community needs assessment...community needs assessment.details by category...

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CommunityNeedsAssessmentDetailedNeedsbyCategory

CommunityinActionHarneyandMalheurCounties

MissionsStatement:Weservelowandmoderate-incomeindividualsandfamiliesbyprovidingeducationandcounseling,skillsdevelopment,andaccesstocommunityresourcesthathelptocreateself-sufficiency.

VisionStatement:CinA’svisionistobuildinclusive,diverse,andcaringcommunities.Weenvisioncommunitieswhereresidents,regardlessoftheirincomestatus,havehope,optimism,andaccesstocommunityresources.

915 SW 3rd Ave Ontario, OR 97914

(541) 889-9555 FAX: (541) 889-0768

www.communityinaction.info


TableofContentsIntroduction Page3CommunityActionBackground Page3SurveyRespondents Page4SurveyAvailability Page5Process Page5 SurveyIntroduction Page5

CommunityInput Page7 HowwilltheSurveyBeUsed? Page7 AbouttheCommunities/ServiceArea Page8 HarneyCounty Page8 MalheurCounty Page9DetailedNeedsbyCategory Page9 EducationSupports Page10 CriticalIssuesRelatingtoChildhoodPoverty Page12 MentalHealthAssets Page13 EmploymentSupports Page13 GeneralNeeds Page14 HousingNeeds Page15 ServicesthatareMostCritical Page16 ThrivingYouth Page17CriticalIssuesthatCreatetheNeeds Page19 LowPayingJobs Page19 LackofBasicandHigherEducation Page19ResourcesKnowntotheCommunity/Respondents Page22QualitativeInformationGathered Page23CommunityinActionStrategyMovingForward Page24InformingtheStrategicPlan Page24Appendix


IntroductionEverythreeyears,CommunityinActionparticipatesinaCommunityNeedsAssessment.Thepurposeofthisassessmentistogatheracrosssectionofinformationfromresidents,communitypartners,non-profitentities,andothergroupsthatcanprovidevaluableinformationregardingthecommunityneeds.Afterthesurveyiscompleted,itwillbeanalyzedtodeterminegapsinservicestoaddressareasthatmayneedadditionalfocusforfutureplanning.ItwillbeincorporatedintotheCommunityinActionStrategicPlantoassistlow-incomeresidentsofHarneyandMalheurCounties.Whenthesurveywasdevelopeditincludedquantitativedatatoinformtherespondentsofthefactsabouttheircommunity.Thesurveyalsosolicitedqualitativeinformationfromsurveyrespondentstogetabetterpictureoftheinformationthatisavailableduringtheprocess.Thisinformationislistedunderthesectionheadingof“QualitativeInformationGathered”.ThesurveywillbemadeavailabletothecommunitybypostingitontheCommunityinActionwebsiteandsendingittopartneragenciesfortheiruse.CommunityinActionBackgroundCommunityinActionofficiallybecametheCommunityActionAgencythatrepresentsHarneyandMalheurCountiesin2009.Anon-profit501C3,charitablecontributionagencywasestablishedtodeliverprogramsandservicestolow-incomeresidentswhoqualifyforservices.MainprogramfundingisdesignatedthroughOregonHousing&CommunityServices,privatedonors,andfoundationgrantsthatareavailabletoservelow-incomeresidents.Theagencyhasgrownfromapproximately$1Minfundingtoover$3Minfundingoverthepasteightyears.Fundingisdiversifiedtoincludestate,federal,andprivatefundingsources.CinAremainsflexibletoaddressgapsinservicesandtoaddressneedsinthecommunities.


SurveyRespondentsThesummarygraphbelowindicatesthecountieswheretherespondentsreside.Thecategoryof“other”isgenerallyknowntoincludethosewhoworkinoneofthecountiesbutresideoutsidethatarea.ThisislargelyduetoOntarioborderingtheStateofIdaho.311individualsurveyswerereceivedofwhich95werefromHarneyCountyand193werefromMalheurCountyleaving23respondentsfromtheseotherareas.

Thechartbelowfurtherbreaksdowntherespondentsbyhowtheyidentifythemselveswithintheircommunity.Respondentsmayidentifythemselvesasclientswhoreceivelow-incomeserviceseventhoughtheymayalsobeacommunitymemberoramemberofanon-profitorganization.Thelargestrepresentationofrespondentsarecommunitymemberswith69responses.Thesecondhighestgroupconsistsofstaffmembersthatidentifythemselveswithnon-profits(43responses)andthethirdaremembersoftheeducationcommunity(42responses).Thesecategoriesarefollowedbyclientswhoutilizeservicesdesignedtoassistthem(36responses).


Thesmallerportionsofthechartindicatethatlocalbusinessrepresentatives,membersofcitycouncil,andboardmembersofnon-profitentitiesparticipatedinthesurvey.Thisisagoodcrosssectionofthecommunitymembersrepresentedinthesurvey.SurveyAvailability

ThesurveywasmadeavailabletothecommunitybypublishingitontheCommunityinAction(CinA)websiteatwww.communityinaction.info,bymakingitavailableinwrittenformatinEnglishandSpanish,andbyprovidingasurveylinktothecommunitybyutilizingpartneragenciesandlistservices.Communitymeetingswerealsoattendedtomarketthesurvey.

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25.00%

01020304050607080

#ofRespondente Percentage


ProcessSurveyIntroductionThesurveywasdevelopedwiththefollowingintroductionthatallowedeachrespondenttounderstandmoreaboutthecommunitythattheywereassessing.“FromtimetotimeCommunityinActionassessestheneedsoflowandmoderate-incomeindividualsandfamilieswithinitsserviceareasbycreatingasurveytodetermineneeds,identifygapsinservices,andtoplanforfuturefunding.Pleasetakeamomenttocompletethesurveysoyourexpertiseandinformationcanbeusedtohelpidentifytheneedsforlow-incomeindividualsandfamilies.Thesurveywillonlytakeaboutfiveminutestocomplete.Thankyou.HarneyandMalheurCountiesincludefrontiercommunitiesthattypicallylackinfrastructureneededtocompetewithlargerareasofthestateforfundingandlargerscaleemploymentopportunities.Subsequently,thecommunitiestendtohavehigherpovertyratesamongadultsandchildrenandahighneedforservicesdesignedtohelplowandmoderate-incomepeoplemeettheirbasicneeds.CommunityinActionexiststoservelowtomoderate-incomeindividualsandfamiliesbyprovidingeducationandcounseling,skillsdevelopment,andaccesstocommunityresourcesthathelptocreateself-sufficiency.AccordingtotheUSCensus,HarneyCountyisthelargestcountybylandmassandoneofthesmallestinpopulationincludingpopulationestimatesof7292residentsin2016,whichislessthanonepersonpersquaremile.Thepopulationhaschangedslightlysince2010and22.8%ofitsresidentsarepeopleover65yearsofage.HarneyCounty'sRacereflectspredominatelywhitewithasmallHispanicandNativeAmericanpopulationincluded.Foreignborninthesecommunitiesrepresent2%ofthepopulation.Owner-occupiedhousingisreflectedat69%withmediangrossrentreportedtobe$563.00permonth.Medianhouseholdincomeisreportedat$37,580ascomparedtothestatewideaverageof$51,243.


AccordingtotheUSCensus,MalheurCountyisthesecondlargestcountybylandmassandalsooneofthesmallestinpopulationincludingpopulationestimatesof30,439residents,whichisslightlyover3peoplepersquaremile.Thepopulationhaschangedslightlysince2010and16%ofitsresidentsarepeopleover65yearsofage.MalheurCounty'sRacereflects77.5%whiteand33.2%HispanicorLatino.Foreignborninthesecommunitiesrepresents11%ofthepopulation.Owneroccupiedhousingreflects59.7%withmediangrossrentreportedtobe$604.00permonth.Medianhouseholdincomeisreportedat$35,418ascomparedtothestatewideaverageof$51,243.TheinformationgatheredwillhelpdefinethefuturestrategicplanforCommunityinActioninHarneyandMalheurCounties,willhelpconsideritssub-recipientneedsandservicesprovided,andwillbeusedtocreatepublicreportsthatwillbeaccessibleonthewebsiteatwww.communityinaction.info.”CommunityInputThesurveywasmadeavailabletothecommunityinmanyformats.InJuneof2017,CommunityinAction(CinA)collaboratedwithmultiplecommunitybasedpartnersinHarneyandMalheurCountiestocomeupwiththeCommunityNeedsAssessmentSurvey(CNA)areasofinterestandquestions.Thefinalproductisaresultofcommunitycollaborationthatcreatedawidearrayofsurveyareasandincludedinputfromacrosssectionofthecommunitymembers.TheintentoftheCNAprocesswastoinvolvethecommunityresidents,communitypartners,faithbasedentities,clientswhoreceiveservices,city/countyofficialsandotherswhohavekeyrolesinthecommunitiestogainawidespectrumofinput.ThesurveyspecificallyidentifiedquantitativeinformationfromtheUSCensusrelatedtogender,age,andrace/ethnicityforourservicearea.Thesurveycollectedquantitativedatabyratingoptionsforcertainareasandincludedqualitativedatathathelpstotellthestoryofadditionalinformationneedingtobeconsideredwhenaddressingservices/gaps.Aseriesofquestionsthatcombinedmultiplechoice,ranking,andopenquestionsgaveusthemaximumabilitytogatherinformationinmultipleformats.Thesurveywas


designedtoassessbothneedsandresourcesinthecommunityandproduceadocumentthatcanbepublishedforthecommunitytoaccess.Howwillthesurveybeused?TheinformationgatheredwillhelpdefinethefuturestrategicplanforCommunityinActioninHarneyandMalheurCounties,willhelpconsideritssub-recipientneedsandservicesprovided,andwillbeusedtocreatepublicreportsthatwillbeaccessibleonthewebsiteatwww.communityinaction.info.AbouttheCommunities/ServiceAreaHarneyandMalheurCountiesincludefrontiercommunitiesthattypicallylackinfrastructureneededtocompetewithlargerareasofthestateforfundingandlargerscaleemploymentopportunities.Subsequently,thecommunitiestendtohavehigherpovertyratesamongadultsandchildrenandahighneedforservicesdesignedtohelplowandmoderate-incomepeoplemeettheirbasicneeds.CommunityinActionexiststoservelowtomoderate-incomeindividualsandfamiliesbyprovidingeducationandcounseling,skillsdevelopment,andaccesstocommunityresourcesthathelptocreateself-sufficiency.HarneyCountyInadditiontotheinformationprovidedinthesurveyonpages6&7,HarneyCounty’spopulationincludes20.5%undertheageof18and22%overtheageof65.Thepopulationismadeupofapproximately50%malesand50%females.Theethnicityispredominantlywhitewithalmost90%ofthepopulationidentifyinginthiscategoryand2%beingforeignborncitizens.Thereare36lesshousingunitsavailableascomparedto2010.Highschoolgraduatesarerepresentedas88%with17%holdingaBachelor’sdegreeorhigher.Therearealso39studentswhoareexperiencinghomelessnessaccordingtothe15-16StatewideReportCardfromOregonPublicSchools.MalheurCounty


Inadditiontotheinformationprovidedinthesurveyonpage6&7,MalheurCounty’spopulationincludes25.2%undertheageof18and16%overtheageof65.Thepopulationismadeupofapproximately46%malesand54%females.MalheurCountyconsistsof63%ofitsresidentsidentifyingtheirethnicityaswhite,32%ofitsresidentsidentifyingwithHispanicorLatino,and11%ofthepopulationisforeignborn.Thereare52lesshousingunitsavailableascomparedto2010.Highschoolgraduatesarerepresentedas80%withalmost14%holdingaBachelor’sdegreeorhigher.Therearealso286studentsexperiencinghomelessnessaccordingtothe15-16StatewideReportCardfromOregonPublicSchools.

DetailedNeedsbyCategories:EducationSupports:Thebargraphbelowillustratestheinformationasitwasrankedintheorderof:

• NotImportant• ImportantbutNotPressing• VeryImportant• CriticalNeed

ThehighestrankedcriticalneedintheEducationSupportcategorywashelpconnectingtojobtrainingoptionswith151respondentschoosingthisanswer.Thesecondandthirdrankedcriticalneedinthiscategoryis104respondentswhoidentifiedhelppassinghighschoolclassesand103identifyingaccesstoGEDorotherpost-secondaryoptions.Therankingof“veryimportant”illustratesthatthecommunitiesunderstandthathelppassinghighschoolclasses,accesstoGEDandotherPost-Secondaryoptions,andAccesstoFinancialAidareveryimportant.Anotherinterestingcomponentthisquestionbroughtupisthat127respondentsrankedhelpwithaffordableandattainablehousingwhileincollegeis“veryimportant”.


CriticalIssuesRelatingtoChildhoodPoverty:Thegraphbelowillustratesthatlackofjobsthatpayalivingwageisthemostcriticalissuethatlendstothehighchildhoodpovertyrates.

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

AccesstoFinancialAidIncludingFAFSA

AccesstoGEDorothersecondaryeducationneeds

Helppassinghighschoolclasses

HelpconnectingtoJobTraining

ChartTitle

VeryImportant Critical

Lackofjobsthatpayalivingwage- 64%

Lackoffinancialliteracyand/orfinancialeducation- 11.4%

Lackofaffordablechildcare- 7.2%

Lackofqualitychildcare- 7.2%

LackofbasicknowledgeofEnglishorcommunicationchallenges- 6.2%

Lackofsocialnetworksforfamilies- 3.9%


Povertyratesbasedonpercentagefrom2011to2015havedroppedslightlyforHarneyCounty,accordingtoKidsCountyDataCenter,whichisaprojectoftheAnnieECaseyFoundation.2011rateswerereportedat29.7%,raisedin2014to31.6%thendroppedin2015to25.5%Povertyratesbasedonpercentagefrom2011to2015havedroppedslightlyforMalheurCounty,accordingtoKidsCountyDataCenter,whichisaprojectoftheAnnieECaseyFoundation.2011rateswerereportedat35.1%,raisedin2014to38.3%thendroppedin2015to33.9%TheseratesareveryhighwhenyoucomparethemtolargerareasofthestateincludingWashingtonCountywhoseratein2011was16%,whichdroppedto12.3%in2015.Thesecondmostcriticalissueidentifiedisthelackoffinancialliteracyand/orthelackoffinancialtraining.AccordingtotheUSDAEconomicResearchService,thechartsillustratehoweducationhasbeentransformedsince1970.

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10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 35.00% 40.00% 45.00% 50.00%

NotCompletingHighSchool

CompletingHighSchoolOnly

CompletingSomeCollege

CompletingCollege

HarneyCounty

1970 1990 2015


Whiletheimprovementsinourcommunitiesareencouraging,comparisonstolargerareasbringusbacktotherealitythateducationresultsoflargermetropolitanareasaremuchbetter.Forexample:MultnomahCountyshowsonly9.7%ofhighschoolparticipantsdonotgraduateand41.3%completecollege.Thesearehugegapsineducationexpectationsbetweenrural/frontierandmetropolitanareas.MentalHealthAssets:Whenrespondentschosetheirtopthreementalhealthassetsthataremostimportantintheircommunities,thehighestpickwasQualityofMentalHealthProgramwith165respondentsmakingthischoice.Thesecondhighestneedregardingmentalhealthishavingachoiceofmentalhealthprovidersandhavingpreventionprogramsdesignedtohelpyouth.

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NotCompletingHighSchool

CompletingHighSchoolOnly

CompletingSomeCollege

CompletingCollege

MalheurCounty

1970 1990 2015


EmploymentSupports:Criticalneedswereidentifiedby148respondentswhodeterminedthathigherwagejobsareneededand124respondentsdeterminedthatqualifiedworkers/staffisacriticalneed.Itisinterestingthatthetwomostcriticalneedsidentifiedhavetodowithindustry,wagesandaskilledworkforcewhenonly12or3.9%oftherespondentsidentifiedthemselvesas“LocalBusinessRepresentatives”.Thisisanindicatorthattheneedformorelivingwagejobsandthelackofaqualifiedworkforcearewellknownissuesinthecommunities.Jobopportunitiesforyouthwasthenumberonechoicefor173respondentsinthecategoryofEmploymentSupportsidentifiedasa“VeryImportant”need.Thiswascloselyfollowedby172choicesforJobTrainingforAdultsand158respondentschoosingBeforeandAfterSchoolProgramsas“VeryImportant”inthiscategory.


GeneralNeeds:ThehighestrankinggeneralneedshowsthatAttainableHousingisthemostcriticalissueinourcommunities.171respondentsidentifiedAttainableHousingasthehighestcriticalneedinthissection.DrugandAlcoholTreatmentisthesecondhighestcriticalgeneralneedwith127respondentswhoidentifiedwiththisarea.

0 50 100 150 200 250

Lackofjobsthatpayalivingwage- 64%

Lackoffinancialliteracyand/orfinancialeducation- 11.4%

Lackofaffordablechildcare- 7.2%

Lackofqualitychildcare- 7.2%

LackofbasicknowledgeofEnglishorcommunicationchallenges- 6.2%

Lackofsocialnetworksforfamilies- 3.9%

number

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

HealthCareServices

PublicTransportation

CarRepair

PrescriptionAssistance

DentalServices

AffordableHousing

Drug&AlcoholTreatment

CriticalNeed VeryImportant


Thehighestneedlistedas“VeryImportant”hasbeenidentifiedasHealthCareServices.Earlierinthesurveywelearnedthatthemostcriticalneedregardinghealthcareservicesisqualityandchoiceofhealthcareproviders.HousingNeeds:ThesinglemostcriticalneedregardinghousinghasbeenidentifiedasSafeandAffordableHousing.165respondentsidentifythatSafeandAffordableHousingisthemostcriticalneedinHarneyandMalheurCounties.Housingseemstobethecategorythathasgarneredthehighestnumberofsurveyrespondents.Thisisalsoconfirmedin“GeneralNeeds”onpage14.Seniorhousingisthesecondmostcriticalneedwith97respondentschoosingthisoption.Inaddition,152respondentschoseseniorhousingasa“VeryImportant”issue.Housingforthedisabledisalsoacriticalneedwith104respondentswhoindicatethisasthethirdmostcriticalhousingneed.Inaddition,140respondentschosehousingforthedisabledasa“VeryImportant”issue.Thesurveyalsoindicatesthatprogramsthatassistlow-incometorepairtheirhomesareamongthecriticalneedsaswellasprogramsdesignedtohelpbuildassets(createwealth).

020406080

100120140160180

SafeandAffordableHousing

SeniorHousing

Housingfor

Disabled

HomeRepair

Programs

MortgageAssistancePrograms

HelptoBuildWealth

andAssets

PeopleLackRentalHistory

HelptoRepairPoorRentalHistory

VeryImportant CriticalNeed


ServicesThatareMostCritical:Expandingonthehousingconcern,thesurveyshowsthat204respondentsrecognizeRent/MortgageAssistanceisthemostcriticalissuethatneedstobeaddressedinthecommunitiesaslistedinthechartbelow.Thesecondmostcriticalneedistemporaryshelter,whichneithercommunitycurrentlyhas.Temporaryshelter,warmingshelter,andothershelteractivitiesarebeingaddressedbyutilizinghotel/motelvoucherswithlocalhotels,whichiscostlytomanage.TheMalheurCountyHomelessTaskForceisworkingtoidentifyasolutiontotheareaslackofshelter.CurrentlytheNewHopeKitchenisofferingnutritiousmealstothehomelessandotherlow-incomeresidentsgotothesiteforservicesthatincludeanutritiousmeal,limitedaccesstocampingequipment,anddonationsfromthecommunity.ThegoodnewsisthattherearemultipleoptionsandconversationsregardinglackofsheltershappeninginMalheurCounty.CinAwilladdressthisinthestrategicplanwithagoalofidentifyingaviablesolutionfor2018winterweatherneeds.

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100

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RentorMortgageAssistance

Emergencyfood

EmergencyFuel

TemporaryShelter

EmergencyMedicalCare

ProtectionAgainstDomesticViolence

NumberofRespondents Percentage


HarneyCountydoesnothaveatemporaryorwarmingshelterinplace.Thesearealsoongoingconversationswiththecommunitypartners,thecity/countyofficials,andcitizensofthecommunity.Thecurrentsystemallowsfortransportationtootherareasthatarebetterequippedtomanageclientswhoneedshelterservices.Inclementweathersheltershavebeendevelopedinthepastwithgoodresults,however,theseoptionshavenotbeensustainable.ThrivingYouth:JobShadowandOptionstoHelpYouthConnectwithHigherEducationwereidentifiedasthemostcriticalneedswhenaskingwhatservicesyouthneedtothrive.245respondentsagreethatjobshadowingoptionscanhelpyouthdevelopintopositiveadultswhile189agreethatconnectingyouthwithhighereducationwillhelpthemtothrive.ThethirdandfourthcategoriesidentifiedincludeprogramstohelpyouthstayoutoftheJuvenileJusticeSystemandawayfromgangs.


Additionalinputwassolicitedfromthesurvey.Theresponsesarebelow:

• DrugPreventionandEducationisNeeded–1additionalresponse• Extra-CurricularActivities,Sports,etc.,areNeededforYouth–10

additionalresponsesagreethattheseactivitieswillhelpyouththrive• AffordableHousingisneededforyouth–2respondents• MentoringProgramsforYouth–2respondents• JobSkillsProgramsareneededforyouth–3respondents• BetterPublicEducationwastheresponsefrom2respondents• MentalHealthServicesareneededtohelpyouth–1respondent• PersonalDevelopmentOptionsareneedsforyouth–1respondent• CareofElderlyisneededtohelpyouththrive–1respondent• Idon’tknowwasanotherrespondent’scomment

245

104

189

99

126

123 80.10%

34.00%

62%

32.40%

41.20%

40.20%

JobShadowing

HousingOptionsforHomelessandRunawayYouth

OptionstoConnectYouthw/HigherEducation

CaseManagementtoAssistYouth

ProgramstoHelpYouththatareInvolvedwithJuvenileJusticeSystem

ProgramstoKeepYouthfromParticipatinginGangActivities


CriticalIssuesthatCreatestheNeeds:LowPayingJobsItisnosurprisethatlowpayingjobshassurfacedasthemostcriticalissuethatcreatestheneedsinthesurvey.ThishasbeenaneedformanyyearsintheruralpartsofOregon.ThereisnoquicksolutioninsightandtheCommunityActionAgencyNetworkcanworkwithEconomicDevelopmentandCity/Countyofficialstoprovidecriticalinformationtoassistinthisarea.

Harney-Medianhouseholdincomeisreportedat$37,580ascomparedtothestatewideaverageof$51,243.Malheur-Medianhouseholdincomeisreportedat$35,418ascomparedtothestatewideaverageof$51,243.

LackofBasicandHigherEducationThenextmostcriticalissueindicatesthatthelackofhighereducationand/orthelackofbasiceducationcreatesissuesrelatedtopovertyandlow-income.AccordingtotheUSCensus:

• Malheur-Highschoolgraduatesarerepresentedas80%withalmost14%holdingaBachelor’sdegreeorhigher.

• Harney-Highschoolgraduatesarerepresentedas88%with17%holdingaBachelor’sdegreeorhigher.

Thenextlayerofseriousneedsthatcausetheconditionsofpovertyindicatethathousingisnotavailableandthecosttorentorownahomeisoutofreachforalmost1/3oftherespondents.Thelackofaffordable/attainablehousinghasbeenastrongthemethroughoutthesurvey.

• Harney-Thereare36lesshousingunitsavailableascomparedto2010.Owner-occupiedhousingisreflectedat69%withmediangrossrentreportedtobe$563.00permonth.

• Harney-Therearealso39studentswhoareexperiencinghomelessnessaccordingtothe15-16StatewideReportCardfromOregonPublicSchools.


• Malheur-Thereare52lesshousingunitsavailableascomparedto2010.Owneroccupiedhousingreflects59.7%withmediangrossrentreportedtobe$604.00permonth.

• Malheur-Therearealso286studentsexperiencinghomelessnessaccordingtothe15-16StatewideReportCardfromOregonPublicSchools.

Inaddition,thereweremultiplecommentsfromrespondentsthatindicatethathousingforyouthisanissue.Thereisalackofstructuretohouseunaccompaniedyouth,runawayyouth,andyouthwhoarecouchsurfingand/orhomeless.Respondentsincludedsuggestionsthathousingisneededforconvictedfelons,homelessnessingeneralisanimportantissuetoaddress,andtherearetoomanypeoplemovingintothecommunitythatarenotself-sufficientandrelyonservicestosustainthemlong-term.Jobtrainingisanissuethatmanyrespondentsincludedinthiscategory.Lackofjobskillstoget/keepahigherwagejob,lackofbasiceducation,lackofqualityeducation,andlackofexperiencetocompeteforhigherwagejobswereallissuesthatwereemphasizedinthesurveyresults.Thelackofactivitiesforyouthalsowasmentionedrepeatedlyinthiscategory.Statementsincludedthattherearenoinexpensiveactivitiesthatcanengageyouth,gangactivitiesarestillanissue,programsareneededtoallowyouthtoworkandgainexperienceinjobmarkets,andpositiveyouthengagementisneeded.Manyrespondentsalsocommentedthatalloftheaboveservicesinthiscategoryareacriticaltoaddresstheneedsofthecommunities.Inaddition,respondentsmadecommentsthatindicatethatalackofjobskillsisanissue,gangactivityisstillanissue,thereisaneedformorebehavioralhealthservices,andthereisaneedtogetyouthoutofthecycleofpoverty.Generalcommentsalsoincludedthatacombinationofthelackofjobsandthelackofrentalpropertyisacriticalissue.


Additionalinformationwasrequestedfromtherespondentstohelpusbetterunderstandwhattheythinkarecriticalissuescreatingtheneedslisted.Theyinclude:

• Housingisnotavailable• Itcoststoomuchtorentorownahome• Housingforconvictedfelonsdoesnotexist• Manyresidentscannotpassadrugtest• Lackofindustryingeneral• Lackofskillstogetajob–fiveindividualsaddedsimilarcomments• Gangsareaproblemforyouthandcommunity• Behavioralhealthissues• Thereisaneedtostopthecycleofrelyingongovernmentprograms–

multiplecommentsinthisarea• Communitieslackinexpensiveactivitiesforyouth• Lackofjobsforyouthwasanissueforthreeindividualrespondents• Qualityeducationislacking• Homelessnessisanissue• Parentsarenotequippedforchildren’sneeds• Lowpayingjobsinourareas/lackofgoodlivingwagejobs


• Higher/basiceducationislacking• Languagechallengesexist• Nottakingcareofourcitizens,noincentivetogetoffwelfare

ResourcesKnowntotheCommunity/Respondents:Thetopfiverankedentitiesthatareknowntorespondentsinclude:

• DepartmentofHumanResources–253• CommunityinAction–238• OregonEmploymentDepartment–205• LocalFoodPantries–180• HealthDepartments–172

Itisimportanttoknowwhatresourcesarewellknowninourcommunities.Resourcesthataredifficulttoidentifycanbechallengingtoconnectlow-incomeresidentsto.Smallercommunitiesrelyheavilyonvolunteerhelp,localchurches,andotherresourcestohelppeopleinneed.SeeingthatCommunityinActionrankssecondinresourcesthatareknowninthecommunityindicatesthatwearesucceedingingettingneededinformationintothehandsofthosewhoseekit.Wecandeterminethatclientsareabletoconnecttoservices,andstaffisavailabletoassistthecommunity.Havingstateandcountyresourcesrankamongthetopfiveofknownresourcesisalsoagoodillustrationthatthecommunityandlow-incomeresidentsconnectwithservicesofferedthroughthestateforassistance.Localfoodpantriesseemtobeeasilyidentifiableas180respondentsindicatethattheservicestheyprovidearewellknowninthecommunitieswheretheyreside.


QualitativeInformationGatheredInadditiontotheinformationabove,respondentsalsoidentifiedthatlocalchurchesareknownincommunities,non-profitsthathelpwithspecificneedsareknownincommunities,andmanyotherresourcescanbeidentified.Additionalcommentsregardingyouthgarneredthemostcommentsandtheyincludedissueswithhomelessnessamongyouth,theneedforclubssuchas“BigBrothers/BigSisters”andtheBoys&GirlsClubneedtobeexpanded.Trainingforcareerandtechnicalskillswaslistedasaneedfromseveralrespondents.Activitiestokeepyouthoccupiedinapositivewaywasacommonstatementthroughoutthesurvey.Mentorshipofmultipletypeswasreferencedincludingdaytimeprograms,gangpreventionactivities,one-on-oneactivities,andstableextra-curricularactivitiesbeingcriticalneedsinthecommunities.Manyrespondentscommentedontheruralnessofourareasandthatwelacktheoptionsforyouthandotherprogramsascomparedtothelargercities.Multiple


commentsregardingthelackofaffordablehousingandthatlow-incomepeoplecannotaffordrentnorcantheyaffordtopurchaseahome.Commentregardingolderworkerswhoneedtogetbackintotheworkforceisalsoanissueinourcommunities.Weneedtodoabetterjobofhiringolderworkersatawagehigherthanminimumwereamongthecomments.

CommunityinActionStrategyMovingForwardNextstepsforCommunityinActionwillbetohavetheBoardofDirectorsanalyzethisCommunityNeedsAssessmentDatainmoredepth.ThiswillgivetheBoardideasonhowtomoveforwardwithseekingprogramstohelpimprovethelivesoflow-incomeresidentsthathavebeenidentifiedbythesurvey.TheseideaswillbeincludedinthenewStrategicPlanfor2018.InformingtheStrategicPlanThenewStrategicPlanthatwillbedevelopedfor2018through2021willincludetheinformationpresentedinthesurvey.Thisinformationisvaluabletodeterminewhatprogramstocontinue,whatprogramsmaynotbemeetinganeed,andwhatprogramsneedtoexpandorbecreated.TheStrategicPlanwillspanthenextthreeyears,whichwillgiveCommunityinActiontheabilitytomeasureimprovementsmadeinservicedelivery.Itwillalsogivestafftimetofurtherdevelopprogramsandservicestocontinuetomeettheneedsoflow-incomeresidentsonourcommunities.

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