Survey eyes needs of low-income families

About 50 people gathered at the downtown Vancouver Community Library on Thursday evening to review and respond to new data on the needs of local low-income families. The Low-Income Needs Survey is done every three years and is a requirement of the Community Services Block Grant Act.

Most of the people who attended the forum are service providers — people with agencies and nonprofits that may rely on public funding to maintain or bolster programming. The survey, conducted by Clark County Community Services, is a requirement from the federal government for administering grant funding, of which Clark County gets about $450,000 annually.

“This is important to get out to everyone, not just us at Clark County,” said Rebecca Royce, program coordinator at Clark County Community Services.

Surveys collected last summer will be included in the more detailed Community Needs Assessment that will direct 2019, 2020 and 2021 funding. Besides the Low-Income Needs Survey, other assessments and demographic data from the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey will be included, along with personal stories and feedback.

Thursday evening’s forum was part of that feedback component. People could do a “data walk” exploring presentations showing how many survey respondents said they needed specific services. Those who attended were then asked to indicate whether or not they thought the findings were surprising and leave anonymous comment cards.

With a room full of service providers, not much was surprising. Few were surprised that housing was such a big need. Those who took the survey said they needed help with securing affordable or subsidized housing, rent assistance or moving costs.

Employment needs, such as getting a better job or keeping a job, were also not surprising for many people. Seeing a dentist was a prominent need among those surveyed.

Most respondents were female. About half were younger than 45. Half said someone in their family has a disability or special need.

The county is working with a consultant to validate the raw data and analyze it. When the Community Needs Assessment is put together, the county will take it “on tour,” as Royce puts it, so that local groups and organizations can see the information.

Each time the survey is conducted, the county refines the way it’s written and distributed. For instance, next time they plan to have an online version available in languages other than English. This year, paper copies of the survey were offered in English, Spanish and Russian, but the online survey was only in English.