City directories as sources for survey work in low- and middle-income black communities.

Abstract

Commercial directories and governmental lists of dwelling units in low income urban Black communities in four eastern cities were evaluated for completeness. With rare exceptions, less than 90 percent of dwelling units were included in any one list and no list adequately identified multiple dwelling unit structures. Since household income is likely to be lower among households in such structures, all lists tend to miss the very poor, i.e., those who may be at highest health risk.