3: Use Local Facts and Stories

How to Gather Local Facts

%city_village_town% Healthy Housing Toolkit

In addition to using the proof points that relate to each Core Message, make sure to gather local facts and stories that speak directly to your stakeholders. Also draw examples from what other municipalities have achieved for their residents.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself about conditions in your local community and to get started on your fact-finding mission. These were developed in partnership with Alan Mallach, Senior Fellow at the Center for Community Progress.

1. What are the most critical housing/healthy housing problems?
   1. Specific physical health issues, such as lead poisoning or asthma?
   1. Specific behavioral health issues?
   1. Physical condition of rental properties such as single-family rentals?
   1. Vacant and abandoned buildings and vacant lots?
   1. Other block/neighborhood issues, such as access to health services?
   1. Rental arrears, evictions?
   1. Mortgage defaults, foreclosure?
   1. Other?
2. How many people are currently affected by the critical problems?
3. Who are they (demographics: age, child status, tenure, race/ethnicity)?
4. What are the particular geographic areas most affected by these problems?

Getting Started

To identify the types of data you might want to collect locally and where to find it, create a chart like the one below. We’ve provided some examples to get you started. Print this page and write in your own notes to get started:

• Available Data Set: Elevated blood lead levels
  Location/Who Has Access: Public Health Dept.
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set: School absenteeism related to asthma  
  Location/Who Has Access: School District 
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set: Asthma hospitalizations  
  Location/Who Has Access: Hospital/Health Systems  
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set: Housing stock pre-1978   
  Location/Who Has Access: City Housing Dept.  
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set: Open code violations   
  Location/Who Has Access: Code Inspectors Office   
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set: Accessibility of home repair resources   
  Location/Who Has Access: City Housing Dept.  
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set: Availability of tenants’ rights support  
  Location/Who Has Access: Legal Aid Organization, or Medical-Legal Partnership  
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set:
  Location/Who Has Access:
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set:
  Location/Who Has Access:
  Who Will Collect and Add:

• Available Data Set:
  Location/Who Has Access:
  Who Will Collect and Add:

NLC members also have access to a data tool from our partners, mySidewalk, called Seek Cities. Seek Cities lets you quickly identify data points for your local community, build out visualization for analysis that can inform strategic targeting of services and policy implementation. For more information, please visit [LINK NEEDED]

How to Gather Local Stories

When gathering stories from your residents, landlords and other stakeholders, remember these four key tips: 

1. Make specific asks. Rather than simply saying “Share your housing story,” frame it with the point you’re trying to support, such as: 

• “In what ways is your home unsafe?” 
• “Share a story about how you saved money by upgrading your property.” 

2. Point to the positive. While you certainly want to gather stories that show the negative impact of unsafe and unhealthy housing, also gather stories of hope and what is possible: 

• “In what way would your life change if your house was safer or healthier?” 
• “What would a healthy house look like?” 

3. Ask for descriptive language. Children instinctively know how to ask for details when listening to a story being told. To collect stories from your stakeholders that will resonate, ask questions like an inquisitive child: 

• “Then what happened? What did you think? How did you feel?” 

2. “What did it look like? Was it blue?” 

4. Respect your storyteller. When you ask someone to share their lived experience, make sure they know why you’re asking them, how their story will be utilized or shared, and the positive impact sharing their story will have. Thank them for helping make your entire community healthier and safer.