WAILUKU — Maui County asks that all residents participate in a telephone survey being conducted for county and state governments.

Survey callers report experiencing problems in getting Maui County residents to participate. Some of the identified problem areas are Lanai, West Maui and North and East Maui from Paia to Hana.

This statewide random survey is an effort to collect information on housing needs, conditions, costs and demographic information. The information gathered will help measure the demand for elderly housing and other special needs groups, as well as the extent to which households are at risk of becoming homeless.

Participating governments and agencies include the counties of Maui, Hawaii and Kauai; City and County of Honolulu; and state Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Human Services and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

The survey began in late May and is being conducted by SMS Research and Marketing Services Inc.

“This survey is needed to determine who is in the greatest need out there and how government can help,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa.

“Please participate, so that we know how to best serve the public.”

Survey takers will ask for some household financial information, such as the amount of mortgage payments. They will not ask for any personal information that could compromise residents’ finances, such as date of birth, Social Security number, and bank account numbers.

The survey is part of a larger housing study that will provide updated information on the statewide housing inventory, review rental rates and create a model to forecast housing demand. The last statewide housing study of this scope was completed in 2006.

For more information, call Maui County Housing Administrator Wayde Oshiro at 270-7355.