An online survey is now available for residents that will help Richland County identify what housing issues matter most in different communities and neighborhoods.

Input garnered from both the online survey and a series of upcoming community workshops will be used to help Richland County Community Development staff create a Five Year Consolidated Plan, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD provides funding to Richland County Community Development for its many housing programs and community development projects.

The online survey is available at http://svy.mk/2pt4uo1 and takes roughly 10 minutes to complete. The survey is available in both English and Spanish.

“Residents’ responses to the survey, and the input they provide at the public workshops, will help us make important decisions about housing and community issues,” said Jocelyn Jennings, Richland County Community Development Specialist. “We’re relying on the public to let us know what housing roadblocks exist for them so we can address those issues and plan for a better future.”

The community workshops, which are a drop-in format, will be held as follows:

·         6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. May 8 at Spirit Communications Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia (an information booth will be staffed inside the main entrance, prior to the start of the Fireflies game)

·         6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. May 8 at Richland Library Southeast, 7421 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia

·         6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. May 9 at Garners Ferry Adult Activity Center, 8614 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins

·         5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. May 10 at the Decker Center, 2500 Decker Blvd., Columbia

Spanish translation will be available at the meeting at the Decker Center on May 10.

For more information, call Richland County Community Development at 803-576-2230 or email jenningsj@rcgov.us.