2021 Employer Survey for Western U.P. Housing Strategy

The Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) is developing a regional housing study and strategy for the western six counties of the U.P. The intent is to evaluate the current state of the housing market, trends, needs, and opportunities, and to develop actionable steps that communities can take to encourage and facilitate development – particularly quality affordable housing.

The housing study and strategy is funded by a CARES Act grant from the United States Economic Development Administration. The project will be completed by summer 2022.

The first feedback and engagement mechanism we are undertaking is this survey. As parties that in many cases are witness to the impacts of the current competitive housing market, input from employers is critical to this process, and we would greatly appreciate your response.

Submit only one response for your business or organization. Please enter any additional comments or clarifications in the box after each question.

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* 1. Are you aware of prospective employees, or employees who have already taken a position with your company, who have had trouble finding suitable housing? Please explain.

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* 2. How frequently has each of the following issues been voiced, either by current/prospective employees or others you do business with in the area?

	Often	Occasionally	Rarely or never
Unable to find suitable “in town” house to purchase	Unable to find suitable “in town” house to purchase Often	Unable to find suitable “in town” house to purchase Occasionally	Unable to find suitable “in town” house to purchase Rarely or never
Unable to find suitable “rural” (i.e. outlying township) house to purchase	Unable to find suitable “rural” (i.e. outlying township) house to purchase Often	Unable to find suitable “rural” (i.e. outlying township) house to purchase Occasionally	Unable to find suitable “rural” (i.e. outlying township) house to purchase Rarely or never
Unable to find suitable other housing type (e.g. condo) to purchase	Unable to find suitable other housing type (e.g. condo) to purchase Often	Unable to find suitable other housing type (e.g. condo) to purchase Occasionally	Unable to find suitable other housing type (e.g. condo) to purchase Rarely or never
Unable to find suitable single-family house to rent	Unable to find suitable single-family house to rent Often	Unable to find suitable single-family house to rent Occasionally	Unable to find suitable single-family house to rent Rarely or never
Unable to find suitable apartment or condo to rent	Unable to find suitable apartment or condo to rent Often	Unable to find suitable apartment or condo to rent Occasionally	Unable to find suitable apartment or condo to rent Rarely or never
Overall affordability	Overall affordability Often	Overall affordability Occasionally	Overall affordability Rarely or never
Overall quality	Overall quality Often	Overall quality Occasionally	Overall quality Rarely or never
Lease terms/length	Lease terms/length Often	Lease terms/length Occasionally	Lease terms/length Rarely or never
Length of time to find suitable unit (but eventually got one)	Length of time to find suitable unit (but eventually got one) Often	Length of time to find suitable unit (but eventually got one) Occasionally	Length of time to find suitable unit (but eventually got one) Rarely or never

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. Based on discussions with current or prospective employees, how often have shortages been voiced of the following subjective categories of housing?

	Often	Occasionally	Rarely or never
High-end	High-end Often	High-end Occasionally	High-end Rarely or never
Middle-of-the-road	Middle-of-the-road Often	Middle-of-the-road Occasionally	Middle-of-the-road Rarely or never
Affordable/starter homes	Affordable/starter homes Often	Affordable/starter homes Occasionally	Affordable/starter homes Rarely or never

Comments:

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* 4. Have you ever had a prospective employee decline a position due to difficulty in finding suitable housing? How often?

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* 5. Do you have any employees who live farther away from your facility than they want to due to difficulty in finding suitable local housing? Please explain.

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* 6. Have you lost any employees because they lived farther away from your facility than they wanted to and no longer wanted to commute? Please explain.

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* 7. Have you allowed, or considered allowing or expanding, remote work opportunities specifically to alleviate housing difficulties (e.g. distance)? (select all that apply)

Yes, have increased flexibility

Yes, have allowed when it wasn't previously allowed

Yes, have considered changing policy but not yet implemented

No, prefer not to

No, not feasible with our company's type of work

Have historically allowed remote work regardless of housing issues

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Some employers have gone so far as to create or support “workforce housing” to alleviate hiring difficulties resulting from housing issues. Would you consider this? (select all that apply)

Yes, already have done it

Yes, would consider creating (constructing)

Yes, would consider subsidizing (financial contribution)

Yes, would consider in partnership with other employers (corrected from "employees" on 9/14)

Cannot respond - need more information

Other (please specify)

2021 Employer Survey for Western U.P. Housing Strategy

Question Title

* 1. Are you aware of prospective employees, or employees who have already taken a position with your company, who have had trouble finding suitable housing? Please explain.

Question Title

* 2. How frequently has each of the following issues been voiced, either by current/prospective employees or others you do business with in the area?

Question Title

* 3. Based on discussions with current or prospective employees, how often have shortages been voiced of the following subjective categories of housing?

Question Title

* 4. Have you ever had a prospective employee decline a position due to difficulty in finding suitable housing? How often?

Question Title

* 5. Do you have any employees who live farther away from your facility than they want to due to difficulty in finding suitable local housing? Please explain.

Question Title

* 6. Have you lost any employees because they lived farther away from your facility than they wanted to and no longer wanted to commute? Please explain.

Question Title

* 7. Have you allowed, or considered allowing or expanding, remote work opportunities specifically to alleviate housing difficulties (e.g. distance)? (select all that apply)

Question Title

* 8. Some employers have gone so far as to create or support “workforce housing” to alleviate hiring difficulties resulting from housing issues. Would you consider this? (select all that apply)

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* 9. Have you taken any other actions, such as offering financial incentives, specifically to ease employee housing difficulties? Please explain.

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* 10. Have you observed any changes in current/prospective employee housing difficulties since spring 2020? Please explain.

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* 11. Do you have any other comments to share?