Core module changes

DRAFT: Changes to the AHS Core Modules for 2015
1. Overview
2. Public Records Usage
3. Core Module: Housing Unit
4. Core Module: Demographics
5. Core Module: Disabilities
6. Core Module: Inventory
7. Core Module: Equipment
8. Core Module: Problems/Breakdown
9. Core Module: Home Improvement and Repairs
10. Core Module: Recent Movers
11. Core Module: Real Estate Transaction
12. Core Module: Mortgage
13. Core Module: Taxes and Fees
14. Core Module: Renter Subsidies
15. Core Module: Utilities and Lodgers
16. Core Module: Income
17. Core Module: Non-Relative Income Plus
18. Core Module: Ratio Verification
19: Core Module: Neighborhood Rating
20. Core Module: Manager
21. Core Module: Neighborhood (new for 2015)

1. Overview
Generally speaking, the core modules of the American Housing Survey will remain intact for 2015
and beyond. The following types of changes are being made:






Add: A question of series of questions not in the 2013 AHS will be added to the 2015 AHS
Delete: A question included in the 2013 AHS core modules will be removed for the 2015 AHS
Edit: The text of a question found in the 2013 AHS core module will be changed, but the
question will remain.
Universe Edit: The text of a question found in the 2013 core modules will remain, but the
universe of respondents will be significantly altered.
Operational: A significant change to how we use the respondent’s answer to create an output
variable.

2. Public Records Usage
There are a number of questions in the Core Modules for which HUD is investigating the feasibility
of replacing the question with data gathered from public records. Example include property tax
amount, number of stories, housing type, etc. At this time HUD has not completed the research to
determine feasibility.

3. Core Module: Housing Unit
Variable
or Field
Name
HTYPE

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Discussion

Is this a house, an apt, a
MH, or some other type of
residence?

Edit: Combine two mobile
home categories

We made this change to
reduce respondent burden
and improve accuracy.

Delete

We dropped this question
because this information is
no longer used for editing
purposes.

REUAD

Do you share a furnace or
boiler with the unit next
door? How many units
share?
<< Reason unit added >>

Delete

BACEN/
HU2DIS

Was this structure built
before April of 2000?

Census will be sampling
from the MAF for the 2015
AHS and will not be
interviewing extra units
created from an AHS unit.
We dropped this question
because this information is
no longer used for editing
purposes.
We made this change for
HUD programmatic
purposes.

SHARFR/
NUNITS4

Delete

Add
COMPLEX

Some apartment buildings
are a part of a complex of
multiple apartment
buildings. Is this building
part of a complex?

4. Core Module: Demographics
For the 2013 AHS, HUD conducted an experiment to test proposed changes to household
relationship types, domestic partnerships, and cohabitating adults. At this time, HUD has not
decided whether to permanently adopt these changes for the 2015 AHS.
A number of minor tweaks to the demographics questions were made to bring the AHS wording in
line with the Current Population Survey (CPS) wording. Below is a list of notable additions to the
2015 AHS or changes to that will differ from the CPS.
Variable or
Field
Name
EDU

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Discussion

The highest grade or level
of school you completed.

Edit: No longer asking this
question for children
under 18.

REL

What is your relationship
to the householder

Edit: We will not ask the
question series about
whether a child is a
stepchild, biological child,
or an adopted child

Although the CPS asks this
question for all children,
HUD did not feel it was
necessary to continue to
ask this question for
children under 18.
Although the CPS asks this
series of questions for all
children, HUD did not feel
it was necessary to
continue to ask this
question series for AHS
households.

PAR

Do your parents live in this
household? /Who is your
parent?)

We are collecting both
parents instead of one.

RACE

What is your race?

Edit: We will adopt the
CPS race categories.

PLINE

Operational: We will be
creating a unique ID for
each person in the
household, and this ID will
be carried across surveys.

There was strong support
from the AHS user
community to expand the
AHS race categories to
include Asian and Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
categories.
This will allow AHS users to
more easily determine
household changes.

5. Core Module: Disability
Variable or
Field
Name
HEARDIFF

2013 Instrument Text

Are you deaf or do you
have serious difficulty
hearing even when
wearing a hearing aid?

2015 Change

Edit: Change to ACS
wording (drop hearing aid
reference)

Discussion

The change is being made
to ensure consistency with
ACS.

6. Core Module: Inventory
Variable or
Field
Name
FRSITQ

TPARKB

OLDECQ

CLIMB

ELEVQ

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Excluding the dealer's lot,
is this the first site on
which this MH was placed?

Delete

How many, including your
MH, are in the group?
Enter 21 for any number
21 or greater.

Edit: Allow actual value
(up to three digits).

We have recorded that
your home was built
before 1920. What decade
was your home built?
How many stories are
there from the main
entrance of the building to
the main entrance of your
apt?
Is there a passenger
elevator to your floor?

Edit: Indicate that the
"best estimate" is ok.
Delete

Discussion

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden. This information
is not used by HUD for
policy or programmatic
purposes.
This change is being made
in response to user
request.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

Delete from Core and
move to “Accessibility”
rotating topical module

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

Delete from Core and
move to “Accessibility”
rotating topical module

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

ELEVWK

Is at least one of those
elevators in working
order?

Delete

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

BATHS/
HALFB

How many full bathrooms?

Edit: How many full
bathrooms do you have in
your home? A full
bathroom is one that has a
sink with running water,
and a toilet, and either a

This change is being made
in order to elicit more
accurate responses.

bathtub or shower.
EXCLUS (number of
exclusive rooms for
business space), DIRAC1
and DIRAC2 (room/rooms
have direct access from
outside of home)
How many rooms, if any,
are used both as business
space and for personal
use?

Delete

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

Delete

DRSHOP

How many rooms are used
as doctor’s office

Delete

INCP

Driveway?

Delete

TRUCKS

How many vans or
trucks…?

Delete

CARS

How many automobiles… ?

Delete

GUTREHAB

Gut rehabilitation is
defined as the general
replacement of the interior
of a building including the
HVAC, plumbing and
electrical components.
Has this housing unit
undergone gut
rehabilitation in last 10
years (for units built
before 2005).
In what month was your
home originally built?

Add

This change is being made
because working at home
has become so common
that this question will
confuse respondents.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden. Similar
information is available
from other surveys.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden. Similar
information is available
from other surveys.
This question is being
added to determine if a
housing unit was gutted
out and rebuilt recently.
This addition is being
made at the requests of
AHS users.

EXLCUS/
DIRAC1/
DIRAC2

BUSPER

MBUILT

Delete

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

7. Core Module: Equipment
Variable or
Field
Name
CFUEL

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Discussion

What fuel is used MOST
for cooking--electricity, gas
or something else?

Edit: Drop Kerosene, Coal,
and Wood as specific
choices.

DISPL/
TRASH/

Does your home have a
garbage disposal? Trash
compactor?

Delete

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden. There are very
few responses in these
categories.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

DISH/
WASH/
DRY

Does your home have a
Dishwasher? Washing
machine? Dryer?
Is your machine in working
order?
What type of sewage
disposal system do you
have?

Edit: Change questions to
“does your home have a
XXX in working order?”

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

Edit: What type of sewage
disposal septic tank or
cesspool system do you
have?
Universe Edit: AHS is
adopting the RECS
phrasing for asking about a
full bathroom (see
Inventory Module
changes). In the event a
housing unit does not have
at least 1 full bathroom,
these questions will be
triggered.

This is a minor change to
question wording.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden. There are very
few responses in these
categories.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

SEWDISTP

BSINK/
TOILET/
TUB

Is there a bathroom sink
anywhere in your home?
(Does your full bath
contain:) A flush toilet? A
bathtub or a shower?

WFUEL

What type of fuel is used
MOST to heat the water?

Drop kerosene, coal, and
wood answer choices. Add
probe for solar.

WATERQ

Does most of the water for
your home come from a
water system, either public
or private, from an

Change categories to
Public/private water
system; Individual well;
Other (no specify for other

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

WELLV/
WELLQ
WELDUS

WATERS

WATERD

individual well, or from
some other source?
Is the well drilled or dug?

Does that
provide
water to 15 or more
homes?
In your opinion, is the
water from this
safe
for cooking and drinking?
Where do you get your
water for drinking?

HPORTC/
SHTEQP1

What type of equipment is
it?

FPINS1/
FPINS2/
FPINS3
ROOMHTR

<< Fireplace inserts >>

ARSYS2V

Type of
Solar

Room heaters vented or
unvented to outside

category).
Delete this question from
Core module and move to
Healthy Home module.
Delete this question from
Core module and move to
Healthy Home module.
Delete this question from
Core module and move to
Healthy Home module.
Delete this question from
Core module and move to
Healthy Home module.
Edit: Change category
wordings to include pellet
stoves.
Delete

Edit: “Are all room heaters
vented to the outside
through a chimney, flue or
pipes?” Answer categories
will be Yes and No.
Edit: "swamp coolers" are
now considered A/C

(Last time) we recorded
that your home had
central air conditioning. Is
this information still
correct?
How does solar energy heat Add
your water?
1. By heating the water
directly with a solar hot
water system, such as a solar
water heater.
2. By heating the water
indirectly by powering a
standard hot water heater
with electricity from solar
panels on your roof.”

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to bring categories up to
date.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

This change is being made
to bring categories up to
date.

This change is being made
at the request of AHS
users.

Carbon
Monoxide
Detector
MONOX,
COPWR,
COBATT)

Do you have a working
carbon monoxide
detector inside your unit?

Add to Core

Is your carbon monoxide
detector powered by
electricity, batteries or both?
Have the batteries in your
carbon monoxide detector
been replaced in the past 6
months?

Do you currently have a
SMOKE,
working smoke detector
SMOKPWR, inside your unit?
BATTERY
Is your smoke detector
powered by electricity,
batteries or both?

Add to core

FIERX

Have the batteries in your
smoke detector been
replaced in the past 6
months?
Do you have a fire
Add to core
extinguisher in your
^home_apartment2 that was
purchased or recharged in
the last 2 years?

Sprinkler

Is there a fire sprinkler
system inside your unit?

Add to core

We are also making an important update to the shared bathroom question (SHARPF). The shared
bathroom question has historically been used to determine if a housing unit is adequate. However,
recent research by Eggers (2013) has raised serious concerns about the accuracy of responses to this
question. In response, HUD is revising the question.
Previous question text

Some people live in neighborhoods where some of the houses don't have complete plumbing facilities.
So, they must use other people's bathrooms. Does anyone not living in your home, not counting guests
or workers, regularly use your bathroom?
New SHARPF Question Series:
1. You have indicated you do not have a full bathroom (or the parts of a full bathroom) in your housing
unit. Where do you go to use the bathroom (or part of bathroom you are missing)?
a. A neighbor’s bathroom
b. A common bathroom shared by two or more housing units
c. Other; specify
2. Are you required to share your bathroom with a neighboring housing unit?
This does not include temporary situations, such as during a renovation or
plumbing breakdown. Y/N (If the answer is Yes)
3. Who is requiring you to share your bathroom?
FR Instruction?: If the answer to this question suggests that the respondent did not understand the
initial question, the FR should revise the prior answer.
a. Landlord
b. Owner
c. Management Company
d. Other; specify

8. Problems/Breakdown
Variable or
Field
Name
OTHCOLD2

RATMICE

MAJR1

MAJR2

2013 Instrument Text
Other reason for cold

Was it a rat, mouse, or
aren't you sure what it
was?
When the owner has to do
MAJOR maintenance or
repairs: Do they start
quickly enough?
Do they solve the problem
quickly once they start?

MAJR3

Are they polite and
considerate of your home?

MINR1

For MINOR maintenance
or repairs: Do they start
quickly enough?

MINR2

Do they solve the problem
quickly once they start?

MINR3

Are they polite and
considerate of your home?

BLDMNT

On maintenance of the
building, are you
completely satisfied, partly

2015 Change
Edit: Remove specify from
Other-specify cetgory.
Edit: Add windows to the
“inadequate insulation”
category.
Edit: Add “power outage”
to “utility interruption”.
Delete

Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating

Discussion

These changes are being
made to reduce the
number of responses in
the other category.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

GRDMNT

Mold
/MldRoom

satisfied, or dissatisfied?

topical module

On maintenance of the
grounds, are you
completely satisfied, partly
satisfied, or dissatisfied?
Mold questions

Delete from Core and
move to Tenant
Satisfaction rotating
topical module
Add: We are adding
questions about mold to
the Core. These questions
were previously in the
Healthy Home module.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.
This change is being made
at the request of the AHS
user community.

9. Core Module: Home Improvement and Repairs
Variable or
Field Name

2013 Instrument Text

Interior
Addition/
Finishing/
Renovations
Remodel

2015 Change

Discussion

Ask as one question per
room.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

Edit: Break bathroom and
kitchen into separate
areas so as to ask separate
questions.

This change was made at
the request of the AHS
user community.

Text for kitchen: …
replacing or reconfiguring
cabinets and countertops.
Text for bathroom:
…replacing bathtub, or
retiling the shower or floor
(FR Note: Do not include
simple replacement of
toilet or sink.
Add question about
painting/ wallpapering in
order to decrease
responses in Other-Specify
category.
Add question about
landscaping/ sprinkler
system in order to
decrease responses in
Other-Specify category.
Any changes done to the
exterior of your home?
Such as repair chimney,
stairs, etc. in order to
decrease responses in
Other-Specify category.

Interior
work (New)

Exterior
Work (new)

Structural
Work (New)

Completion

Is this job complete?

Add:
Yes or no

This change is being made
to reduce the number of
responses in the other
category.
This change is being made
to reduce the number of
responses in the other
category.
This change is being made
to reduce the number of
responses in the other
category.

This change was made at
the request of AHS user

Date (New)

Financing

If Yes, in 2013 or 2014
If No, When did you incur
most expense? 2013,
2014, 50/50?

“What was the main source
of funding for this job?
1. Cash from savings
2. Cash from refinancing
your home
3. A home equity loan
4. Homeowner’s Insurance
settlement
5. Other”

Add

Motivation “What was the principal
Add
reason for undertaking these
home improvement projects
over the last two years?
(Select single principal
reason) [categories pending]
1. Prepare home for sale
2. Improve energy efficiency
of home
3. Make the home more
accessible given the needs of
household members or
visitors
4. Change (or anticipated
change) in number of people
living in the home
5. Repair damage from a
natural disaster or insurance
claim
6. Desire to modernize,
upgrade, or add features to
home
7. Desire for more space
8. Need to replace broken or
old components of home
9. Want to increase value of
home as an investment
10. Desire to avoid
moving/buying another
home
11. Other (Please specify)
Did the household get a low- Delete
SUBFIX
interest loan or grant from a
government program to help
pay for making any of these
repairs or alterations to your
home?
ENEFIC

Were any of the jobs
reported done for energy
efficiency purposes?

community.

Delete

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

TAXINC

Did you receive Federal or
Delete
state tax incentives or
financial incentives from
your utility company for
making energy efficiency
improvements or purchasing
energy efficient appliances?)

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden.

10. Core Module: Recent Movers
The Recent Movers module was significantly revised. Below is a list of the new questions in the
module, the revised questions, and a few questions from 2013 that will remain in the 2015 module.
New Questions
MOVFORCE: Were you forced to move by a landlord, a bank or other financial institution, the
government, or because of a disaster or fire? Y/N
[if N] WHYMOV: I am going to read you three reasons for moving. If one of these three
reasons is the primary reason you chose to move, please indicate which one




A new job or job transfer
To form your own household
To be closer to family, including for health reasons, economic reasons, or any other
reason



Some other reason

I am going to read you another three reasons for moving. If one of these three reasons is the
primary reason you chose to move, please indicate which one





Because of a change in household or family size, including marriage, divorce, separation,
or child birth or adoption
To reduce commuting time
To upgrade to a larger home or a better quality home
Some other reason

I am going to read you the last three reasons for moving. If one of these three reasons is the
primary reason you chose to move, please indicate which one.




To reduce your housing costs
To be in a more desirable neighborhood
Some other reason (NO OTHER-SPECIFY)

STOPLK: In some cases, people are not able to conduct a full search for a new home and they
end up choosing to live in a less desirable location. Did you end your housing search sooner
than you would have liked? Y/N
Please answer Yes or No to the following two questions concerning your housing search:



Did you end your housing search because you had to move quickly and did not have
time to fully explore your housing options?
Did you end your housing search because you had difficulty traveling to other
neighborhoods to find preferred housing?

Revised Questions
HEARHS: How did you find this apartment or house?
These groups should be randomized.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Family, friends, or other word of mouth
Saw it in person or already knew the area
Internet site (such as Craig’s List, apartments.com, realtor.com, or Zillow)
Newspaper or other publication
Talking with a real estate agent
Apartment rental agency listing
Sign on outside of building/house
Other (NO SPECIFY)

2013 Questions That Will Remain in 2015 Module
ALMV, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD: We are keeping the series of questions that determine the
mover groups.
XNRATE, XHRATE: We are keeping the two questions that ask the respondent to rate the
previous neighborhood and housing unit (better, same, worse).
XUNIT, XTEN, XPER, XHEAD, XREL: We are keeping the series of questions that determine the
housing unit type and tenure of a recent mover’s prior housing unit.
XCOST: We are keeping the question that asks the recent mover respondent if their housing cost
increased, stayed the same, or decreased, relative to their prior residence.
XZIP: Add: What zip code did you live in just before moving here?
New (if XZIP=DK): Did you move more than 50 miles?

11. Core Module: Real Estate Transaction
Variable or
Field Name
FRSTOC

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Discussion

Were you the first person
to occupy this home or did
someone else live here
before you?
When you got this home
did anyone make inquiries
or have this house
inspected or tested for
lead paint? Lead solder?
Any repairs? Adjustments
to purchase price?
Was the main source of
down payment the sale of
a previous home, savings,
or something else?
Have you ever owned a
home before?

Delete

This change was made to
reduce respondent
burden.

Delete

This change was made to
reduce respondent
burden.

Edit: Edit the category
"savings or cash on hand"
to include 401k.

WHNGET

When did this household
get this home?

Edit: When did you buy or
take ownership of this
home?

This change was made to
reflect that people use
401k to fund home
purchases.
This change was made to
clear up wording
confusion.
This change was made to
clear up wording
confusion with word
“get.”

NROWNR

Is the ownership of the
unit shared with anyone
NOT living here?)

Delete

NRPAYM

Does anyone not living
here pay some of the
mortgage or utility costs?

Delete

TPBPAI/
TPBSOL/
TREP/ TADJ

DWNPAY

FRSTHO

Edit: Is this the first home
you have owned?

12. Core Module: Mortgage
Although housing costs are a very important component of the AHS, several questions related to
mortgages have very low response rates and/or place a significant time or recall burden on the
respondent.
In addition to edits and deletions of questions, HUD is currently investigating the feasibility of using
mortgage information obtained from third-party sources and matching it to the AHS housing unit,
thereby eliminating a significant burden on the respondent and improving accuracy of responses.
Variable or
Field Name

2013 Instrument Text

PMIAMT

How much was the
mortgage insurance or
PMI payment?

LNFNBR

Did you select the
financial institution that
refinanced this_
because the company
called you on the
telephone or sent you a
solicitation in the mail?
… did you compare
mortgages… and Did you
select
because of

<< For ARMs - what the
rate is indexed to,
including other, specify
response>>
ARM series - Can the rate
change? The number
times, etc.

MGREAS1/
MGREAS2/
MGREASSP
ADJDPEND/
ADJDPNSP

ADJRATEF/
ADJRATEO/
MAXADJ/
MAXADJTM/
ADJFIX/
ORIGINTW/
ORIGINTF/
MAXINTW/
MAXINTF
SHOCK

Was the increase in your
mortgage… so great as to

2015 Change

Discussion

Edit: Change question
text to reflect we are
asking about monthly
cost.
Delete

This change was made to
align question with
current PMI payment
practice.
This change was made to
reduce respondent
burden.

Delete

This change was made to
reduce respondent
burden and because of
low response rates.
This change was made to
reduce respondent
burden and because of
low response rates.
This change was made to
reduce respondent
burden and because of
low response rates.

Delete

Delete

Delete

This change was made to
reduce respondent

make it difficult to afford
burden and because of
the new payment?
low response rates.
WHYPMTCH – Edit: “Your mortgage payment can change if the amounts you owe for property taxes or
homeowners’ insurance change. Did your mortgage payment change for any of the following other
reasons…?
1. Lender modified mortgage to prevent foreclosure?
2. Mortgage no longer allows you to decide how much to pay?
3. The minimum payment choice increased?
4. Mortgage changed from interest only to interest plus payment in order to reduce mortgage balance?
5. Mortgage changed from fixed rate to adjustable rate or vice versa?
6. The adjustable interest rate changed?
7. Anything else?”

13. Core Module: Taxes and Fees
Variable or
Field Name
TXRE/
AMTXRE

2013 Instrument Text
Last year did you receive a
real estate property tax
rebate… What was the
amount?

2015 Change
Delete

Discussion
This change is being made
because 43% report they
don't know.

14. Core Module: Renter Subsidies
Variable or
Field Name

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Discussion

RNTADJ1/2

Does anyone in the HH
work for the owner, or is
anyone related to the
owner? Is the rent
reduced because
someone in the HH works
for or is related to the
owner?

This change is being made
to clear up confusion in
current question
formatting.

RENT

What is the rent for this
housing unit?

Edit: Break into 2
questions. Should read
Is the rent reduced for this
unit because some in the
household works for
owner?
Is the rent reduced for this
unit because some in the
household is related to
owner?
Edit: What does this
household pay out of their
pocket for rent?

PRENT

Of the $ rent you
reported, how much is
this household required to
pay?

Delete

This change is being made
to clear up confusion in
current question
formatting.
See RENT edit. This
change is being made to
clear up confusion in
current question
formatting.

15. Core Module: Utilities and Lodgers
At this time, HUD is still determining our strategy for asking utility questions. More information will
be provided at a later date.
Variable or
Field Name
LODSTAT/
RNTDUE/
LODRNT/
FOOD

2013 Instrument Text
Does lodger pay a regular
fixed rent as a lodger to
someone in this
household? How often is
the lodger's rent due?
How much is the rent?
Does that include food?

2015 Change
Delete, but ask revised
question in Income
module (SEE QRENT)

Discussion
This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden and clarify if the
lodger is paying rent
under a lease agreement.

16. Core Module: Income
Variable or
Field Name
QSAL

2013 Instrument Text
Since
did you receive
any earnings from wages,
tips, bonuses, or
commissions?

2015 Change
Edit: Change to match
ACS, include word
"salary":
Add: ACS-like screener
question for employment
“Did person work for pay
at a job or for an
individual in the last 12
months…?”

QOTHER

QINT

QRENT

QWELF

Discussion
This change is being made
to provide consistency
with ACS wording, which
is believed to be better
than current AHS wording.

Since
, did you receive
unemployment
compensation from any
veteran's payments not
already mentioned, or any
other income?
Since
did you have
interest from savings,
money market funds,
IRAs, CDs, or other
interest bearing accounts?

Edit: Adopt ACS Q47h
wording.

This change is being made
to provide consistency
with ACS wording, which
is believed to be better
than current AHS wording.

Edit: Remove IRA from
question text.

Since
did you receive
rental income?

Edit: Add “net” to
question text. Add
…”from properties other
than your current
home?” to the question.

This change is being made
to provide some
consistency with ACS
wording, which is believed
to be better than current
AHS wording.
This change is being made
to provide consistency
with ACS wording.

Did you receive any public Universe edit: Question is This change is being made
assistance or public
only asked of households
to reduce respondent
welfare payments from
with <300% of poverty
burden and clarify what is
the state or local welfare
level.
meant by welfare.
office since
. Do not
Edit: Change wording to:
QSAL/SALQ (Since
did you receive any earnings from wages, tips, bonuses, or commissions?/How
much did you receive since ____?) – Pending Edit: Change to match ACS-CAPI “Since ___did you

receive any wages or salary?/How much did you receive in wages and salary from all jobs before taxes
and other deductions?/Did you receive any [additional] tips, bonuses or commissions during the past
12 months?/How much did you receive in tips, bonuses, or commissions from all jobs before taxes and
other deductions?)

include food stamps.

QFS1

Did this
receive Food
Stamp Benefits or
assistance from SNAP
since
.

"Did you receive any
public assistance, such as
Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF), or
public welfare cash
assistance…? Do not
include WIC.
Universe edit: Question is
only asked of households
with <300% of poverty
level.
Edit: Adopt ACS Q15
wording.

This change is being made
to reduce respondent
burden and to provide
consistency with ACS
wording, which is believed
to be better than current
AHS wording.

17. Core Module: Non-Relative Income Plus
No changes are being made to this module.
18. Core Module: Ratio Verification
Variable or Field
Name
TYPEHLP

2013 Instrument Text

2015 Change

Discussion

In these difficult
economic times, many
people have trouble
making ends meet. Do
you receive any EXTRA
help from people or
groups outside the
household to meet your
monthly expenses, such
as ….
What kind of help do
you receive with food
or groceries?
What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?

Delete

These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

Delete

CLOTH/CLOTMH

What kind of help do
you receive with
clothes?
What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?

Delete

CARPH/CARPMH

What kind of help do
you receive with car or
transportation
expenses?

Delete

These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.
These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.
These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

GROCH/GROCMH

What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?
KIDCH/KIDCMH

What kind of help do

Delete

These questions are

you receive with child
care?

being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?
MEDIH/ MEDIMH

What kind of help do
you receive with
medical care or
medicine?

Delete

These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

Delete

These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

Delete

These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

Delete

These questions are
being deleted to reduce
respondent burden.
HUD does not use this
information in the
calculation of income or
housing cost burden.

What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?
UTILH/ UTILMH

What kind of help do
you receive with utility
bills?
What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?

COSTH/ COSTMH

What kind of help do
you receive with the
rent?
What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?

ROTHE/ OTHEH/
OTHRMH

Do you receive any
other help or assistance
in making ends meet?
What other kind of help
or assistance do you
receive?
What is the average
monthly dollar amount
of this help?

19. Core Module: Ratings
The questions in this module are being moved to the “Neighborhood Quality” core module.
20. Core Module: Manager

Variable or Field
Name
OWNHERE

2013 Instrument Text
Does the owner or
resident manager live in
this complex?

2015 Change
Edit:
For 2-4 unit structures
and TENURE=RENTER:
Does the owner of this
building live in one of
the units in this
building (Y/N).
If N, does the property
manager live in one of
the units in this
building?
For 5+ unit structures
and TENURE=RENTER:
Does the owner or
manager live in this
apartment complex?

Discussion
HUD is making this
change for
programmatic reasons.

21. Core Module: Neighborhood Quality (New for 2015)
After 2009, questions in the Neighborhood module were dropped from the Core. For 2015, HUD
will reinstate a Neighborhood module, including questions from the old module as well as a few new
questions. Below is a list of questions that will be included in the new Neighborhood Quality module.

Variable or Field
Name

2015 Instrument Text

AGRES

Age-restricted development? (Y/N)

NORC

Do you believe the majority of your neighbors are 55 or over? (Y/N)

WFPROP

Unit is waterfront property (subject to DRB approval) (Y/N)

EWATER

Bodies of water within ½ block (subject to DRB approval) (Y/N)

GATED

Community surrounded by walls or fences? (Y/N)

EABAN

Abandoned/vandalized buildings within ½ block? (Y/N)

EJUNK

Trash/junk in streets/properties within ½ block? (Y/N)

EBARCL
ECOM1

Buildings with bars on windows within ½ block? (Y/N)
Businesses or institutions within ½ block (subject to DRB approval)? (Y/N)

ECOM2
NEW

Factories or other industrial structures within ½ block (subject to DRB approval)?
(Y/N)
This neighborhood has good schools (Agree/Disagree)

NEW

This neighborhood has a lot of serious crime (Agree/Disagree)

NEW

This neighborhood has a lot of petty crime (Agree/Disagree)

NEW

This neighborhood has good bus, subway, or commuter train service
(Agree/Disagree)

NEW

This neighborhood is at high risk for floods or other disasters (Agree/Disagree)

OTHR
BLD

Thinking about the other buildings within a half block from your home, are there
any:
1. Single-family detached homes?
2.
3.
4.
5.

Single-family townhouses or rowhouses?
Apartment buildings?
Manufactured of mobile homes?
None of the above