EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING

PUTTING HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND

HEALTH DATA TO WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

A Housing Needs Assessment concludes with quantifying the number of housing units needed in the market by specifics such as:

·        Rentals vs. for-sale

·        Price point

·        Number of bedrooms

·        Market segment (percentages of housing types needed by families, seniors, young professionals, people with disabilities, etc.)

The assessment typically provides recommendations on how to achieve certain housing goals and will provide recommendations on potential housing policy initiatives that would benefit the local housing market.

In instances where a community has available land that could be used to develop new housing or the adaptive reuse of existing structures, site-specific analysis can also be included as part of an overall Housing Needs Assessment.

An analysis can even be conducted on submarkets or select neighborhoods within the subject community. 

Data sorts can be customized to pave a pathway toward meeting the specific needs of a community.

EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING

PUTTING HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND

HEALTH DATA TO WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

A Housing Needs Assessment is a tool that can turn data into a vivid picture of what a community needs now and in the future – for the core basic need of all humans – safe, affordable, well-located housing.

A Housing Needs Assessment typically involves compilation and evaluation of specific demographic data, economic characteristics and trends, current housing inventory and characteristics, government policies and incentives, and the adequacy and availability of selected community services.

EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING

PUTTING HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND

HEALTH DATA TO WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

The United State is in the midst of an historic housing crisis.

Each day TV news lead stories, newspaper headlines and online news sources tell the stories of homeownership out of reach for the middle class, rents doubling in a few years in hot markets and the working poor teetering on homelessness as millions spend more than half of their gross income on housing alone.

Planners, long before the days of super computers and instant internet access to reems of data, have tried to create land use policy that meets the needs of a diverse population.

LISBON, PORTUGAL

 CIDADE DOS MIRADOUROS

Lisbon panorama from Mirador da Senhora do Monte, the highest point in the city and footsteps from my home away from home in Graca.

LISBON, PORTUGAL

CIDADE DOS MIRADOUROS

Moon over Lisbon. Miradouro da Senhora do Monte Graca. 

View next to Secret Garden social club -- with its Bossa Nova and Sangria Vinho Branco.

Portugal is filled with romantic images.

LISBON, PORTUGAL

CIDADE DOS MIRADOUROS

Joined the Secret Garden Social Club for life. 

Perks include views from Monte Nossa Senhora da Graca, plus great food, drinks, people and live Bossa Nova. 

Best 5 Euro investment of a lifetime?

DISABILITY FRIENDLY: HOW TO MOVE FROM CLUELESS TO INCLUSIVE

IN PRAISE OF WORLD-RENOWNED DISABILITY ACTIVIST AND CONSULTANT, JOHN D. KEMP’S BOOK

For decades, I have been involved in creating a better built environment for people with disabilities – so they can more easily access jobs, education, recreation and daily activities in their communities.

I also have long said that corporate and civic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts fall flat if they do not emphasize disability as a major aspect of DEI initiatives.

Now there is a book, a breezy read considering the wealth of outstanding information, statistics and anecdotes, that addresses the benefits of DEI through the lens of disability.

The book Disability Friendly -- by John D. Kemp, Co-Founder of the American Association of People with Disabilities – states the case for inclusion with spot-on statistics plus easy-to-follow instructions for companies committed to disability inclusion.

I agree with the press material that states:

“Disability Friendly shares why people with disabilities must not be left out of America's work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and explains how everyone can harness the untapped potential of disabled employees, make reasonable accommodations, and create cultures of dignity, respect, pride and inclusion."

Kemp also explains Disability Culture from the perspective of a person with the lived disability experience. and discusses the barriers and opportunities for accommodating the millions of Americans with disabilities.

Published by Wiley, Kemp’s book cuts to the bone with stats that must motivate a call to action:

“Although 90% of organizations say they prioritize diversity, the unfortunate reality is that only 4% consider disability in their DEI initiatives. People with disabilities make up at least 15% of the population (more than 1 billion people worldwide) yet are too often overlooked.

Saturday is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed worldwide and initiated by the United Nations.

Kemp's compact, compelling book was just published and it's a must-read for everyone who cares abut people with disabilities.

Kemp's clear prose makes it clear that employing people with disabilities in an inclusive workplace is not simply a benefit for wheelchair users and others with disabilities.

Inclusion benefits companies in real dollars and helps fuel the economy via a more diverse workforce.

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Disability+Friendly%3A+How+to+Move+from+Clueless+to+Inclusive-p-9781119830092