For the first time in nearly 10 years, Jefferson County is taking a close look at its housing situation to determine what barriers might still exist for folks who are looking for a place to live.

Through the end of September, county residents, and stakeholders will have an opportunity to fill out an online survey to tell Jeffco staff what the current housing situation is like. The survey will help the Jeffco Community Development department create a report for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The 37-question survey is available on the county’s website. Those who fill out the survey may enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

“The survey is for everyone. It’s basically to take a look at impediments to fair housing, and how we’re doing on removing them,” said Emily Sander, of Community Development.

The last HUD report was submitted in 2003. Sander said periodic updates of fair-housing information are required for counties and municipalities to continue to receive funds from HUD, including affordable housing and Community Development Block Grants. Sander said the reports help HUD ensure that housing discrimination and shortfalls of available housing for low-income residents are being eliminated at the local level.

The county is partnering with Arvada and Lakewood, and contracting with BBC Consulting, to draft the report. Other municipalities in Jeffco, including Edgewater, Golden, Mountain View and Wheat Ridge, apply for HUD funds jointly with the county, and will also be part of

the study.

The 2003 study indicated that Not In My Backyard-ism (NIMBY) and high housing-development costs, which lead to high rent and mortgage costs, were the top two impediments for residents looking for fair housing. The 2012 updated study will generate a new list of potential barriers, along with a set of methods to deal with them.

Sander said a meeting with area nonprofits, affordable-housing developers, schools and other fair-housing stakeholders will convene in October to add input to the final report, which should be submitted to HUD by the end of the year.