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Survey finds nearly half of Flandreau respondents report inadequate housing; housing corporation sees demand for apartments
Summary
A city-commissioned survey of 52 respondents presented to the Flandreau City Council found 45% said they could not find adequate housing in town; 42% identified apartment complexes as the type of housing most lacking.
FLANDREAU — A survey presented to the Flandreau City Council indicates local residents and workers perceive a shortage of housing, particularly apartments, and the city’s housing corporation said the results will inform possible development work.
Cole, a city staff member who presented the results, told the council the survey drew 52 responses from a mix of ages and both residents and people who work in Flandreau. "We didn't know if we'd get five responses or a thousand," Cole said, describing why organizers accelerated the timeline to produce information for spring planning.
Key findings presented: 52 responses were compiled; about 45% of respondents said they had not been able to find adequate housing for themselves or their families in Flandreau; 42% said the town most lacked apartment complexes; 57% said their ideal housing is owning a single‑family home; and roughly 36% of respondents said they would consider leaving their current living situation for a newly constructed two‑bedroom apartment in town.
Cole emphasized the survey's limits: distribution was primarily electronic (Facebook and a QR code in the newspaper), so older residents were underrepresented. He said the survey was accelerated and not perfect, but that the results generally aligned with anecdotal evidence the housing corporation had already collected.
Council members asked clarifying questions about rental-price questions and whether answers reflected what respondents considered "fair" versus "willing to pay." Cole said several respondents indicated rents in the $750–$1,250 range for two‑bedroom units, and that a nontrivial share of people commuting into Flandreau indicated limited rental availability as a reason for living outside town.
The housing corporation will discuss the survey results at its upcoming meeting and consider next steps, including targeted outreach and refining survey questions for a larger, more representative sample.
