The City of Indianola has partnered with consulting firm Confluence to develop a comprehensive Housing Study and Needs Assessment poised to provide foundational information that will profoundly influence Indianola's strategic planning and development.
"The Housing Study and Needs Assessment represents a pivotal moment for Indianola's long-term planning. By comprehending our housing dynamics in-depth, we will lay a robust foundation that resonates with our community's aspirations and needs," said Charlie Dissell, City of Indianola Community and Economic Development Director. "As Indianola undergoes demographic and economic shifts, this data-driven approach ensures that we remain adaptive, responsive and proactive in our planning and development initiatives."
Led by the City's Community Development Department, the primary objective of the Housing Study and Needs Assessment is to equip Indianola's decision-makers, stakeholders and community leaders with actionable data. By comprehensively analyzing the City's housing landscape, the study aims to identify current challenges, anticipate future needs and formulate effective strategies for sustainability. The study will also help guide future programming, policies and recommendations to address various needs and encourage private investments.
Initial survey figures have already highlighted critical areas of concern. Notably, 47.7% of Indianola renters are "cost burdened," meaning that 30% or more of their household income is spent on housing expenses like rent and utilities.
"This data is significant because it means that these households could be making tradeoffs for other essential household needs such as transportation, food, medical necessities or daycare," said Emily Rizvic, City of Indianola Associate Planner. "The study's results will help City staff and elected officials determine what housing barriers exist in affordable housing and produce thoughtful recommendations on how to tackle these obstacles moving forward."
To ensure a collaborative and inclusive approach, the City of Indianola invites participation from residents, commuters, employers and employees to share their perspectives and insights online at engage.thinkconfluence.com/indianola-housing-study.
For more information and resources about this initiative or other strategic plans, please visit the City of Indianola website at indianolaiowa.gov/long-range-planning.
Access Housing Study Website & View Preliminary Data