James City County is conducting a housing conditions study to better understand where low- to moderate- income residents live and how it can make sure those homes are safe to occupy.
Vaughn Poller, housing administrator for the James City County Office of Housing and Community Development, said representatives from the Virginia Center for Housing Research and volunteers from William & Mary have been traveling throughout the county since Sept. 19 to record notes on the condition of homes.
The team’s goal is to have a sample of 13,000 residential structures by Oct. 13, Poller said.
“We’re hoping that the study gives us a comprehensive snapshot of the housing stock,” Poller said.
The $93,761 housing conditions study consists of the field study, five focus group sessions, an online survey and a work session presentation of findings and policy recommendations. Poller said the last time a housing conditions study took place was in 2007.
He said the county is hoping to learn how many residential structures are failing and plan how they can be repaired to retain the current housing stock.
“Our plan is this will help set out future projects for the next three to five years,” Poller said.
He said all members of the public are encouraged to participate in the focus groups, which will meet in October.
