Human Development Commission

2008 Community Needs Assessment Survey

HDC Service Area

Transportation Issues

Do you typically drive your own vehicle to work or school?     

How much to you typically spend on 
transportation in one week? 
$25 or less                $51 - $100
$26 - $50                  $101 or more

Do you have trouble affording transportation        
(ie. fuel, public transportation)?   

Do you have a valid driver’s license? 

Do you have public transportation in your community? 

If yes, does it meet your current needs?  

If no, why does it not meet your needs? (check all that apply):
Too expensive
Limited availability/hours of service  
Long wait times
Scheduling conflicts
Other 


Employment and Job Skills

Have you been employed continuously for the last two years?   

Have you been laid off in the past two years?   

Number of jobs held in the last two years? 

Number of jobs currently held?

Has a lack of job skills prevented you or another member of your household from getting a better paying job in the past two years?     

Do any adult members of your household need training in basic reading skills?

Does any adult member of your household need computer skills to help get a better paying job?

Do you have a computer at home? 

Do you have internet connection at home?

If no, do you have internet access outside of the home (ex: public library or school)?

  Health and Healthcare

Is everyone in your household currently covered by health insurance?

If yes, where do members of your household get health insurance (check all that apply)?
Employer, union, school
Bought directly
Medicare (government pay)
Medicaid
Other 

At any time during the past 12 months, was anyone in the household without any health plan or medical insurance coverage?

Where do you typically go to receive healthcare or medical attention:
Primary care physician        Friend/Family
Emergency Room                Free Clinic
Urgent care clinic               Other

Health and Healthcare (continued)

In the past year, was there any time when someone in your household needed medical care but did not get it?

If yes, what were the primary reasons you were unable to get the medical care needed?
It cost too much      
Not covered by insurance
Managed care hassles
No one to take care of children
Could not get an appointment
Don’t know or have a doctor/clinic
Too nervous or afraid
No transportation
Could not get off work
Couldn’t find doctor who accepts Medicaid
Wait too long at doctor’s office/clinic
Other 

In the past year, did any member of your household go without a prescription because you could not afford to pay for it?

Have you been able to receive immunizations for your child(ren) for childhood diseases?

Has your household had problems paying medical bills during the past year?

In the past year, was there a time when anyone in your household needed dental care but did not get it?

If yes, what were the primary reasons this person was unable to get the dental care needed?
It cost too much      
Not covered by insurance
Managed care hassles
No one to take care of children
Could not get an appointment
Don’t know or have a dentist/clinic
Too nervous or afraid
No transportation
Could not get off work
Couldn’t find dentist who accepts Medicaid
Wait too long at dentist’s office/clinic
Other 

How would you rate your overall health?
Excellent                 
Good                                   
Average                   
Poor 
Very Poor
Don’t Know

Housing and Basic Needs

Does the condition of your home provide safe and adequate shelter? 

How are you currently heating your home

(check all that apply)?
Electric Heater                     Wood          
Fuel Oil/Kerosene                Utility Gas  
Bottled, Tank or LP            Other           

Are your monthly housing expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities, taxes, etc.) more than one-third of your monthly income?

Do you have a washer/dryer at home?   Washer      Dryer  

Are you currently having trouble affording an apartment or house in your community?

Have you been denied housing, a car or home loan, or a job because of poor credit?

Have you or other members of your household taken a “Pay Day Loan” or other short term loan to pay for basic living expenses during the past year? 

Individual and Household Un-Met Needs

In the last year has anyone in your household experienced any of the following problems that you could not get help with? (check all that apply)?

Personal or emotional crisis
Severe mental health problems
Depression or anxiety
Need for suicide prevention services
Serious physical illness or condition
Serious injury
Alcohol or drug abuse
Family violence
Sexual assault
Severe financial problems/crisis
Child with social/behavioral problems
Child with developmental disabilities
Homelessness
Need for adult caregiver (in home)
Need for adult caregiver (outside home)
Need for assistance with home repairs
Need for legal assistance/mediator
Other
None of the Above


Parenting/Childcare Issues
Please indicate whether the following is a concern in your household:

Having enough food to feed my family…………………………………  

Having someone available I can trust with my children when I need
to work/be out of the home……………………………………………..  

Getting information to gain skills to help me be a better parent………..  

Getting health care or medicine for my child when he/she is sick:……..  

Getting my child to attend school on a daily basis……………………… 

Getting help with my child’s behavioral problems……………………… 

Getting tutoring services for my child………………............................... 

Finding quality child care………………………………………………   

Finding child care for children with special needs……………………… 

Finding affordable child care……………………………………………  

Finding child care during the hours you need it………………………… 

Finding child care convenient to your work or home…………………… 

Finding child care when your child is sick……………………………… 

Understanding the new school readiness expectations………………….. 

Assisting your child with his/her homework……………………………. 

Caregiving Issues

Are you or another member of your household the full-time caregiver and/or legal guardian for a person who is 60 years or older?  

Are you or another member of your household the caregiver of a person with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia?

Are you or another member of your household the full-time caregiver and/or legal guardian for a person who is younger than 60 but mentally or physically impaired? 

If you are a caregiver, do you help another member of your household with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing,
and/or eating?   

Personal/Community Involvement

Are you a registered voter? 

Do you vote on a regular basis?

Are you a member or involved in any of the following groups? (Check all that apply)

Church/temple/mosque
Other charitable organization
Civic organization
Neighborhood based group
Other  
Not a member of any organized group

Have you volunteered in the last year?

If yes, where do you volunteer (check all that apply):

Church/temple/mosque
Schools
Service organizations
Red Cross
Hospital/medically needed group
Soup kitchen/food pantry
Special Olympics
Community Action Agency
Foster Grandparent Program
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Other  

Overall Ratings of Your Community
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding your community?

There is available, affordable housing……………………….            

There are ample new housing developments………………..             

I feel safe in my neighborhood/community............................             

There is ample local police service………………………….  

I am satisfied with the overall local school district………….            

There are affordable, available health care centers…………              

Overall, my community is a good place to live……………..  

Overall, my community is a good place to visit/vacation…..              

Overall, my community is a good place to raise child(ren)…  

Overall, my community is a good place to work……………             

Overall, my community is a good place to retire……………             

 

Demographics/Personal Needs
Please provide the following information to help us better understand the needs of people in our communities.  All information will be kept confidential

County in which you reside:   

       Huron     Lapeer     Sanilac     Tuscola

Your residence location: 

      Within city/village       In rural area

Your gender:       Male     Female

Your ethnicity/race:
Black/Not Hispanic    
White/Not Hispanic
Hispanic Origin                 
Native American         
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other

Your Age Group (check one only):
Age 6 - 11                      Age 45 - 54
Age 12 - 17                    Age 55 - 69
Age 18 - 23                    Age 70+
Age 24 - 44

Family Type:
Single parent / female         Two adults (no children)
Single parent / male          Other     
Single person                                          
Two parent household       

How many members of your household,   
counting yourself, are there? (enter # of each)

Age 0 - 5                 Age 24 - 44
Age 6 - 11               Age 45 - 54
Age 12 - 17             Age 55 - 69
Age 18 - 23             Age 70+ 


Your level of education:
Grade 0 – 8                             
9 – 12 (non-graduate)                    
High School graduate/GED
12+ some post secondary  
2 – 4 yr. college graduate

Do you currently live in subsidized housing?
Yes      No

Do you currently……?
Own                   Homeless
Rent                    Live with Relatives

Are you presently……?      
Employed full-time         
Employed part-time        
Unemployed                    
Ill (temporarily unable to work)
Student
Homemaker
Retired
Self-employed
Disabled

What is your level of annual family income?  
Under $15,000            $75,000 - $99,999
$15,000 - $24,999      $100,000 - $124,999
$25,000 - $49,999      $125,000 - $149,999
$50,000 - $74,999      $150,000 and Above

What are the sources of your family income?
No income                    Pension
TANF                           Unemployment
SSI                               Employment only
Social Security            Employment + other
General Assistance/      Interest income
SDA/SFA                    Other
Demographics/Personal Needs (continued)
How many times have you moved in the past  
two years? 

If you are not yet retired, have you put money into a retirement plan, IRA, 401(k), or work pension

 Do you currently have investments?

Do you receive any form of public assistance? 
(food stamps, etc.)     

Do you have a bank account?
Checking      Savings      None

Are you a migrant worker?   

Are you a farm worker (regular, migrant, or seasonal)?     

Quality Of Life

1. Of the following items, check the three most important to you right now:       
Having health insurance
Further education
Getting training for a new job
Moving to a better neighborhood
Buying a home
Reliable transportation
Child care
Getting a job with better wages
Getting a job with benefits
Having affordable housing
Keeping kids in school
Alcohol or drug addiction assistance
Having enough food
Keeping utility bills current
Having good credit
Parenting skills
Domestic abuse assistance
Reading, writing and math
Other 
None of the above

In your opinion, which three of the following are most important to having a good community?
Good neighborhood schools
Affordable housing
Neighborhood convenience stores
Recycling available
Building in good repair
Good public transportation
Good local libraries
Parks/play areas
Neighborhood associations
Good paying local jobs
Necessary infrastructure (ie. streets, sidewalks, water, sewer)

In your opinion, which three of the following are missing from your community?
Good neighborhood schools
Affordable housing
Neighborhood convenience stores
Recycling available
Building in good repair
Good public transportation
Good local libraries
Parks/play areas
Neighborhood associations
Good paying local jobs
Necessary infrastructure (ie. streets, sidewalks, water, sewer)
Nothing is missing from my community

General Comments
Please provide any additional information or comments to help us better understand the needs of people in our communities. 

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