure
I am already involved in home ownership
24. Are you registered to vote? (Pick One)
Yes
No
Not sure
25. When was the last time you voted? (Pick One)
Last Election Day
Within a Year
More than two years
I can’t remember
26. Does your home or rental property need accessible modifications or improvements? (Pick One)
Yes
No
Not sure
27. Are you at risk of institutional placement because of inaccessible living options? (Pick One)
Yes
No
Not Sure
28. If you answered “yes” to question 27, how immediate is the risk? (Pick One)
Today
Six Months
One Year
Two Years
Three Years
29. Are you on a waiting list for accessible housing? (Pick One)
Yes
No
30. If yes to question 29, how many months?
31. Are you on a waiting list for affordable housing? (Pick One)
Yes
No
32. If yes to question 31, how many months?
33. Are you on a waiting list for a rent subsidy? (Pick One)
Yes
No
34. If yes to question 33, how many months?
35. Are you on a waiting list for both affordable and accessible housing? (Pick One)
Yes
No
36. How many times have you moved in your life?
Attachment II – Data/Response Summary
Total Started Survey: 122
Total Completed Survey: 122 (100%)
1. What is your age range?
Response Percent Response Count
Under 6 0.8% 1
6 – 17 1.7% 2
18-22 4.2% 5
23-54 71.7% 86
55-64 22.5% 27
65 over 0.8% 1
Answered Question 120
Skipped Question 2
2. Gender? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Male 27.5% 33
Female 72.5% 87
Other (please specify) 0.0% 0
Answered Question 120
Skipped Question 2
3. Race/Ethnicity (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
White 81.8% 99
Black 13.2% 16
Hispanic 4.1% 5
Native American 0.0% 0
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.0% 0
Unknown 0.0% 0
Other (please specify) 0.8% 1
Answered Question 121
Skipped Question 1
4. Do you have a disability?
Response Percent Response Count
Yes (Answer Question 5) 60.8% 73
No (Answer Question 6) 39.2% 47
Answered Question 120
Skipped Question 2
5. What is your primary disability? (After answering go to question #8)
Response Percent Response Count
Physical 50.7% 39
Cognitive 11.7% 9
Hearing 6.5% 5
Visual 9.1% 7
Mental Health 27.3% 21
Other (please specify) 15.6% 12
Answered Question 77
Skipped Question 45
6. Do you live with a disabled person?
Response Percent Response Count
Yes (Answer question #7) 61.5% 64
No 38.5% 40
Answered Question 104
Skipped Question 18
7. What is your relationship with the disabled person? (Pick One) (After answering go to question #8)
Response Percent Response Count
Parent 41.3% 31
Spouse 12.0% 9
Partner 5.3% 4
Child 21.3% 16
Roommate 4.0% 3
Support Staff 2.7% 2
Other (please specify) 17.3% 13
Answered Question 75
Skipped Question 45
8. What is your zip code?
Response Count 119
Answered Question 119
Skipped Question 3
9. How would you characterize your community? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
City 39.8% 47
Suburb 40.7% 48
Rural 21.2% 25
Answered Question 118
Skipped Question 4
10. What is your highest level of education? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Less than high school 5.8% 7
High school diploma/GED 10.8% 13
Some College 23.3% 28
Undergraduate Degree 33.3% 40
Graduate Degree 26.7% 32
Answered Question 120
Skipped Question 2
11. What is the size of your household? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
1 – 2 54.2% 65
3 – 4 29.2% 35
4 – 6 15.8% 19
More than 6 1.7% 2
Answered Question 120
Skipped Question 2
12. Employment status? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Unemployed 35.8% 43
Part – Time 15.0% 18
Full – Time 50.0% 60
Answered Question 120
Skipped Question 2
13. How far do you live from your employment?
Response Percent Response Count
Number of Miles 98.9% 80
Commuting Time 85.2% 69
Answered Question 81
Skipped Question 41
14. What is your annual household income? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
0 – 12,500 18.6% 22
12,500 – 20,000 11.0% 13
20,000 – 40,000 26.3% 31
40,000 – 80,000 28.8% 34
80,000 + 15.3% 18
Answered Question 118
Skipped Question 4
15. What is the source of your household income? (Check all that apply)
Response Percent Response Count
Employment 72.0% 85
Pension 8.5% 10
Government Benefits 31.4% 37
Trust Fund 0.0% 0
Other (please specify) 17.8% 21
16. Do you rent or own your living accommodations?
Response Percent Response Count
Rent 55.5% 66
Own 45.4% 54
Answered Question 119
Skipped Question 3
17. What is the size of your housing? (Express either in total square footage or by house/apartment type)
Response Percent Response Count
Total Square Footage 66.4% 77
House/Apartment Type 84.5% 98
(1, 2, 3 bedroom, studio, etc.)
Answered Question 116
Skipped Question 6
18. What is the percentage of your annual household income spent on housing?
Response Count 109
Answered Question 109
Skipped Question 13
19. If you own your home, condo co-op do you have a mortgage? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Not sure 0.0% 0
Yes 44.7% 46
No 13.6% 14
I do not own a home 42.7% 44
Answered Question 103
Skipped Question 19
20. If you are a renter, is the lease in your name or are you a roommate? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
I am the Leaseholder 50.6% 46
I am the roommate 6.6% 6
I have no lease 14.3% 13
I do not rent or lease 28.6% 26
Answered Question 91
Skipped Question 31
21. Do you have a rental subsidy or other housing assistance? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 13.9% 15
No 82.5% 92
Not Sure 0.9% 1
Answered Question 108
Skipped Question 14
22. Do you live in an apartment with reduced rent?
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 18.0% 18
No 82.0% 82
Answered Question 100
Skipped Question 22
23. Are you interested in owning your own home? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 39.3% 42
No 15.9% 17
Not Sure 8.4% 9
I already own a home 37.4% 40
Answered Question 107
Skipped Question 15
24. Are you registered to vote? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 87.3% 103
No 10.2% 12
Not Sure 2.5% 3
Answered Question 107
Skipped Question 15
25. When was the last time you voted? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Last Election Day 73.0% 81
Within a Year 8.1% 9
More than two years 10.8% 12
I can’t remember 8.1% 9
Answered Question 111
Skipped Question 11
26. Does your home or rental property need accessible modifications or improvements? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 46.6% 55
No 46.6% 55
Not Sure 6.8% 8
Answered Question 118
Skipped Question 4
27. Are you at risk of institutional placement because of inaccessible living options? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 6.0% 7
No 90.6% 106
Not Sure 3.4% 4
Answered Question 117
Skipped Question 5
28. If you answered “yes” to question 27, how immediate is the risk? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Today 25.0% 2
Six Months 25.0% 2
One Year 12.5% 1
Two Years 25.0% 2
Three Years 12.5% 1
Answered Question 8
Skipped Question 114
29. Are you on a waiting list for accessible housing? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 7.8% 9
No 92.2% 106
Answered Question 115
Skipped Question 7
30. If yes to question 29, how many months?
Response Count 9
Answered Question 9
Skipped Question 113
31. Are you on a waiting list for affordable housing? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 10.8% 12
No 89.2% 99
Answered Question 111
Skipped Question 11
32. If yes to question 31, how many months?
Response Count 12
Answered Question 12
Skipped Question 110
33. Are you on a waiting list for a rent subsidy? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 7.2% 8
No 92.8% 103
Answered Question 111
Skipped Question 11
34. If yes to question 33, how many months?
Response Count 10
Answered Question 10
Skipped Question 112
35. Are you on a waiting list for both affordable and accessible housing? (Pick One)
Response Percent Response Count
Yes 9.1% 10
No 90.9% 100
Answered Question 110
Skipped Question 12
36. How many times have you moved in your life?
Response Count 105
Answered Question 105
Skipped Question 17