250 likes | 390 Views
conveying values of qualitative or quantitative variables through the exchange of thoughts and conversation. a.k.a. Communicating Data. More about HousingWorks RI . Conduct research and analyze data around the connection between housing and economic development
E N D
conveying values of qualitative or quantitative variables through the exchange of thoughts and conversation a.k.a. Communicating Data
More about HousingWorks RI • Conduct research and analyze data around the connection between housing and economic development • Package the information to be accessible, user-friendly, and well-designed • Ready to use for action Make YOU the Housing Expert
Our Process Research/Data Analysis Communications Product /Media Relations Organization Goal Communications
A Look at Women and Housing Organization Goal: Ensure that the State of RI adopts a robust, holistic housing policy Trends in household composition and housing cost burdens, including a focus on differences in tenure for women Increase understanding of the persistent affordability problem in Rhode Island, particularly for this demographic
First comes the research Research/Data Analysis • Data sets: • Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, 2011 Median weekly wage • 2011 Rhode Island Housing Rental Survey • US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 1-year Estimates and 2011 1-year PUMS
The data dump… Total Population According to the 2011 ACS 51.6% of the total RI population was female. 52.4% of the population over 18 was female. Households by presence of people under 18 by household type (B11005) 141,588 female headed households = 26.3% have people under 18 in households 89176 male headed households = 12.3% have people under 18 in households Family Type by presence and age of related children under 18 (families) (B11004) 66% of Female-headed (no-husband) family households have children under 18 40.9% of Married couple households have children under 18 53.6% of Male-headed (no wife) family households have children under 18 Households and Family Households 34.3 % of all RI Households are headed by a female (w/no husband present). 141,588 total female headed households out of 412,259. Compared to 21.6% of all RI households headed by Male (no wife present). Table B11005 Family Households - 21.6% of Family Households are headed by a female. Female Householder, no husband present 55274 out of 256181 family households (Household type by tenure B11012) Compared to 7.6% of family households are male-headed, no wife present Of the 55274 Female-Headed Family Households 59.1% are renter households. (40.8 owner households) In comparison 44.9% of Male-Headed Family Households are renter households (8709/19412)
Cost Burden 31% of women-headed renter households pay more than 50% of their income on housing costs. (PUMS ACS 1-yr 2011 ) 25% of men-headed renter households pay more than 50% of their incomes on housing costs. Renter Households headed by women are more likely to be cost burdened then male-headed renter households. Women’s Earnings RIDLT LMI Brief on Women’s Earnings 1998-2010 Women in RI working full-time earned a median weekly wage of $700 in 2010. 75.3% of what males working earned. Lowest earnings ratio in New England. http://www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi/pdf/womenearn.pdf Employment and median income by occupation (S2401) Management, business, science, and arts occupations: Females are 54% of workforce yet earn $48,696 median income compared to male $62,390 median income (difference of $13,694) Service occupations women:54% of workforce yet earn a median income of $15,095 to male median income of $26,381 (Diff $11,286) Sales and Office occupations women are 62% of workforce, median income for women is $27,589 to male median income of $36,703 (diff $9,114) Income – family households and total population Median income for married coupled families $84,460 (70.8% of all families are married couples) Female householder no husband present $30,612 (21.6% of all families are female headed) Male householder, no wife present $53,992 (7.6% of families are male-headed) Median income for total population age 15 and over (B19326) RI Total - $27,260 Male RI Total $34,780 Female Total $21,613 57% of working males age 15 and over have income of $45,000 or more (B19325) 46% of working females age 15 and over have income of $45,000 or more (B19325) 19% of female-headed family households with children under 18 have income of $45,000 or more (B19131) Compared to 43% of male-headed family households with children under 18 have income of $45,000 or more. (B19131)
Is there a story? Research/Data Analysis Message Development • What stories are being told in the data? • Which story will best help us achieve our goals? • What is the best way to communicate that story?
Communications Strategy • Create an infographic focusing on: • Female-headed families • Earnings • Income vs. income needed to afford housing • Housing cost burdens • Release jointly with Women’s Fund Rhode Island Message Development/ Graphic design
Try and Try again Too happy looking No differentiation between “to purchase” and “to rent” Focusing only on renter housing cost burden Needs to look more like Women’s Fund RI
And again… • Why don’t these add up to 100%? • Is this data even relevant to our goal? • Is there better data we can use in this area? Research/Data Analysis Message Development/ Graphic design
And again… • Focus only on families headed by women • Majority have children under 18 • Majority have only 1-2 children Research/Data Analysis Message Development/ Graphic design
Communications Product /Media Relations
Talking Points • “The majority of families headed by women in Rhode Island are renters and one in three of those families is spending 50 percent or more of their income on housing expenses.” • “The data released in this infographic clearly show that women are disproportionally affected by the lack of affordable housing in Rhode Island.” • “We encourage policymakers to develop and implement strategies that will ease the severe housing cost burden facing so many women in our state.”
Release plan • Advance interviews with statewide media personnel • HWRI Enews/website story • WFRI blog post • Promote through online media tools like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. • Coordinate release with org allies to share/retweet
Translating Data Speak • Households vs. Families • Income vs earnings • Median vs average • Significant • Likelihood • Correlates
Translating Data Speak • Households vs. Families • Household: All people who live in an apartment or house • Family: People who live in an apartment or house related by marriage, birth or adoption Households Families
Translating Data Speak • Income vs earnings • Income: All money obtained by a household from various sources • Earnings: One type of income, primarily wages and salary from a job Income Interest and dividends Earnings Public Assistance Child Support Social Security Money from Rental Properties
Translating Data Speak • Median vs. Average • Median: In a set of numbers, the number where half the numbers are greater and half the numbers are lower • Average: In a set of numbers, the total of those numbers divided by the number of items in that set. $100,000 $105,000 $170,000 $200,000 $210,000 $300,000 $600,000 Median: $200,000 Average: $1,685,000 / 7 = $240,714
Translating Data Speak • The significance of “significant” • Communicator speak: important or meaningful • Data speak: the confidence researchers have in their findings • Can the results derived from a sample study be generalized to the population from which the sample was drawn? • No: “While we’re encouraged by the significant decline in number of residential foreclosure deeds filed in Rhode Island last year, we know many homeowners are still struggling.” • Yes: “While we’re encouraged by the decline in number of residential foreclosure deeds filed in Rhode Island last year, we know many homeowners are still struggling.”
Translating Data Speak • The likelihood of misusing “likelihood” or “likely” • Communicator speak: probable • Data speak: the probability of obtaining that particular set of data, given specific parameters • No: “Residents in permanent supportive housing are more likely to continue mental health treatments and reestablish important personal relationships… ” • Yes: “Many residents in permanent supportive housing continue mental health treatment and are able to reestablish personal relationships.”
Translating Data Speak • Correlation does not mean Causation • Just because two things seem related, does not mean one caused the other Housing cost burdens lead to housing insecurity Housing insecurity contributes to school mobility School mobility contributes to chronic absenteeism Student absences are directly related to school performance Students will do better in school if they move into affordable housing Affordable housing can contribute to better outcomes in education
Final suggestions • Don’t overcomplicate the message • Be mindful of data terms • Test and try again • Never underestimate the power of good design
Learn more… On the web… • www.HousingWorksRI.org • Facebook.com/HousingWorksRI • Twitter @hwri • YouTube.com/hwri • Email… • info@housingworksri.org Telephone… • 401.276.4806