Have HUD create maps, by Census Tract Block Group, reflecting racial and income makeup as well as maps with other data that the ConPlan is looking for. HUD has the data, make it easier on us grantees!

In the past, we re-entered CHAS data into a table in the CPMP tool to include it in the Consolidated Plan. With advances in technology, it seems like the HUD tool could generate final required/suggested tables for inclusion and skip this middle step.

It would be valuable to be able to map the locations of existing affordable housing and compare this with area with high needs data.

Some grantees perform their own surveys to assess community need instead of relying on Census data. HUD should provide capability and instructions to allow grantees and participating jurisdictions to import survey data so that it can be used by the tool, and allow them to use this data when describing their affordable housing and community development needs in the Con Plan.

Be sure to include guidance on fair housing-related demographics. Also, include HMDA data and other data related to mortgage discrimination, a Fair Housing/Fair Lending issue.

Many grantees have existing mapping capability and software they are already familiar with. The mapping tool should make this data accessible to be used by these mapping applications as well.

I'm a GIS Analyst and Planner. I am more than capable to download, merge, edit and analyze not only federal, local and state administrative data but to map it as well. However, the time I spend looking for it all is ridiculous ... So either place the information on an ArcServer or provide a place where those resources can be accessed in a spatial/temporal format.

Include data on elementary school poverty rate (free and reduced lunch data is recognized proxy), racial/ethnic demographics, and achievement results (% of students achieving proficiency in math and reading) for every government subsidized housing unit - including Section 8.

It is critical that people can actually use the most recent CHAS data that is available. Right now this data is difficult for non researchers to use. Also, it's important that HUD releases 5-year CHAS data as soon as possible, as this will go down to the census tract level, which is not currently possible with the 3-year data.

HUD should emphasize the effectiveness and importance of comprehensive planning on a neighborhood scale. Working together collaboratively with community institutions can help pool resources for the benefit of the community.

In the past, we've reentered data that resides in existing federal data sets (i.e. XHD, Census, Housing, DoL, IDIS etc). Dynamic links between IDIS and those systems would prepopulate existing fields.

Disability advocates need a data base that informs the question of whether physically accessible units are equitably distributed across an entitlement jurisdiction. This will help addressing transportation needs as well.

I got really excited about the new Census site capabilities, but was told Texas restricts use of County level data to preserve the confidentiality of counties with only four residents. Can HUD produce county-level data maps for Texas pj's?

1. Everybody does a survey and the analysis between respondents / communities is all too often looked over at the fed, local and public levels. With a common tool that would be deployed unilaterally perhaps best practices could be more easily gleamed from other jurisdiction’s ConPlans

ESRI could make a new user friendly interface that is graphical in nature and yet allows allow levels of public and administration to visualize each other’s concepts. Not only does constant feedback become easier but so does communication as barriers are reduced.

Extensive GIS skills generally are not needed to complete a ConPlan. However, simple geocoding could be VERY helpful. Therefore a community should be able load an excel sheet (in a predefined way) of data (neighborhood watch members, social networks, etc) and have a map (symbolized) be returned for a visual analysis.

This would credit and share local capacity, expertise, and best practices.