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FAQs
Click on the tabs below to view answers for questions frequently asked.
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Background
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What is this housing needs assessment about?
The assessment will support the District's efforts to potentially repurpose underutilized real estate assets to provide housing that is more affordable for its employees and families. The results of the survey will help inform decisions with regard to potential future housing efforts to best support our employees and families.
The survey will be distributed to all District employees and approximately 15,000 student families identified as experiencing housing insecurity.
The survey findings will be supplemented by qualitative data from focus groups and stakeholder discussions.
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What are the goals of the survey?
The survey aims to:
- Understand the living and housing challenges of families and employees.
- Define and quantify the need for affordable housing by geographic and demographic segments.
- Get detailed feedback on housing issues such as desired and required price points, locations, amenities, and/or support features.
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What is the District’s experience with affordable housing initiatives?
In 2008, the District undertook a Workforce Housing Initiative, which led to the construction of 185 affordable housing units between 2015 and 2018, entirely financed without District funds. These include:
- Sage Park Apartments, built on underutilized land at Gardena High School
- Selma Community Housing, developed on a parking lot adjacent to Selma Elementary School
- Norwood Learning Village, constructed on a parking lot near Norwood Elementary School
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What is housing insecurity?
Housing insecurity is an “umbrella term” that encompasses various housing challenges people may experience. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) researchers measure housing insecurity based on three dimensions:
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- Lack of affordability (e.g., lapses in mortgage/rent payments)
- Lack of stable occupancy (e.g., worry about forced moves, living somewhere temporarily because they have nowhere else to go)
- Lack of safety and decency (e.g., overcrowding)[1]
[1] https://www.huduser.gov/portal//portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Measuring-Housing-Insecurity-Index-Development-Using-AHS-Data.pdf
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Questions about post-survey activities
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What’s going to happen after the survey is over?
When the survey closes, the results will be compiled and analyzed.
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Will the District build additional housing?
This assessment is an exploratory effort to determine what the District’s housing needs are. This assessment is intended to help identify the housing needs and requirements of District employees and select families, which will inform the available, needed, and viable options for consideration.
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Who would qualify to live in District housing? Who decides who will live in the housing?
It is too early in the process to determine who would qualify for housing as there is no current plan for the District to build housing.
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Where would the housing be located?
Although the District has indicated that it may potentially repurpose underutilized real estate assets to provide housing that is more affordable, until the survey is complete and the data evaluated, the District is not in a position to determine where, when or if housing will be built.
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When will housing be available?
This assessment is just the first step in identifying and quantifying the need for, and interest in, renting District housing. Timelines would be established well into the future, and only if the District determines the best and highest use of certain underutilized property is the development of more affordable housing.
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When will we know more details about the housing?
Additional information is expected sometime in the 2024-2025 school year.
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Questions about survey logistics
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When will the survey be open?
The survey launches on May 16th and is scheduled to close on May 31st at 11:59 PM Pacific.
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What languages is the survey offered in?
English and Spanish
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How will employees and families be able to take the survey?
Employees and families will receive an email when the survey opens with a link to the survey questions.
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Who is the survey administered by?
The survey will be administered by a third-party vendor, Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), a consulting firm working with the District.
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Is the survey anonymous / confidential?
Yes. Users are not required to log in to take the survey or provide identifying information such as name, email, etc.
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Where is the survey hosted? Will my data be secure?
The survey will be hosted on a third-party platform, Qualtrics.
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Questions about FOCUS groups
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What are focus groups? Why are you doing them?
Focus groups are intended to gather qualitative data from individuals on a particular topic. The District may invite employees and families experiencing housing insecurity who may be interested in renting District-developed housing that is more affordable to participate in focus groups at a later date.
Such focus groups will serve to supplement and build upon survey data on employee and family housing experiences, challenges, and preferences regarding potential housing provided by the District.
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How can I participate in a focus group?
The District is currently coordinating potential groups and dates, and details are not yet available. If you are interested in participating, please contact housing-assessment@lausd.net.
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Questions about Stakeholders Discussions
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What are stakeholder group discussions?
Stakeholder groups are District departments that would be involved in the financing, operation, and maintenance of any potential development of District housing and/or would consider affordable rental workforce housing to be a critical strategic component of their work.
Stakeholder discussions will help the team identify effective housing solutions and understand the impacts of pursuing them on current District operations. They will also serve to solidify the District’s primary motivations and goals, aligning decision-making criteria amongst all groups.
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How can I participate in a stakeholder group discussion?
The District will reach out to the potential groups to schedule meetings.