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ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU                 
Mr. James F. Holmes, Director
101 Marietta St., NW, Ste. 3200
Atlanta, GA 30303-2700                                           CB03-R.13
Telephone: 404-730-3832                                   For Immediate Release
                                
                        Census Bureau to Update Information on 
                                      Nation's Housing
                                
   A nationwide survey conducted by the Commerce Department's Census
Bureau in 2001 found that, overall, the country's households spent a
median of $658 monthly on housing costs; the respective medians for
homeowners and renters were $686 and $633.

   Beginning June 2, Census Bureau field representatives will visit
63,000 randomly selected housing units, asking the residents questions
about utility and other housing costs to determine how these have changed.
The questions are part of the biennial American Housing Survey (AHS), the
most comprehensive survey of U.S. housing taken between censuses. The
Census Bureau has been conducting the AHS since 1973 for the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

   The survey will be conducted through September 2003.

   "The AHS permits decision-makers across the nation to assess the
extent to which families are financially burdened by housing costs,
including utilities," said James F. Holmes, director of the Census
Bureau's Atlanta regional office. "They use these data to identify where
and for whom programs may be needed most to alleviate these situations."

   The survey collects data about the size, composition and condition of
the housing inventory, financial and demographic characteristics of the
people who live in the housing and the livability of their neighborhoods.
In addition to housing costs, other subjects about which data are
collected include: the unit's square footage, the year the structure was
built, plumbing facilities, type of mortgage, source of water, the
frequency of equipment failures and residents' overall opinion of their
neighborhood.
  
   By law, the Census Bureau protects the confidentiality of all
identifying information about survey respondents and their housing units.
Local households selected in the nationwide sample receive a letter from
Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. In the letter, they are told that
they will be interviewed by a field representative who carries a photo
identification card. Besides visiting occupied housing units, the
interviewers obtain data on unoccupied units from landlords, rental agents
or neighbors.

   Joint HUD-Census Bureau reports on the survey's findings for the
United States and regions are issued about 10 months after the interviews
are completed.

   Data in the reports answer such questions as:

   - Why do people move?

   - How much time does it take people to travel to work, and what means 
of transportation do they use?

   - How well is rent control working?

   - How many people find it financially difficult to buy a home?

   - What kinds of problems do people have in their homes and 
neighborhoods that affect their living environment?

   - What type of fuel do people use to heat their homes?


June 2003

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