Employers input needed for housing survey
Employer input needed for housing survey
By HEIDI DESCH
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish business owners are being asked to participate in an employer housing survey that will help quantify Whitefish’s workforce housing needs.
Many Whitefish businesses report that filling open positions has become difficult — if not impossible — in recent years, and that one of the top reasons is the inability of qualified job candidates to find affordable housing.
The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and the city of Whitefish, along with support from businesses and nonprofit organizations, are spearheading efforts to assess the existing workforce housing shortage and to develop a plan for addressing needs in the future. The chamber has contracted with Rees Consulting, a Crested Butte, Colorado-based firm, to conduct the study.
A key part of that assessment is the employer housing survey. The survey is for all types of employers — small businesses, government agencies, large corporations, community organizations, self-employed persons and all others. All employers within the 59937 Whitefish ZIP code area are encouraged to participate.
The ultimate goal of the workforce housing needs assessment is to identify how much housing is needed, at what price point and for whom in the workforce. The analysis will look at the relationship between jobs and housing, demographic characteristics, key economic indicators, commuting patterns, employment needs, housing costs relative to income, and both rental and for-sale market conditions.
In addition to the employer survey, the assessment will include analysis of existing data and focus groups made up of real estate agents, lenders and property mangers.
The final report is expected in October.
Surveys can be accessed by going to the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce website at www.whitefishchamber.org, and clicking on the “Employer Housing Survey” link at the top of the page.
Questions can be directed to Project Manager Wendy Sullivan at wendy@wswconsult.com.