For immediate release: 01/15/2020 5:30 p.m.

McDowell Group began surveying Valdez households this week in an effort to help City leaders better understand local housing needs.

The McDowell telephone survey includes a variety of questions related to housing in Valdez, including satisfaction with current housing; perceptions on the availability, quality, and affordability of housing; senior housing needs; and priorities for city housing efforts.

Valdez resident participation in the survey is encouraged and appreciated. Feedback will help determine housing gaps and the impact of those gaps on the local economy and community. Data from the housing needs assessment will also help City leaders prioritize types and locations of housing projects pursued in the near future.

McDowell selected a random sample of phone numbers, using billing zip codes in Valdez, to participate in the survey. Residents can expect calls on either their landline or cell phone in the evening and throughout the weekend. Answers will be kept confidential and reported in aggregate.

Additional opportunities for participation in the housing needs assessment, to include interviews with local stakeholders, employers, and housing professionals, will be incorporated later in the process.

McDowell Group, an Alaskan firm specializing in research and economic analysis, was founded in 1972 and conducts dozens of survey research projects each year across the state.

Contact: Martha Barberio, City of Valdez Economic Development Director, mbarberio@valdezak.gov, (907) 834-3490 or Dan Lesh, McDowell Group Project Manager, (907) 796-7609