A new community survey is the latest step by a panel of local residents seeking to find solutions to a lack of affordable housing in the county.
The panel is representing Gilmer County in the current Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, a three-year state program in which communities can learn how to better meet their housing needs.
The survey is a part of a comprehensive study on housing in Gilmer County being done by the Georgia Conservancy, an Atlanta nonprofit working with with the Gilmer Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) panel.
“They will compile the data and include it in a housing study the GICH team has contracted them to do, which will look at things like the current housing stock, age of the county’s housing stock, price points that are available and ones that are completely not available,” said Kent Sanford, GICH panel member.
The purpose of the survey is to collect firsthand information and opinions from people who live and work in Gilmer County. Some of the topics covered by the survey are housing affordability and availability and opinions about different types of new housing development. All survey responses are anonymous.
“We specifically selected the Georgia Conservancy to do this housing study because they see the value in our rural communities, but they also see that rural communities have got to meet needs like housing needs, health needs and environmental protection needs at the same time,” Sanford said. “Their stated goal is to help preserve rural communities, but also to help them grow appropriately.”
To view or fill out the survey on Google Forms, visit: Forms.gle/LhrE4uC27gvE5epn6. The survey link will remain up through the month of May.
This survey is intended for individual residents, Sanford noted. A separate survey will be distributed to local employers with help from the Gilmer Chamber.
“We’re trying to get this survey as well distributed in the local community and get as many people to respond as we possibly can,” Sanford said.