Survey Reveals Challenges for Dallas Builders Association Members
The ongoing pandemic and resulting economic crisis are having a marked impact on the housing industry according to a recent Dallas BA survey of its membership. Amidst national news showing a historic decline in builder confidence, more than two-thirds of Dallas BA members reported a decline in sales and demand while more than 60 percent have transitioned to a remote workplace.
Nearly one in 10 reported staff reductions while 43 percent applied for government assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Just under one-third of all members who applied for the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program reported difficulties receiving assistance.
“It is frustrating that so many of our members are having trouble with the Paycheck Protection Program,” said Dallas BA Executive Officer Phil Crone. “Housing is more essential now than ever before, and the whole point of the stimulus was to enable small businesses to keep employees through troubled times. The issue is with pre-existing SBA guidelines. It indicated to some banks that spec builders were not eligible. These issues are likely to be ironed out in a fourth assistance bill due for Congressional approval in May.”
As an essential industry, residential home builders have continued working through the onset of the pandemic implementing social distancing and sanitization measures on all job sites. The new changes have resulted in a need for additional personal protective equipment such as thermometers, masks and hand sanitizer. The Dallas BA has put nearly 550 gallons of hand sanitizer on local job sites and is working to provide members access to other needed items.
“At the onset of the crisis, all available personal protective equipment was donated to first responders and medical professionals serving on the frontlines,” said Crone. “This was absolutely the right thing to do. It has left many of our members short on what they need, which is a gap our Association needs to fill.”
Photo: Executive Officer Phil Crone and Past President Tim Jackson of Tim Jackson Custom Homes prepare for another distribution of hand sanitizers to members.