Housing Element Update Survey Questions (English Version)

Since 1969, California has required that all cities and counties adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. California’s local governments meet this requirement by adopting Housing Elements as part of their “general plan” (also required by the state). This survey is an opportunity for the community to contribute to the process and help the City gain better insight on the community’s highest priorities on housing.

Santa Maria is a special place. There is a strong level of pride in the community. Your opinions are important to us. The City is committed to shaping housing regulations that reflect the community’s values and characteristics. Please take (approximately) 7 minutes to complete the following survey.

Participation in this survey is voluntary. Limit one submittal per email address. Your participation is confidential. Results from this survey will be reported collectively, with no personally identifiable information, and in a format where no comment can be attributed to any one respondent.

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* 1. Is the City of Santa Maria your primary place of residence?

Yes

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* 2. Please select all the following statements that describe yourself. I am a: [Select all that apply]

Property owner in Santa Maria

Business owner/operator in Santa Maria

Worker employed in Santa Maria

Residential renter in Santa Maria

Landlord for long-term rental property (or properties) in Santa Maria

Representative of a nonprofit, charitable or religious organization serving Santa Maria

Student in Santa Maria

Housing Developer or Home Builder

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Are you satisfied with your current housing situation?

Yes

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* 4. How would you best describe yourself?

Hispanic/Latino/Chicano origin

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

Other or Multi-racial

Decline to answer

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* 5. Please choose an income range that best describes your household. (combined income of all household members, annual total)

0 - $26,500

$26,501 - $39,500

$39,501 - $63,200

$63,201 - $77,500

$77,501 - $93,000

over $93,000

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* 6. Please choose your household size (include all those in the home regardless of age)

1 person

2 people

3 people

4 people

5 people

6 people

7 or more people

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* 7. Of the following options, which concepts do you feel reflect the main housing challenges in Santa Maria? (Choose any/all that apply.)

Lack of affordable housing options

Overcrowding

Too far from employment/job centers

Too far from transportation

Too far from services/entertainment/recreation

Housing that doesn’t meet community’s needs

Housing discrimination and/or segregation

Unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions

Other (please specify)

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* 8. How difficult is it for a household to find rental housing that it can afford in Santa Maria?

Very difficult

Somewhat difficult

Neither difficult nor easy

Somewhat easy

Very easy

I don’t know

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* 9. How difficult is it for a household to find housing for ownership that it can afford in Santa Maria?

Very difficult

Somewhat difficult

Neither difficult nor easy

Somewhat easy

Very easy

I don’t know

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* 10. Which of the following special needs groups identified below do you feel are most in need of housing and/or related services in the city? (Select up to three choices)

Seniors

Young adults (18 - 25 years old)

Female-headed households

Persons with disabilities

Persons experiencing homelessness

Large households (more than 7 persons)

Farmworkers

Service Workers (including teachers, firefighters, police officers)

First-time Homebuyers

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* 11. How important do you think the following housing related challenges are to the City of Santa Maria (1= Not Important, 5= Very Important).

	1	2	3	4	5
Young people who grow up in the City cannot afford to remain here	Young people who grow up in the City cannot afford to remain here 1	Young people who grow up in the City cannot afford to remain here 2	Young people who grow up in the City cannot afford to remain here 3	Young people who grow up in the City cannot afford to remain here 4	Young people who grow up in the City cannot afford to remain here 5
Service workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers can’t afford to live in the communities in which they work	Service workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers can’t afford to live in the communities in which they work 1	Service workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers can’t afford to live in the communities in which they work 2	Service workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers can’t afford to live in the communities in which they work 3	Service workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers can’t afford to live in the communities in which they work 4	Service workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers can’t afford to live in the communities in which they work 5
Ownership costs are too high	Ownership costs are too high 1	Ownership costs are too high 2	Ownership costs are too high 3	Ownership costs are too high 4	Ownership costs are too high 5
There is inadequate transit to serve housing	There is inadequate transit to serve housing 1	There is inadequate transit to serve housing 2	There is inadequate transit to serve housing 3	There is inadequate transit to serve housing 4	There is inadequate transit to serve housing 5
Growing families cannot afford appropriately sized housing	Growing families cannot afford appropriately sized housing 1	Growing families cannot afford appropriately sized housing 2	Growing families cannot afford appropriately sized housing 3	Growing families cannot afford appropriately sized housing 4	Growing families cannot afford appropriately sized housing 5
Lack of variety of affordable housing types	Lack of variety of affordable housing types 1	Lack of variety of affordable housing types 2	Lack of variety of affordable housing types 3	Lack of variety of affordable housing types 4	Lack of variety of affordable housing types 5

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* 12. What types of housing are needed in the City of Santa Maria? Please rate the following types, (1=Not Important, 5=Very Important)

	1	2	3	4	5
Single family detached housing	Single family detached housing 1	Single family detached housing 2	Single family detached housing 3	Single family detached housing 4	Single family detached housing 5
Duplex/attached ownership housing	Duplex/attached ownership housing 1	Duplex/attached ownership housing 2	Duplex/attached ownership housing 3	Duplex/attached ownership housing 4	Duplex/attached ownership housing 5
Condominiums	Condominiums 1	Condominiums 2	Condominiums 3	Condominiums 4	Condominiums 5
Multifamily apartments	Multifamily apartments 1	Multifamily apartments 2	Multifamily apartments 3	Multifamily apartments 4	Multifamily apartments 5
Senior housing	Senior housing 1	Senior housing 2	Senior housing 3	Senior housing 4	Senior housing 5
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)	Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 1	Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 2	Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 3	Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 4	Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 5
Permanent supportive housing (homeless, transitional, emergency, etc.)	Permanent supportive housing (homeless, transitional, emergency, etc.) 1	Permanent supportive housing (homeless, transitional, emergency, etc.) 2	Permanent supportive housing (homeless, transitional, emergency, etc.) 3	Permanent supportive housing (homeless, transitional, emergency, etc.) 4	Permanent supportive housing (homeless, transitional, emergency, etc.) 5
Housing for persons with disabilities	Housing for persons with disabilities 1	Housing for persons with disabilities 2	Housing for persons with disabilities 3	Housing for persons with disabilities 4	Housing for persons with disabilities 5
Dedicated affordable housing (housing with reduced rents or prices for lower income residents)	Dedicated affordable housing (housing with reduced rents or prices for lower income residents) 1	Dedicated affordable housing (housing with reduced rents or prices for lower income residents) 2	Dedicated affordable housing (housing with reduced rents or prices for lower income residents) 3	Dedicated affordable housing (housing with reduced rents or prices for lower income residents) 4	Dedicated affordable housing (housing with reduced rents or prices for lower income residents) 5
More housing near job centers	More housing near job centers 1	More housing near job centers 2	More housing near job centers 3	More housing near job centers 4	More housing near job centers 5
More housing near transit	More housing near transit 1	More housing near transit 2	More housing near transit 3	More housing near transit 4	More housing near transit 5
More ownership housing	More ownership housing 1	More ownership housing 2	More ownership housing 3	More ownership housing 4	More ownership housing 5

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* 13. As part of the Housing Element Update, the City will need to identify policies and programs to help achieve Santa Maria’s housing goals. Please prioritize the following potential actions that you think would be most beneficial in addressing Santa Maria’s housing issues (1=Lowest Priority; 5=Highest Priority).

	1	2	3	4	5
Update zoning regulations to allow more types of housing at greater densities	Update zoning regulations to allow more types of housing at greater densities 1	Update zoning regulations to allow more types of housing at greater densities 2	Update zoning regulations to allow more types of housing at greater densities 3	Update zoning regulations to allow more types of housing at greater densities 4	Update zoning regulations to allow more types of housing at greater densities 5
Help develop affordable housing for special needs groups	Help develop affordable housing for special needs groups 1	Help develop affordable housing for special needs groups 2	Help develop affordable housing for special needs groups 3	Help develop affordable housing for special needs groups 4	Help develop affordable housing for special needs groups 5
Partner with local groups to provide services and support for special needs groups	Partner with local groups to provide services and support for special needs groups 1	Partner with local groups to provide services and support for special needs groups 2	Partner with local groups to provide services and support for special needs groups 3	Partner with local groups to provide services and support for special needs groups 4	Partner with local groups to provide services and support for special needs groups 5
Seek grants to help fund first time home buyer assistance programs	Seek grants to help fund first time home buyer assistance programs 1	Seek grants to help fund first time home buyer assistance programs 2	Seek grants to help fund first time home buyer assistance programs 3	Seek grants to help fund first time home buyer assistance programs 4	Seek grants to help fund first time home buyer assistance programs 5
Seek grants to help fund property renovation and rehabilitation programs	Seek grants to help fund property renovation and rehabilitation programs 1	Seek grants to help fund property renovation and rehabilitation programs 2	Seek grants to help fund property renovation and rehabilitation programs 3	Seek grants to help fund property renovation and rehabilitation programs 4	Seek grants to help fund property renovation and rehabilitation programs 5
Provide more information about existing city and county programs and resources	Provide more information about existing city and county programs and resources 1	Provide more information about existing city and county programs and resources 2	Provide more information about existing city and county programs and resources 3	Provide more information about existing city and county programs and resources 4	Provide more information about existing city and county programs and resources 5
Help provide infrastructure connections to develop large vacant parcels	Help provide infrastructure connections to develop large vacant parcels 1	Help provide infrastructure connections to develop large vacant parcels 2	Help provide infrastructure connections to develop large vacant parcels 3	Help provide infrastructure connections to develop large vacant parcels 4	Help provide infrastructure connections to develop large vacant parcels 5
Partner with local groups to provide renter focused support services (e.g. tenant relocation, landlord disputes, fair housing support)	Partner with local groups to provide renter focused support services (e.g. tenant relocation, landlord disputes, fair housing support) 1	Partner with local groups to provide renter focused support services (e.g. tenant relocation, landlord disputes, fair housing support) 2	Partner with local groups to provide renter focused support services (e.g. tenant relocation, landlord disputes, fair housing support) 3	Partner with local groups to provide renter focused support services (e.g. tenant relocation, landlord disputes, fair housing support) 4	Partner with local groups to provide renter focused support services (e.g. tenant relocation, landlord disputes, fair housing support) 5

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* 14. Do you have anything to add? [Short answer]

Thank you for completing this survey.

you have any questions about this survey, please contact:

Frank Albro, Principal Planner
City of Santa Maria
110 S. Pine Street, Room 101
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 925-0951 ext. 2379
falbro@cityofsantamaria.org