(BOISE) Preliminary results from a recent statewide fair housing and accessibility survey will be presented Thursday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the MK Plaza Auditorium at 720 Park Blvd. in Boise.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association and the Idaho Department of Commerce sponsored the survey as part of a statewide analysis of impediments to fair housing and accessibility, and contracted with BSU's Center for Health Policy to administer the survey. BSU Professor of Psychology Dr. Tedd McDonald will discuss survey highlights and findings.

"Over 1,600 print and electronic surveys were distributed to local government officials and to housing providers, consumers and advocates," said IHFA's Community Housing Services vice president Julie Williams. "We were very excited by the response rates, which were well above BSU's average of 20 percent. Our response rates ranged from over 30 percent from consumers to 43 percent from government officials."

The resulting report, due out in early May, should provide insight into the perceived accessibility of Idaho's housing and community resources. Analysis of the results also will inform future education and outreach efforts along with resource allocation. The final report will be available in the Housing Information section of IHFA's Web site at www.ihfa.org.

"Our hope is to present preliminary findings, discuss and interpret results, and offer the Center for Health Policy public input that will be useful in producing the final draft of the report," added Williams. "It's important that we understand the needs of communities and families to ensure that all Idahoans have equal access to housing and other basic resources."

The survey precedes a scheduled update to the state's fair housing plan and the upcoming Five-Year Strategic Plan for Housing and Community Development. All are required conditions for Idaho's use of more than $100 million in federal housing and community development funds over the next five years.

The presentation follows two days of HUD-sponsored accessible design and construction training hosted by IHFA and a 9 a.m. keynote address by HUD Assistant Secretary Carolyn Peoples. Peoples is in Boise to kick off a HUD-sponsored statewide van tour promoting fair housing awareness, and is joined by members of HUD's Seattle office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Both IHFA and the Department of Commerce perform HUD-required planning and reporting activities on behalf of the State of Idaho.

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The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing organization, provides funding for affordable housing in Idaho communities where they are most needed and when it is economically feasible. IHFA uses no state funds or state employees to support its operations. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ihfa.org.