beverly's gloucester crossing survey results 2014
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Beverly’s Gloucester Crossing
Survey Results 2014
NORTH SHORE CDC
North Shore Communnity Development Coalition invests in neighborhoods to create thriving communities. We envision a North Shore
where every neighborhood is one ofchoice and opportunity.
The strategy of our neighborhood developmentmodel is to invest social, human and economic capital
into predominantly low-income or distressedneighborhoods within the communities on the
North Shore to improve quality of life.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION MODEL
“ North Shore CDC is helpingour neighborhood become a
safe, family-friendly community ”
Gloucester Crossing was originally built in 1902 to house workers at the United Shoe Machinery Corporation. The United Shoe factory created an abundance of jobs, creating apartments and multi-family housing in close proximity to meet the workforce demand. For decades, the United Shoe served as the primary source of income for the overwhelming majority of the community. After the factory closed in the1980s, the area struggled with poverty and economic isolation for over twenty years.
In 2008, Gloucester Crossing received over $20 million in funding from public and private resources to build new affordable housing to better develop the tight-knit neighborhood. Since then, Gloucester Crossing has had improvements in affordable housing, safety, lighting, reduced trash, and the navigation of local resources. Despite the improvements that have been made in the neighborhood, there are still improvements to be made. The Gloucester Crossing neighborhood remains the lowest income neighborhood in the city.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER CROSSING
SURVEY 2014
The Annual Gloucester Crossing survey has been used as an engagement tool and guide for community engagement strategies at North Shore CDC and other local social service organizations since 2007.
In 2012, North Shore CDC’s partnership with Endicott College strengthened the survey content, process, and data analysis. The improvements now focus on resident satisfaction on various facets of life in the neighborhood.
Information from this pamphlet will be used to helpinform and shape the nature of neighborhood community engagement efforts for the upcoming year.
Conducted 9/22/14 - 11/12/14
Door to Door Surveyingof Gloucester CrossingCompleted by North Shore CDCCommunity Engagement Staff& Endicott College’s Research
Methodology Class
86 out of 285households respondedMargin of error +/- 8.8%
Answered on a voluntary basis
Any question could be skipped
SURVEY 2014
PARTICIPATION MAPRespondents by Street
Mill St. had the highest number of respondents
Mill St. has the greatest percentage of tenants with less than 2 years of residency in Gloucester Crossing: 40%
Simon St
Grant St
Mill St Beck
ford
St
Beck
ford
St
Benn
ett St
Gag
e St
Ro
pe
s St
Gloucester CrosssingNeighborhood
Number of RespondentsBy Street
Cabot St (N/A)
Highest Lowest
39 years old Average age of survey respondents
11 years Average time living in the community
66% of respondents were female
34% of respondents were male
DEMOGRAPHICS
RACE OF RESPONDENTS
7% Black/African American
9% Other/Mixed Race
84% White/Caucasian
ETHNICITY OF RESPONDENTS
2008
92% Non-Latino 8% Latino
2014
78% Non-Latino 21% Latino
EMPLOYMENT
INDUSTRY OF EMPLOYMENT
13% of participants reported being unemployedCompared to the unemployment rate ofBeverly at 6.3% and Masachusetts at 7.2%
22% of participants reported having
‘some college education’
46% reported finishing high school or receiving a GED
5% reported not finishing high schoolCompared to 23.2% of respondents
who did not finish high school in 2010
INCOME
76% of the Gloucester Crossing neighborhood remains below the poverty line and the lowest income neighborhood in the city of Beverly.
41%
22%
13%
22%
2%
Under $19,801 $19,801-‐$32,950 $32,951-‐ $47,050 $50,851-‐$84,050 Over $84,050
Below the Poverty Line
GROSS INCOME BEFORE TAXES
41% of families survive on less than $19,800 per year Average household is 3.38
Compared to the living yearly wage of $42,613
in Essex CountyConsidered at a household size of 3
The living hourly wage is $11.76per hour in Essex County
IMPACTS
69% of residents polled feel that Gloucester Crossing has improved over the past three years
Almost half of all respondents listed their homeas what they like most about living here
40% of these respondents live in a buildingbuilt by North Shore CDC
98.8% of those surveyed rated Holcroft Park’scondition as fair or better
70% of respondents stated that thecommunity has improved over
the last three years.
“I moved into Gloucester Crossing 6 years ago and am very impressed with the number of
improvements that have gone on since then. Not only does the community look a lot better
but I believe that people care about us and our community more now than ever”
-Resident of Grant Street
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
Respondents were asked about needed improvements in their community and they
identified the top four priorities:
INFRASTRUCTURE
SOCIAL SERVICES“I wish there were more transitional services for Gloucester Crossing residents. I feel like the lack of services are leading residents to get stuck”
“I really feel we need somewhere for teens to go.”
“One of my employees lives in the mill street apartments. I want him to get ahead. He needs help and education to learn how to manage his finances. People need workshops to teach these skills”
“In the winter there’s problems (with the streets), even emergency vehicles get stuck in the road” “I’ve lived here for 50 years and the last time the streets and sidewalks were improved was in the ‘70’s”
“Street repair is the top priority for this neighborhood” “Holcroft Park also needs more lighting”
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
SAFETY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“I dont feel comfortable walking in the community or going to the park after dark”
“Speeding is a huge problem, especially on Ropes and Mill Street where there are tons of children. We need better signage and more policing”
“Policing around the park at night is something we are really in need of. More biking and walking patrols to enforce park rules”
“We don’t receive any information on the community from city hall, it’s like we don’t even exist.”
“North Shore CDC has done a lot with this neighborhood, especially the park. Last summer they even organized volunteers and gathered donations to put a roof on the park’s gazebo.”
“We have a fair number of older people in the community, who are unable to shovel the snow. Is there a way to organize a community support system?”
INFASTRUCTURE
Respondents rated Grant, Gage and Simon St as the priority streets in need of the most repair.
This year, North Shore CDC is partnering withBeverly City Hall for a Community Development Block Grant worth close to $1 Million. Programs that will be
impacted by this funding will include streetand sidewalk repair, housing rehabilitation, and
enhanced social services.
STREET & SIDEWALK PRIORITIES
Simon St
Grant St
Mill St Beck
ford
St
Beck
ford
St
Benn
ett St
Gag
e St
Ro
pe
s St (N/A
)
Gloucester CrosssingNeighborhood
Priority of Streetsin Need of Repair
Cabot St (N/A)
Highest Lowest
INFRASTRUCTURE
CURRENT STREET & SIDEWALK CONDITIONS
Approximately 1/3 of respondents rated street repair, cleaning, and plowing as poor to very-poor
2008 47% of respondents rated the lack of affordable childcare serious to moderate 2014 33% of respondents stated they had difficulty paying for child care
SOCIAL SERVICES
“I had to decline a housing voucher becauseI was working full time, but I was still
living in poverty. Now that I can affordmy apartment, I’m not eligiblefor any help, but I still need it!”
SHIFT IN SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDSCHILD CARE
HOUSING
UTILITIES
2008 83% of respondents stated a lack of adequte affordable housing
2011 50% of respondents stated they had difficulty covering rent throughout the year 2014 26% of respondents stated the they had difficulty covering rent
2008 49% of respondents stated that high utility costs were a severe problem
2011 50% of respondents stated that they had difficulty paying their heating bills
2014 38% of respondents stated the they had difficulty paying their heating bills
SAFETY
75% feel that safety at night is an issue
65% feel that traffic/speeding vehicles are an issue
57% feel that drug activity is an issue
35% feel that lack of lighting is an issue
SHIFT IN SAFETY2009 77% of respondents stated that they felt their neighborhood was safe
2011 78% of respondents stated that they felt safe in their neighborhood 2014 93% of respondents stated the they felt safe in their neighborhood
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL UNSAFE?
“Summertime is bad because kids hang out and drink and smoke in the park”
“We need more lightingat Holcroft Park”
“Could we get the city to put temporaryspeed bumps down? We have a lot of kids living
here and cars speed up and down the roads”
“I dont feel comfortable walkingin the community or
going to the park after dark”
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Participation in community meetings and eventshas steadily risen each year since 2011
89% of residents surveyed are very satisfied to satisfied
with information given out by North Shore CDCthrough monthly newsletters and social media
94% of respondents that regularly attendNorth Shore CDC events were very satisfied
to satisfied with the events
75% of those surveyed feel that Gloucester Crossingwill continue to improve over the next three years
STRATEGIES
Gloucester Crossing has seen ongoing improvements in the community over the last few years; however, there are still challenges that the community is facing.
Through a joint vision of a strong, healthy Gloucester Crossing, the North Shore CDC is committed to working with residents and partners to make Gloucester Crossing the best it can be. North Shore CDC will use the 2014 survey results and community input to guide our community engagement strategy over the next year.
Apply for Beverly CDBG funds to enhance social resources, repair streets and sidewalks, and provide housing rehabilitation to the community
Increase communication and collaboration between residents, community partners, and resources
Increase communication and collaboration with police to develop comprehensive plan to enhance safety and security amongst residents
Provide resident support to reactivate the Ward 3 Civic Association including offering leadership and civic engagement training
2014-2015 COMMUNITY GOALS
SAVE THE DATE
First Thursdays are monthly informal community meetings where residents can connect with other neighbors and social service
providers across the city. By providing a space to network and build relationships, we hope to foster a stronger sense of community. At each event dinner is provided, a community resource is invited to speak and share literature about their
services, and there is an interactive activity for children.
February 5th 5-7 pmStephy’s Kitchen
March 5th 5-7 pmHolcroft Park April 2nd 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
May 7th 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
June 4th 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
July 2nd 5-7 pmHolcroft Park August 6th 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
September 3rd 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
October 1st 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
November 5th 5-7 pmHolcroft Park
2014 Survey Partners
North Shore Community Development CoalitionAndrea’ Rhoades
Community Engagement Coordinator
Dr. Nathalie SaltikoffPrincipal Investigator & Professor Endicott College
Endicott College Research Methodsand Service Lab Students
Brandon CrockerCommunity Engagement Fellow
Merrimack College
Shauna GroverWorkstudy StudentEndicott College
Kimberly MacDonaldResearch AssistantEndicott College
YouthBuild North Shore
Special thanks to our survey partners and the Gloucester Crossing resident participants
nscdcnorth shore communitydevelopment coalition
More Information
North Shore CDC102 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970978-745-8071
www.northshorecdc.org
www.facebook.com/GloucesterCrossing
Andrea’ RhoadesCommunity Engagement Coordinator