Advance Letter

Draft

April XX, 2017

Dear Resident,

Your address has been selected by the U.S. Census Bureau to participate in the American Housing Survey. The Census Bureau conducts this survey every other year to create an up-to-date picture of our nation's housing. It is important that you participate in this survey to help meet critical housing needs in your community.

Did you know . . . the American Housing Survey recently found that over X% of households reported being cold for 24 hours or more during the winter? The President and policymakers use this kind of information to create programs to help improve the adequacy and quality of the nation’s housing stock.

A Census Bureau field representative will contact you to complete the survey. When the field representative visits your home, he or she will show you an official identification card. If contact is made by phone, the field representative will provide you with his or her name and Regional Office information to confirm employment with the Census Bureau.

This survey includes questions about housing quality and costs as well as questions about the household. Answers to the most frequently asked questions about this survey are included on the back of this letter. If you need help with the survey or have other questions, please go to http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs.html or call your U.S. Census Bureau Regional Office at 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you in advance for your help with this important survey.

Sincerely,

{SIGNED}

John H. Thompson

Director, U.S. Census Bureau

La Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU. está realizando la Encuesta sobrela Vivienda Estadounidense y su dirección ha sido

seleccionada para participar. Sus respuestas son confidenciales y pronto un representante de campo se pondra en contacto con

usted para completarla encuesta .Si usted prefiere quela encuesta se lleve a cabo en español, comuníquese con nosotros al

1-XXX-XXX -XXXX o por correo electrónico [email) o escribanos a esta dirección [address].

WHAT IS THIS SURVEY ALL ABOUT?

The American Housing Survey (AHS) collects up-to-date information on housing quality and costs in the United States. To measure housing quality, the survey includes questions about equipment breakdowns, leaks, and other problems. To measure housing costs, the survey includes questions about mortgage and rental costs, utility costs, and repair and remodeling costs. The AHS also asks about your household, including basic demographic and income questions.

Combining household information with housing quality and cost information helps to measure the housing challenges faced by homeowners and renters. The information also helps to measure important changes in our housing stock as it ages, and when it is eventually remodeled or replaced.

HOW WAS I SELECTED FOR THIS SURVEY?

The U.S. Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, to participate in this survey. We randomly selected a sample of addresses throughout the United States. We need a response from every home in our sample to get a complete picture of housing quality and housing costs across the country. Your answers represent not only your home, but also thousands of other homes like yours. If you move, this address will stay in the survey and we will interview the household that moves here.

I COMPLETED THIS SURVEY TWO YEARS AGO. WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DO IT AGAIN?

It is important that someone at this address complete the survey again so that we may measure the changes (or lack of changes) in the number of homes available in the United States, the physical condition of the housing, and the characteristics of the occupants. Some addresses in the American Housing Survey are asked to complete the survey once every two years. Other addresses are asked to complete the survey every few years.

I THOUGHT THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU OPERATED ONLY EVERY TEN YEARS WHEN IT COUNTED PEOPLE. WHAT IS THE CENSUS BUREAU DOING NOW?

Besides the decennial census conducted every ten years, we collect many different kinds of statistics through other censuses and surveys. We conduct other censuses at regular intervals, including the Economic Census and the Census of Governments. In addition, we conduct various surveys to collect data on a monthly basis in order to provide current information on unemployment rates, retail and wholesale trade, various manufacturing activities, new housing construction, and a number of other topics. Also, we conduct annual surveys on business, manufacturing, governments, family income, health, and education. You may also encounter the Census Bureau conducting collections on behalf of other agencies, like the AHS, which the Census Bureau conducts for HUD.

IS THIS SURVEY AUTHORIZED BY LAW? WHAT PROTECTION DO I HAVE?

Congress requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to collect this information under the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (Title 12 of the U.S. Code). The Census Bureau conducts the survey on behalf of HUD. The Census Bureau has the authority to collect this information under Title 13 of the U.S. Code Section 8. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by U.S. Law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9) to keep your answers confidential. Your participation in this survey is important; however, you may decline to answer any or all questions. Your answers may be combined with information that you give to other agencies to enhance the statistical use of these data, but all data will be kept strictly confidential.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

We expect it will take about 40 minutes for you to provide this information, but it may be somewhat shorter or longer, depending on your circumstances. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number is 2528-0017 for this survey. This number confirms that we have approval from OMB to conduct this survey. Approval for this survey expires on XX/XX/XXXX. If you have any comments on this survey or have recommendations for reducing its length, please send them to the Director, Housing and Demographic Analysis Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, Office of Economic Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC 20410.