Glossary

Household₁ – All people living in a housing unit. Members of a household can be related (see family) or unrelated.

Household Income₁ – Adjusted household income, which includes the income of all members of the household at the time of the survey, adjusted for inflation to reflect the most recent year of the data release (e.g. 2013 dollars in the 2009-2013 CHAS data).

Family₁ – Related individuals living in the same household. The Census Bureau also tracks subfamilies.

Housing Problems – There are four housing problems in the CHAS data: 1) housing unit lacks complete kitchen facilities; 2) housing unit lacks complete plumbing facilities; 3) household is overcrowded; and 4) household is cost burdened. A household is said to have a housing problem if they have any 1 or more of these 4 problems.

Overcrowding₁ – More than 1 person per room.

Severe overcrowding₁ – More than 1.5 persons per room.

Cost burden₁ – Monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 30% of monthly income.

Severe cost burden₁ – Monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 50% of monthly income.

Elderly₁ – People aged 62 and up. Individuals age 75 and up are generally recognized as a population with different needs than those 62-74, so the CHAS data separates these groups. "Elderly" refers to individuals 62-74, while those 75 and up may be referred to as "extra elderly" or "frail elderly".

Disabled₁ – In 2008, Census modified the ACS questions related to disability. Beginning with the 2008-2010 and 2008-2012 CHAS data, HUD has separately identified four different physical or cognitive limitations: hearing or vision impairment, ambulatory limitation, cognitive limitation, and independent living limitation.

Fair Market Rents (FMRs)₁ are used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program, to determine initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, to determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), rent ceilings for rental units in both the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the Emergency Solution Grants program, calculation of maximum award amounts for Continuum of Care recipients and the maximum amount of rent a recipient may pay for property leased with Continuum of Care funds, and calculation of flat rents in Public Housing units. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually estimates FMRs for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defined metropolitan areas, some HUD defined subdivisions of OMB metropolitan areas and each nonmetropolitan county. 42 USC 1437f requires FMRs be posted at least 30 days before they are effective and that they are effective at the start of the federal fiscal year (generally October 1).

Fair Market Value In its simplest sense, fair market value (FMV) is the price that property would sell for on the open market