Blog
The Evolution of the Housing Supply Shortage
For years, the United States has faced a housing shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent analysis from Freddie Mac examines how a combination of strong demand and low mortgage rates have contributed to the shortfall, with estimates indicating the shortage rose 52 percent from 2.5 million in 2018 to 3.8 million in 2020.
Utilizing the Social Security Administration’s Disability Analysis File
Since 2011, the Social Security Administration has offered its Disability Analysis File (DAF) on an annual basis, compiling data from a range of internal and external data sources into one cohesive database with additional composite variables. With historical data reaching back to 1994, these files contain data on all those individuals with disabilities below retirement age who have received benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs.
CMS’ New Case Study Showcases Successful Community Advisory Board Collaboration
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a case study highlighting Health Net of West Michigan, an organization participating in CMS’ Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model. The AHC Model seeks to identify if healthcare costs and utilization can be impacted by the identification and subsequent mitigation of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries’ health-specific social needs.
Census Releases Demonstration Data and Progress Metrics for New DAS
The Census Bureau continues to roll out data and information from the 2020 census. On April 28, it provided information about a new cryptography-inspired disclosure avoidance system (DAS) to protect the privacy of respondents. Using data from the 2010 census for demonstration purposes, Census has released several files of data to solicit feedback from users. The bureau hopes users can provide detailed information on the files’ fitness-for use, privacy, and any improvements that should be made.
