Departments
Community Development
Growth Management

Housing Needs Survey

Help Shape the Future of Housing in Bend

Man holding a little girl in front of a tan colored house. Trees and blue sky are in the background. The people are smiling.

Housing Needs Survey

Please answer as many questions as you can.

Step 1 of 8

12%

The City of Bend is planning for the community’s housing needs now and over the next two decades. In addition to understanding how much housing to plan for, we want to know what kinds of housing people need and where they need it.

This survey is one way of hearing from people who live in and around Bend. We want to hear from people with many different housing experiences, including renters, homeowners, people looking for housing, and people who have faced housing challenges.

Your feedback will help the City better understand housing needs, the barriers people face in finding or keeping housing that works for them, and actions that could improve housing opportunities for current and future residents. We’ll incorporate what we learn from you into the City’s Contextualized Housing Needs Analysis.

This survey should take about 8-10 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary. You may skip any questions you do not wish to answer. This survey is designed to collect anonymous feedback. Responses will be analyzed and reported in summary form. The City will not intentionally identify respondents unless you voluntarily provide identifying information, such as a name, address, or other identifying information. Please note that information, including survey responses submitted to the City are subject to Oregon Public Records Law and may be disclosed if required by law.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Tell us how you are connected to Bend.

Q1. Do you currently live in Bend?

Yes

I live nearby but not within the city limits

Not sure

Q1a. My connection to Bend is: (Select all that apply)

Work

Daily needs such as grocery shopping, healthcare, or childcare

Recreation, fun, or other events

Childcare

See family or friends

I rarely or never visit Bend

I own property in Bend

Other

Q1a. Other connection to Bend (please explain)

Q1b. Would you like to live in Bend, and if so, what are the reasons related to housing that stop you? (Select all that apply)

I do not want to live in Bend

Maybe / I’m not sure

Yes, but housing prices or rents are too high

Yes, but I cannot find housing with features that meet my needs

Yes, but I cannot find housing in the location or neighborhood I prefer

Yes, but there are other housing-related barriers

Yes, but for non-housing related reasons

Q1b. Other housing-related barriers (please explain)

Tell us more about your experience living in Bend.

Q2. Which of the following best describes your current housing situation? (Select all that apply)

Own (with or without a mortgage)

Rent

Live with friends or family, and I pay rent or contribute to expenses

Live with friends or family, and I do not pay rent

I do not have stable housing (houseless, couch surfing, hotel/motel, recreational vehicle, etc.)

I prefer to not answer

Other arrangement

Q2. Other arrangement (please explain)

Q3. What are reasons for your current living arrangement? (Select all that apply)

Preference

Want lower housing costs

Cannot afford to live on my own or in a different housing situation

I provide care or support for a child, parent, relative, or other household member

Someone in my household provides care or support for me or my children

Need to live near work, school, family, or services

Limited housing options available that meet my needs

Saving money to buy or rent a different home

Current arrangement is temporary

Prefer to not answer

Other

Q3. Other reason (please explain)

Q4. Which answer best describes your monthly housing costs?

I can comfortably afford my monthly housing costs

I can usually afford my monthly housing costs

I often struggle to afford my monthly housing costs

I always struggle to afford my monthly housing costs

Prefer to not answer

Q5. How long have you lived in your current home or living arrangement?

Less than one year

1–4 years

5–10 years

More than 10 years

Q6. How satisfied are you with your current housing or living arrangement?

Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Neutral

Somewhat dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

Housing Affordability and Stability

Q7. How concerned, if at all, are you about your ability to afford housing in Bend over the next 2 years?

Not concerned

Slightly concerned

Moderately concerned

Very concerned

Extremely concerned

Not sure

Q8. In the past five years, have any of the following affected your housing situation? (Select all that apply)

Rent is too high

Home prices are too high

Utility costs are too high

Difficulty saving for a down payment

Difficulty paying a security deposit

Difficulty qualifying because of income requirements

Difficulty qualifying because of credit history

Long waiting lists

Poor housing conditions

Housing is too small for my household

Housing is too large for my household

Housing is not accessible for a disability or health need

Risk of eviction or foreclosure

Housing is too far away from the places needed to support daily living

Housing is too far away from transit

None of the above

Other

Q8. Other (please specify)

Q9. What, if anything, might make it difficult for you to stay in your current housing or living arrangement? (Select all that apply)

Monthly housing costs are difficult to afford

Home repairs or maintenance are difficult to afford

The housing does not meet age, health, disability, or accessibility needs of me or someone in my household

The housing is too small for my household

The housing is larger than my household needs

Lease may not be renewed or the owner of my house plans to use the home differently

Nothing currently makes it difficult for me to stay

Other

Not sure

Q9. Other (please specify)

Q10. Have you or someone in your household experienced any of the following because of housing costs or housing availability? (Select all that apply)

Had to move unexpectedly

Lived with family or friends when you preferred not to

Lived in overcrowded housing

Delayed moving out on your own

Worked multiple jobs to afford housing

Experienced homelessness

Left Bend or considered leaving Bend

Spent less on food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, or other necessities

Lived farther from work, school, or other daily needs than you preferred

None of the above

Prefer not to answer

Other

Q10. Other (please specify)

Finding Housing That Works

Q11. If you looked for housing in the last two years, how difficult was it to find housing in Bend that met your needs?

Very easy

Somewhat easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Somewhat difficult

Very difficult

Was unable to find housing that met my needs

Did not look for housing

Q12. What locational factors are most important when choosing where to live? (Select up to five)

Affordability of housing

Close to work

Close to public transit

Close to schools

Close to childcare

Close to healthcare

Close to grocery stores

Close to parks or recreation

Close to family or friends

Close to cultural or community services

Close to support services

Close to safe walking and biking networks

Other

Q12. Other (please specify)

Q13. Are there places in Bend where you would like to live but cannot because housing is unavailable or unaffordable?

Yes

Not sure

Q13a. If yes, select all that apply.

Northwest Bend

Southwest Bend

Northeast Bend

Southeast Bend

Central Bend

Other

Q13a. Other (please specify)

Accessibility and Fair Housing

Q14. In the past five years, has your household had difficulty finding housing that met accessibility, mobility, health, age-related, or caregiving needs?

Yes

Not applicable

Prefer not to answer

Q15. Do you feel you have experienced housing discrimination in Bend? (Select all that apply)

Yes, when searching for housing to rent

Yes, while renting

Yes, while searching for housing to buy or during the homebuying process

Yes, while owning a home

No / Not Sure

Q15a. What type of discrimination have you experienced? (Select all that apply)

Source of income (including use of Section 8, Housing Choice Voucher, or other voucher program)

Age

Disability (including denial of reasonable accommodation requests)

Familial status (including having kids)

Race/ethnicity

National origin

Religion

Marital status

Sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender expression

Domestic violence survivorship

Other

Prefer to not answer

Q15a. Other (please explain)

Q15b. Thinking about that experience, do you feel you had the resources and support you needed to navigate the discrimination?

I had all the resources/support I needed

I had some, but not enough

I had very little

I had none at all

Not sure/hard to say

Future Housing Needs

Q16. Thinking about the next 5 years, which of the following best describes what you expect or would like your household to do? (Select all that apply)

Stay in my current housing

Rent different housing in Bend

Buy my first home in Bend

Buy a different home in Bend

Move to smaller housing in Bend

Move to larger housing in Bend

Move to housing designed for older adults

Move to housing with accessibility or supportive features

Live with family or others in a shared or multigenerational household

Move outside Bend

Not sure

Other

Q16. Other (please specify)

Q17. Which actions should be the highest priority for the City of Bend? (Select up to three)

Increase housing affordability

Increase overall housing supply

Prevent displacement

Expand homeownership opportunities

Improve renter protections

Support housing near jobs and services

Improve accessible housing options

Support housing for seniors

Reduce homelessness

Streamline housing development processes

Other

Q17. Other (please specify)

Open-Ended Feedback

Q18. What is the most important housing challenge facing you or your household today?

Q19. Is there anything else you would like City leaders to understand about housing in Bend?

Demographic Questions (Optional)

The following questions are optional. They help us understand who the City of Bend is successfully reaching and who we still need to hear from.

D1. Do you currently live in Bend?

Yes

No, but I work in Bend

No, but live in a nearby community and would prefer to live in Bend

Other

Prefer not to answer

D2. What age group are you in?

Under 18

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Prefer not to answer

D3. Which best describes your household? (Select all that apply)

Household with children under 18

Single adult household with children under 18

Single adult household without children under 18

Adult household with roommates (not related)

Multigenerational household

Household includes older adult(s) age 65+

Household includes person(s) living with a disability

Veteran household

College student household

Other

Prefer not to answer

D4. Which racial and/or ethnic groups do you identify with? (Select all that apply)

Hispanic or Latino/a/x

White

Black or African American

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Another race or ethnicity

Prefer not to answer

D4. Another race or ethnicity

D5. Are you a member of a federally recognized Tribe?

Yes

Prefer not to answer

D6. What was your gross total household income in the past 12 months?

Less than $10,000

$10,000 to $14,999

$15,000 to $19,999

$20,000 to $24,999

$25,000 to $29,999

$30,000 to $34,999

$35,000 to $39,999

$40,000 to $44,999

$45,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $59,999

$60,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $124,999

$125,000 to $149,999

$150,000 to $199,999

$200,000 or more

Prefer to not answer

Gross total income is all the money your household receives before any taxes or other deductions are taken out.

D7. Do you speak a language other than English at home?

Yes

Prefer not to answer