NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Nearly half of the residents of New York City speak a language other than English at home, and almost a quarter have limited English proficiency. For surveys fielded in diverse areas, language access is an issue not only of equality, but also data quality. Common approaches, such as relying on interpreters or deferring to household members who speak English, can lead to the mis-phrasing of questions, discomfort of the respondent, or the collection of incomplete information. To address this issue, sponsors of the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS) worked with experts to develop and implement a Language Justice approach to data collection. Language justice aims to decenter English in an effort to enable all involved to equally participate fully, regardless of the language they speak. A holistic approach to Language Justice, considering all aspects of the survey and every potential interaction with respondents, is essential for an equitable approach to surveys, especially in diverse areas.