Seneca County Launches Housing Survey

The Seneca County Department of Planning & Community Development is launching a housing survey open to all residents of Seneca County as part of the ongoing Housing Needs Assessment. The Planning Department is strongly encouraging all residents to complete the survey which is available online or in person at the County Office Building located at 1 DiPronio Drive, Waterloo, NY 13165; local libraries; Village and Town Offices; and various local businesses.

Mitch Rowe, Seneca County Manager stated that “Housing has been a common topic of concern for many of our residents as well as County Government as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic that caused a tightening of the housing market, increased prices, and a rise in homelessness. Seneca County residents that complete the survey will be helping to address these issues.”

Jill Henry, Director of the Seneca County Department of Planning stated that “A widely available survey is one of our best tools to engage with residents from all areas of Seneca County to create a deeper understanding of housing challenges and opportunities within our communities. The survey results will be incorporated into the final Housing Needs Assessment report and used to guide further development of County housing policies and programming.”

Joe McGrath, Deputy Director of Seneca County Planning, went on to say that “The Housing Needs Assessment will be used to build stronger partnerships between Seneca County, New York State, regional housing nonprofits, and our local housing organizations. The survey and the Housing Needs Assessment will help our communities promote safe, decent, affordable, and attainable housing in Seneca County.”

McGrath tells Finger Lakes Daily News that they are collecting a wide-range of housing information.

Completing the anonymous survey takes roughly 10 minutes and includes a variety of questions such as the municipality where you live, age, current housing status, and other demographic information. The survey also asks questions regarding monthly costs, housing type, and utility costs, etc.

The survey will be available for one month starting on December 30, 2022 and ending January 27, 2023. The survey was developed by the consultants Highroad Community Planning & Analytics of Buffalo, NY, which Seneca County selected to complete the Housing Needs Assessment. The Seneca County Housing Needs Assessment is being funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Planning Grant awarded to Seneca County by the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal.

Take The Online Survey