Child abuse, community safety, aging, and domestic violence are also prominent concerns for survey respondents.
A recent survey to assess community perceptions of social needs and service deficiencies found that the top two social issues that St. Albert residents believe need to be addressed in the coming years are primary It turned out to be health care and mental health care.
The survey was conducted in April as part of the city’s ongoing social needs assessment project and received 1,547 responses. The project is a follow-up to his 2013 social needs assessment of the city, which culminated in a social master plan.
Child abuse, community safety, settled aging and domestic violence are also among the social issues that need to be addressed, according to the “What We Heard” report published last month on the city’s “Cultivate the Conversation” platform. This was a frequently cited answer.
New service. Adult education. engagement; public transportation; And diversity, equity, and inclusion were ranked the lowest social issue by survey respondents on average.
At the demographic level, survey respondents aged 60 and over, who make up 51 percent of all respondents, selected aging as the most important social issue, while visible minorities and people with disabilities ranked it as the primary social issue. Healthcare was selected as the most important.
The survey also included a housing-specific question, asking residents to rank housing issues from most important to least important.
The report ranks housing with supportive services as the most important housing issue, followed by rental housing, homeownership, housing insecurity and emergency housing.
“Owned housing was ranked by them as a more important issue.” [39 or younger] than those [65 or older]They were as likely as those who identified themselves as having a disability to cite housing with supportive services as most important,” the report states.
A list of written responses to questions about housing needs is also included in the report, with one respondent stating that there is not enough local housing that is “adjusted” for income, and raising property taxes and resulting Contains multiple comments about negative impacts. And there were comments about the need for more two-bedroom senior housing suites to prevent couples from becoming separated.
Another survey question asked residents whether they or a family member had to leave St. Albert to access social services or programs, and nearly one-third of respondents said yes. However, only 22% of respondents answered that they felt that way afterwards. St. Albert lacks social programs and supports.
Written responses to services that residents believe are lacking include women’s shelters and emergency housing for people fleeing domestic violence. Support for refugees and immigrants. A support system for and run by First Nations and Métis peoples.
Approximately 14% of survey respondents said they or their families encountered barriers when trying to access local services and programs, 37% said the question did not apply to them, and 49% said no. answered.
Among those who reported experiencing or knowing someone who faced barriers to accessing support, the most commonly reported barrier was that the program or service they were trying to access was overbooked or full. and others said they were unable to book or access services because they could afford to do certain programming.
Is St. Albert a welcoming community?
According to the report, 84 per cent of survey respondents said they were white, and almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of respondents said St. 23 people answered that they thought it was a “community with a strong sense of community.” 10% said they didn’t know and 12% said no.
“Respondents who indicated they were a member of a visible minority, had a disability, or were members of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community were more likely to select ‘no,’” the report said. states.
The report also includes a list of written responses submitted by people who said they do not believe St. Albert is a “welcoming and inclusive community that values diversity,” including several Comments include: “Most of St. Albert” “Every school I went to here, I was bullied terribly.” “Even though I’m a person of color, I always felt included or valued. “There is little understanding of the original treaties of these lands, their spirit or intent.”
When it comes to what survey respondents feel is St. Albert’s strength, nearly 900 said safe neighborhoods were the city’s most attractive feature. Other top responses included residents who think St. Albert is a walkable community with many cultural and recreational opportunities.
Aspects ranked lowest in the St. Albert strengths category include affordability, housing, civic engagement, equity, and timely access to support.
With the majority of public engagement on the city’s social needs assessment completed, the report says the next steps for the project will be in consultation with local service providers and social institutions, after which the city will The company plans to formulate a “plan”. 2013 Social Master Plan.