A state agency that facilitates the development of affordable housing is asking for the public’s participation in a phone survey that helps project the need for homes in Hawaii by price, type, location and other characteristics.

The survey, commissioned by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. and conducted by SMS Research, began this week and will continue for three months.

HHFDC will use the survey results to update a report that is published every five years and projects supply and demand for homes in the short run (two to five years) and long run (five to 20 years).

The new Hawaii Housing Planning Study also will provide valuable data to devise housing programs using demographic and economic characteristics of Hawaii households.

“This survey comes around every five years and Hawaii people have always been generous in answering it,” Jim Dannemiller, president of SMS Research, said in a statement. “We are hoping people will help out once again. Their answers will help government and private sector produce the kind of housing we need in the next five years.”

In the report from 2011, it was estimated that people needing to move for various reasons would result in 60,000 to 75,000 homes changing hands between 2012 and 2016, mainly with the resale of existing homes. The 2011 report also projected that as many as 50,000 new homes would have to be built to satisfy demand in the five-year period. Builders have not come anywhere close to meeting this figure, which is one reason demand is outstripping supply for homes and pushing up prices.

The 2011 report broke down the projected need for residences by household income levels and counties. For instance, on Oahu the biggest need for housing was at the lowest income level, with 2,175 for-sale units and 4,967 rental units needed for households earning less than $30,000 a year.

At the high end, the report projected that there was a need for 1,387 for-sale units and 327 rental units needed for households earning more than $120,000 a year.

The report included comments from housing developers and a rundown of the types of housing preferred by renters and buyers. It also noted the need for housing for seniors and people with disabilities and special needs.

To see a copy of the 2011 report, go to 808ne.ws/1NqnN47.