APPENDIX A:



 

APPENDIX A:

The New York City Housing And Vacancy Survey

Background

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a "general" Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS) of housing units located in the U.S., Regions, States and the 75 largest Metropolitan Areas. The general HVS does not, however, provide housing unit estimates for type of vacant unit and tenure by State or by Metropolitan Area. It also does not provide the county level data that is available from the decennial census. In contrast, the New York Housing and Vacancy Survey does incorporate this information and other aspects of housing condition affecting New York City’s regulated housing units.

New York Housing and Vacancy Survey

Since 1965, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has retained the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a comprehensive Housing and Vacancy Survey for New York City. Unlike the general HVS, the New York City HVS is tailored to generate data about housing condition in New York City, including housing units affected by the City’s rent control and rent stabilization regulations. The New York City HVS is generated from a sample of approximately 18,000 housing units (1 out of every 160 housing units) that are located in New York City, its five boroughs, and defined sub-borough areas within each borough. The resultant data provide statistical information in the following areas:

  • Housing condition, including building size, number of units, and the year the unit was built.
  • Occupancy status, including crowding and vacancy status.
  • Resident profile - renter or owner, and marital status.
  • Household income, including poverty income levels, employment status, and occupation.
  • Housing costs, including monthly rent, monthly mortgage payments, utility costs, routine maintenance fees, and real estate taxes.
  • Labor force characteristics for households.
  • Other housing-related information and trends.

The New York City Survey Instrument and its Application

The New York City HVS data have been utilized by local policy makers to determine policy on the City’s housing market, including its rent regulations and HUD’s housing programs. The data are also widely cited and utilized by private groups.

According to Dr. Moon Wha Lee, of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the City decided to retain the services of the Census Bureau based on these reasons:

  • The City’s need for an unbiased, objective analysis of its housing condition.
  • Concern about data reliability.
  • A need to retain an agency with capability to generate a complete address list for purposes of data collection.
  • A need to ensure that survey respondents trust the data collection agency and to protect the respondent’s confidentiality.

Bob Callis, staff at the Census Bureau, states that his agency conducts the New York City HVS every 3 years. The lengthy survey questionnaire, which is developed by his office, is completed by 18,000 household units whose occupants are interviewed by a trained staff of 150 Census Bureau interviewers. The New York City HVS questionnaire guarantees confidentiality to respondents, assuring them that they will be interviewed by sworn Census employees, and that the information will be used for statistical purposes only. The questionnaire contains five main sections that are organized in the following manner:

  • The interviewer’s notations including the interviewer’s name; date of interview; record of visits; observation of the condition of the building; the building’s occupancy status; the respondent’s name and relationship to the building; number of occupants; information identifying whether or not the questionnaire was completed and reasons it was not completed; and the form used by the interviewer.
  • The household roster records names of occupants, identifies the respondent as the owner or renter, and records each household member’s age and gender.
  • Occupied Units including a record of occupant demographics; tenure; types of housing expenses; source and form of housing payments, including public assistance received; building amenities; whether or not the housing unit is rent-regulated; and the condition of the unit.
  • Vacant Units including the unit’s vacancy or occupancy status; building size; physical description of the building; building amenities; whether the unit is available for rent or for sale, or whether it is not on the market; and the rental rate.
  • The interviewer’s closing statement, including a request for the respondent’s telephone number in case there is a need for follow-up questions.

According to Mr. Callis, the New York City HVS is completed in approximately one year. The fieldwork that is necessary to collect survey data lasts approximately 4 to 5 months. Thereafter, an additional 6 to 7 months is required to complete data analysis and submit data and findings to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

Product, Cost, and Application

The final report comprising the New York City HVS contains 500 pages. It also includes about 300 tables, 300 graphs, and 300 maps. Dr. Lee, at HPD, notes that the cost to produce each HVS study varies based on the requirements of the sponsor. For example, expenditures for the 1996 HVS study were approximately $3.6 million, and the lengthier 1999 HVS study cost approximately $3.7 million.

According to Dr. Lee, each year’s report not only contains data for that period, but also incorporates the previous years’ results. Once the study is completed, the Census Bureau releases a hard copy report together with a microdata file to HPD. HPD then releases a summary of the report to the public, and a report of findings to the City Council. Members of the public can also purchase copies of the report directly from the Census Bureau.

Dr. Lee points out that the New York City HVS serves multiple purposes. Among other purposes, It is often utilized by City officials to review other housing policies and programs, including the programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).