Can People Who Work Here Afford To Live Here?
New Ulster County Survey Explores Housing Costs
Also a Barometer on Local Economy

KINGSTON, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2008 – The Ulster County Housing Consortium today launched an online survey that asks residents to register their opinion on the costs and availability of rental and owner-occupied housing.

The Consortium, a group of 22 government and civic organizations, is seeking a better understanding of just how challenging the current issues associated with housing are seen by those who live in Ulster County and their thoughts about housing costs in the future.

“Our goal is for the survey to be circulated widely, beyond the employees and associates of our consortium members,” said Ulster County Planning Director Dennis Doyle, member of the Consortium’s steering committee.

‘We Ask for Your Help’

“The greater the participation, the better the information will be, so we ask for your help. Take the survey, ask your neighbor to respond, give it to fellow workers and send it to family and friends.” The survey can be accessed directly at: www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx

“If you want additional information on housing, visit the County Planning Board Web site at www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning...ng.shtml. The survey link can be found there as well,” Doyle added.

Toward Adequate Workforce Housing
The survey is the first step of an initiative to make sure that the workforce needed to maintain and grow the county’s economy can find a safe and decent homes within the county that they can afford.

The results may also become a barometer showing how Ulster County residents are coping with the fallout of the sub-prime mortgage crisis, high oil prices and the weakening economy.

“When completed, the survey will provide a first hand view of how well residents are managing housing costs today, and what they see in the future,” said Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg, chair of the Ulster County Housing Consortium. The findings will be used to help guide a major initiative to focus the attention of consumers and officials on meeting current and future housing needs.

Berg thanked the Ulster County Legislature for beginning the implementation of the recently adopted Housing Strategies Report with this effort of housing awareness. “In these difficult times, it’s gratifying that the county legislators are giving priority to the housing infrastructure so crucial to economic growth,” Berg added.

Has Housing Become Too Costly?
“Studies show that in many parts of the country, housing costs make it too difficult for the workers essential to a local economy to live close to where they work,” Doyle said.

“These are frequently office assistants and retail clerks, but as housing costs outstrip wages the impacts spread to critical employees, such as health and hospital workers. Housing costs also drive up business expenses, and influence location decisions by new companies,” Doyle explained.

“An increased awareness of housing costs is a necessary piece in the discussion of solutions. This survey will help us see the situation from the perspective of county residents and business owners. It will also help us understand what housing will be needed to support economic development in the future,” Doyle continued.

The results will be used by the Housing Consortium to focus on housing solutions for county residents, and to enlist support for housing needed to make Ulster County successful.