Re: Re: AHS: Last Call for 2013 Module Suggestions

From: Vandenbroucke, David A [mailto:David.A.Vandenbroucke@hud.gov]

Ms. Carstens:

Coverage at the Census Tract level is mainly a question of sample size. The American Community Survey, which is an annual survey and has a much larger sample than the American Housing Survey's biennial sample, is still limited to preparing tract-level estimates based on five-year averages. The AHS simply doesn't have the sample size to do that; nor do we expect ever have the budget to increase our sample to what would be necessary.

I'm afraid your "suggestions...below" didn't appear in your email. It might be better to send them directly to me instead of via the mailing list.

Dav Vandenbroucke
Senior Economist
U.S. Dept. HUD
david.a.vandenbroucke@hud.gov
202-402-5890

From: Laura Carstens [Lcarsten@cityofdubuque.org]

Dear Dav,

As a small city of 58,000, Dubuque, Iowa, we would like to see the AHS extended to all cities over 50,000 because this would cover Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement communities. Census data on population, housing, and economic indicators is required for cities like Dubuque is required by HUD for preparation and updating of the Consolidated Plan and analysis of impediments to fair housing, as well as other federal funding and programs. This data is not collected in the decennial Census, so we would like to have it collected for cities our size through the American Housing Survey. We recommend that this data be made available at the Census Tract level, and even better, at the block group level if possible.

We also support the suggested changes for expanding energy use to utility use, and the suggestions for the neighborhood and disaster modules below.

Thank you.

Laura Carstens
Planning Services Manager
City Hall - 50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque IA 52001
Phone: 563-589-4210
Fax: 563-589-4221