The  Community  Needs  Assessment  Ques2onnaire  

Reason for being in Neighborhood   Frequency   Percent  

Work   164   16.4  

Reside   658   65.6  

School   101   10.1  

Shop   80   8.0  

Total   1003   100.0  

Missing or refused   114  

1117  

2/3  of  those  interviewed  were  residing  in  the  neighborhood    

CENSUS

SAMPLE

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CENSUS

CENSUS

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CENSUS

Feel  unsafe  in  nighttimeFeel  unsafe  in  daytime

Neighborhood       Top  Priority  for  Change  Number  of  Persons   Percent  

                   

Morningside  Hts  Priority  for  Changea  

Unemployment   43   32.8%  

Housing   34   26.0%  

AHerschool   14   10.7%  

Educa2on   19   14.5%  

Crime   11   8.4%  

Police  behavior   6   4.6%  

Health-­‐Mental  Hlth  Care   6   4.6%  

           

Total  b       131   100.0%  

                   

Manha:anville  Priority  for  Changea  

Unemployment   77   28.9%  

Housing   57   21.4%  

AHerschool   40   15.0%  

Educa2on   37   13.9%  

Crime   32   12.0%  

Police  behavior   17   6.4%  

Health-­‐Mental  Hlth  Care   6   2.3%  

           

Total  b       266   100.0%                      

Hamilton  Hts  Priority  for  Changea  

Unemployment   134   35.7%  

Housing   82   21.9%  

AHerschool   53   14.1%  

Educa2on   29   7.7%  

Crime   42   11.2%  

Police  behavior   27   7.2%  

Health-­‐Mental  Hlth  Care   8   2.1%  

           

Total  b       375   100.0%  

a.  Grouped  by  Neighborhood.    Full  list  of  priority  changes  available  upon  request.    

    b    Totals  are  respondents  naming  specific  priority      

   

TABLE 5

CONCLUSIONS v Without a doubt, West Harlem’s residents, workers and adult students can be meaningfully engaged to give their perceptions of what their neighborhoods need.

v The simple and efficient pedestrian survey approach provides a representative sampling of community opinion, and the comparison with available census data attests to a good demographic distribution.

v  To best utilize this data for planning it is most helpful to analyze it at the census tract level, rather than over the larger neighborhoods.

v the process of community needs assessment can be used creatively for more rational planning with consideration of the stakeholders’ opinions if leadership is present to accept it.

TOP CONCERNS v  West Harlem resembles the nation as a whole in that issues of jobs and housing are the most pressing concerns.

v  But local concerns--education and afterschool programs-- follow closely behind jobs and housing. These education and afterschool concerns are not evenly spread throughout all census tracts in Manhattan Community District 9.

v Decisions on the placement of new or expanded facilities, for example, for the purposes of education and social interaction or afterschool programs for youth would be wisely made taking into consideration the findings and maps in this report.

Furthermore: v  With only 4 Senior Centers in Manhattan CD 9, health/mental health care (though much is already available) may be needed and concern many people when they are specifically asked, but these are not seen by a plurality as the most urgent needs in the neighborhood.

v  Despite this, the aging population, the large and growing Hispanic families in Manhattanville and Hamilton Heights, and ubiquitous concerns of many residents regarding jobs and for youth, make this an opportune time to consider “re-inventing” the multiservice community centers that can be used for extended senior, health, vocational and youth programs that are not means-tested. This latter point is made to help de-stigmatize the income disparities that already exist in Manhattan Community District 9. v  After 3pm, few Senior Centers have active programs, yet this is the peak hour of afterschool needs. In addition, many local churches have sparse weekday activities and may provide community space for Monday through Friday programs.

Finally:

Increasing the responsiveness of leaders to community needs always requires the voices of constituents be heard. This survey report with its detailed maps is one of the ways those voices can find expression.