NCH survey

This survey is designed to identify a) what you think should be priorities for homelessness prevention advocates and b) what you find to be challenges in serving people who are homeless. Thanks for taking this short survey now. The results will be posted later on the NCH website.

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* 1. Please provide your contact information

Name

Company

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 2. Which best describes your relationship with the National Coalition for the Homeless?

I work for a homeless organization

I volunteer helping a homeless organization

I am or was homeless

I am on the board of a homeless organization

I work for an organization that assists homeless people

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* 3. Which best reflects your housing situation?

Currently un-housed Individual/Family (staying with friends or family, in a motel or other space sharing situation)

Currently un-housed Individual/Family (staying in shelter, transitional or other temporary housing)

Currently un-housed Individual/Family (staying outdoors)

Currently un-housed Individual/Family (staying in a vehicle)

I was homeless in the past but am not now

I have never been officially homeless but often went through hard times financially

I am not homeless and never have been

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Which best reflects your employment situation?

I am unemployed at this time

I volunteer

I work part-time

I work several part-time jobs

I work full-time

I work full-time and have at least one part-time job

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* 5. Here are a list of advocacy priorities. All of them may be important, so please rank your position on which are most important.

	Extremely important	Very important	Important	Somewhat important	Not important
More Investment in public housing	More Investment in public housing Extremely important	More Investment in public housing Very important	More Investment in public housing Important	More Investment in public housing Somewhat important	More Investment in public housing Not important
Cheaper and better private health insurance	Cheaper and better private health insurance Extremely important	Cheaper and better private health insurance Very important	Cheaper and better private health insurance Important	Cheaper and better private health insurance Somewhat important	Cheaper and better private health insurance Not important
Greater education assistance for children	Greater education assistance for children Extremely important	Greater education assistance for children Very important	Greater education assistance for children Important	Greater education assistance for children Somewhat important	Greater education assistance for children Not important
Ensure voucher holders can access more housing & better neighborhoods	Ensure voucher holders can access more housing & better neighborhoods Extremely important	Ensure voucher holders can access more housing & better neighborhoods Very important	Ensure voucher holders can access more housing & better neighborhoods Important	Ensure voucher holders can access more housing & better neighborhoods Somewhat important	Ensure voucher holders can access more housing & better neighborhoods Not important
More funding for Housing Trust Fund	More funding for Housing Trust Fund Extremely important	More funding for Housing Trust Fund Very important	More funding for Housing Trust Fund Important	More funding for Housing Trust Fund Somewhat important	More funding for Housing Trust Fund Not important
More support for veterans	More support for veterans Extremely important	More support for veterans Very important	More support for veterans Important	More support for veterans Somewhat important	More support for veterans Not important
Work with businesses to prevent discrimination of homeless people	Work with businesses to prevent discrimination of homeless people Extremely important	Work with businesses to prevent discrimination of homeless people Very important	Work with businesses to prevent discrimination of homeless people Important	Work with businesses to prevent discrimination of homeless people Somewhat important	Work with businesses to prevent discrimination of homeless people Not important
Fight for higher minimum wage	Fight for higher minimum wage Extremely important	Fight for higher minimum wage Very important	Fight for higher minimum wage Important	Fight for higher minimum wage Somewhat important	Fight for higher minimum wage Not important
More food assistance	More food assistance Extremely important	More food assistance Very important	More food assistance Important	More food assistance Somewhat important	More food assistance Not important
Stop police arresting or harassing homeless people	Stop police arresting or harassing homeless people Extremely important	Stop police arresting or harassing homeless people Very important	Stop police arresting or harassing homeless people Important	Stop police arresting or harassing homeless people Somewhat important	Stop police arresting or harassing homeless people Not important
More child care assistance	More child care assistance Extremely important	More child care assistance Very important	More child care assistance Important	More child care assistance Somewhat important	More child care assistance Not important
Greater employment opportunities	Greater employment opportunities Extremely important	Greater employment opportunities Very important	Greater employment opportunities Important	Greater employment opportunities Somewhat important	Greater employment opportunities Not important
Free or reduced fees for, or more assistance with, replacing or obtaining IDs	Free or reduced fees for, or more assistance with, replacing or obtaining IDs Extremely important	Free or reduced fees for, or more assistance with, replacing or obtaining IDs Very important	Free or reduced fees for, or more assistance with, replacing or obtaining IDs Important	Free or reduced fees for, or more assistance with, replacing or obtaining IDs Somewhat important	Free or reduced fees for, or more assistance with, replacing or obtaining IDs Not important
A Universal Basic Income	A Universal Basic Income Extremely important	A Universal Basic Income Very important	A Universal Basic Income Important	A Universal Basic Income Somewhat important	A Universal Basic Income Not important
Universal health insurance/medicare for all	Universal health insurance/medicare for all Extremely important	Universal health insurance/medicare for all Very important	Universal health insurance/medicare for all Important	Universal health insurance/medicare for all Somewhat important	Universal health insurance/medicare for all Not important
Stop criminalizing homelessness (outlawing sleeping in public, public food sharing, panhandling)	Stop criminalizing homelessness (outlawing sleeping in public, public food sharing, panhandling) Extremely important	Stop criminalizing homelessness (outlawing sleeping in public, public food sharing, panhandling) Very important	Stop criminalizing homelessness (outlawing sleeping in public, public food sharing, panhandling) Important	Stop criminalizing homelessness (outlawing sleeping in public, public food sharing, panhandling) Somewhat important	Stop criminalizing homelessness (outlawing sleeping in public, public food sharing, panhandling) Not important
More mental health services	More mental health services Extremely important	More mental health services Very important	More mental health services Important	More mental health services Somewhat important	More mental health services Not important
More substance abuse assistance	More substance abuse assistance Extremely important	More substance abuse assistance Very important	More substance abuse assistance Important	More substance abuse assistance Somewhat important	More substance abuse assistance Not important
Universal housing vouchers	Universal housing vouchers Extremely important	Universal housing vouchers Very important	Universal housing vouchers Important	Universal housing vouchers Somewhat important	Universal housing vouchers Not important
Promote Homeless Persons Bill of Rights legisation	Promote Homeless Persons Bill of Rights legisation Extremely important	Promote Homeless Persons Bill of Rights legisation Very important	Promote Homeless Persons Bill of Rights legisation Important	Promote Homeless Persons Bill of Rights legisation Somewhat important	Promote Homeless Persons Bill of Rights legisation Not important
Make discrimination against homeless people illegal	Make discrimination against homeless people illegal Extremely important	Make discrimination against homeless people illegal Very important	Make discrimination against homeless people illegal Important	Make discrimination against homeless people illegal Somewhat important	Make discrimination against homeless people illegal Not important
Provide more available housing units	Provide more available housing units Extremely important	Provide more available housing units Very important	Provide more available housing units Important	Provide more available housing units Somewhat important	Provide more available housing units Not important
More education and training assistance for adults	More education and training assistance for adults Extremely important	More education and training assistance for adults Very important	More education and training assistance for adults Important	More education and training assistance for adults Somewhat important	More education and training assistance for adults Not important
More support for unaccompanied youth	More support for unaccompanied youth Extremely important	More support for unaccompanied youth Very important	More support for unaccompanied youth Important	More support for unaccompanied youth Somewhat important	More support for unaccompanied youth Not important
More transportation assistance	More transportation assistance Extremely important	More transportation assistance Very important	More transportation assistance Important	More transportation assistance Somewhat important	More transportation assistance Not important
More support for families and children	More support for families and children Extremely important	More support for families and children Very important	More support for families and children Important	More support for families and children Somewhat important	More support for families and children Not important
More services for people with disabilities	More services for people with disabilities Extremely important	More services for people with disabilities Very important	More services for people with disabilities Important	More services for people with disabilities Somewhat important	More services for people with disabilities Not important
More support for homeless elders	More support for homeless elders Extremely important	More support for homeless elders Very important	More support for homeless elders Important	More support for homeless elders Somewhat important	More support for homeless elders Not important

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* 6. Where should advocates target their efforts in homelessness prevention?

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* 7. Please tell us about your attempts to share your experiences or views on homelessness with community leaders.

My tries and comments have been well received and acted upon

My tries and requests have not been acted upon

My tries resulted in rude treatment

I have not tried to share my views or experiences with leaders

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* 8. What services do most applicants need?

	All	Most	Some	A few	None or almost none
Help finding housing	Help finding housing All	Help finding housing Most	Help finding housing Some	Help finding housing A few	Help finding housing None or almost none
Help paying for housing	Help paying for housing All	Help paying for housing Most	Help paying for housing Some	Help paying for housing A few	Help paying for housing None or almost none
Help paying for utilities	Help paying for utilities All	Help paying for utilities Most	Help paying for utilities Some	Help paying for utilities A few	Help paying for utilities None or almost none
Food	Food All	Food Most	Food Some	Food A few	Food None or almost none
Medical care	Medical care All	Medical care Most	Medical care Some	Medical care A few	Medical care None or almost none
Mental health services	Mental health services All	Mental health services Most	Mental health services Some	Mental health services A few	Mental health services None or almost none
Substance abuse services	Substance abuse services All	Substance abuse services Most	Substance abuse services Some	Substance abuse services A few	Substance abuse services None or almost none
Legal assistance	Legal assistance All	Legal assistance Most	Legal assistance Some	Legal assistance A few	Legal assistance None or almost none
Helping find employment	Helping find employment All	Helping find employment Most	Helping find employment Some	Helping find employment A few	Helping find employment None or almost none
Work-related issues	Work-related issues All	Work-related issues Most	Work-related issues Some	Work-related issues A few	Work-related issues None or almost none
Clothing	Clothing All	Clothing Most	Clothing Some	Clothing A few	Clothing None or almost none
Non-food essentials (diapers, feminine supplies, toilet paper, soap, razors, etc)	Non-food essentials (diapers, feminine supplies, toilet paper, soap, razors, etc) All	Non-food essentials (diapers, feminine supplies, toilet paper, soap, razors, etc) Most	Non-food essentials (diapers, feminine supplies, toilet paper, soap, razors, etc) Some	Non-food essentials (diapers, feminine supplies, toilet paper, soap, razors, etc) A few	Non-food essentials (diapers, feminine supplies, toilet paper, soap, razors, etc) None or almost none
Police issues	Police issues All	Police issues Most	Police issues Some	Police issues A few	Police issues None or almost none
Landlord issues	Landlord issues All	Landlord issues Most	Landlord issues Some	Landlord issues A few	Landlord issues None or almost none
Family/friends/neighbors issues	Family/friends/neighbors issues All	Family/friends/neighbors issues Most	Family/friends/neighbors issues Some	Family/friends/neighbors issues A few	Family/friends/neighbors issues None or almost none

Other (please specify)

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* 9. These questions pertain to life in shelters. What are challenges you've observed when being in, or running, shelters? Rank these observations according to which you think are the greatest, or least, challenges.

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* 10. These questions pertain to finding secure housing in the community. What are challenges you've observed when trying to prevent people from becoming homeless? Rank these observations according to which you think are the greatest, or least, challenges.

	Extremely challenging	Very challenging	Somewhat challenging	Not too challenging
Evictions	Evictions Extremely challenging	Evictions Very challenging	Evictions Somewhat challenging	Evictions Not too challenging
Coming up with rent deposits	Coming up with rent deposits Extremely challenging	Coming up with rent deposits Very challenging	Coming up with rent deposits Somewhat challenging	Coming up with rent deposits Not too challenging
Landlord complaints	Landlord complaints Extremely challenging	Landlord complaints Very challenging	Landlord complaints Somewhat challenging	Landlord complaints Not too challenging
NIMBY neighborhood response	NIMBY neighborhood response Extremely challenging	NIMBY neighborhood response Very challenging	NIMBY neighborhood response Somewhat challenging	NIMBY neighborhood response Not too challenging
Finding affordable, accessible housing	Finding affordable, accessible housing Extremely challenging	Finding affordable, accessible housing Very challenging	Finding affordable, accessible housing Somewhat challenging	Finding affordable, accessible housing Not too challenging

Other (please specify)

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* 11. When you are assessing potential residents/clients, what is your opinion of what happens?

Most people who apply get most of the services they need

Most people who apply get some services

Some people get some services

Only a small percentage get services

Many people receive no services

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* 12. If people come to you that are denied service or that you cannot serve, what do you do with/for them?

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* 13. What are the things that you feel advocates should be doing to help homeless people in general to prevent future homelessness?

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* 14. What do you think are the biggest obstacles that organizations face in working with people who are homeless or trying to prevent future homelessness?

	Extremely challenging	Very challenging	Somewhat challenging	Not very challenging
Cultural competence of shelter workers	Cultural competence of shelter workers Extremely challenging	Cultural competence of shelter workers Very challenging	Cultural competence of shelter workers Somewhat challenging	Cultural competence of shelter workers Not very challenging
Sensitivity of shelter workers	Sensitivity of shelter workers Extremely challenging	Sensitivity of shelter workers Very challenging	Sensitivity of shelter workers Somewhat challenging	Sensitivity of shelter workers Not very challenging
Grievance procedures in shelters	Grievance procedures in shelters Extremely challenging	Grievance procedures in shelters Very challenging	Grievance procedures in shelters Somewhat challenging	Grievance procedures in shelters Not very challenging
Treating residents with dignity and respect	Treating residents with dignity and respect Extremely challenging	Treating residents with dignity and respect Very challenging	Treating residents with dignity and respect Somewhat challenging	Treating residents with dignity and respect Not very challenging
Physical privacy of residents	Physical privacy of residents Extremely challenging	Physical privacy of residents Very challenging	Physical privacy of residents Somewhat challenging	Physical privacy of residents Not very challenging
Privacy about residents personal information	Privacy about residents personal information Extremely challenging	Privacy about residents personal information Very challenging	Privacy about residents personal information Somewhat challenging	Privacy about residents personal information Not very challenging
Storage of residents possessions	Storage of residents possessions Extremely challenging	Storage of residents possessions Very challenging	Storage of residents possessions Somewhat challenging	Storage of residents possessions Not very challenging
Training of staff before hired	Training of staff before hired Extremely challenging	Training of staff before hired Very challenging	Training of staff before hired Somewhat challenging	Training of staff before hired Not very challenging
On-site training of staff	On-site training of staff Extremely challenging	On-site training of staff Very challenging	On-site training of staff Somewhat challenging	On-site training of staff Not very challenging
Monitoring and supervision of staff	Monitoring and supervision of staff Extremely challenging	Monitoring and supervision of staff Very challenging	Monitoring and supervision of staff Somewhat challenging	Monitoring and supervision of staff Not very challenging
Monitoring of clients	Monitoring of clients Extremely challenging	Monitoring of clients Very challenging	Monitoring of clients Somewhat challenging	Monitoring of clients Not very challenging
Effectiveness of shelter rules	Effectiveness of shelter rules Extremely challenging	Effectiveness of shelter rules Very challenging	Effectiveness of shelter rules Somewhat challenging	Effectiveness of shelter rules Not very challenging
Time residents are to come, go and stay (daily)	Time residents are to come, go and stay (daily) Extremely challenging	Time residents are to come, go and stay (daily) Very challenging	Time residents are to come, go and stay (daily) Somewhat challenging	Time residents are to come, go and stay (daily) Not very challenging
Time residents are allowed to stay at the shelter (longer term)	Time residents are allowed to stay at the shelter (longer term) Extremely challenging	Time residents are allowed to stay at the shelter (longer term) Very challenging	Time residents are allowed to stay at the shelter (longer term) Somewhat challenging	Time residents are allowed to stay at the shelter (longer term) Not very challenging
Hoop-jumping for residents in order to get services	Hoop-jumping for residents in order to get services Extremely challenging	Hoop-jumping for residents in order to get services Very challenging	Hoop-jumping for residents in order to get services Somewhat challenging	Hoop-jumping for residents in order to get services Not very challenging
Cherry-picking or creaming of potential residents	Cherry-picking or creaming of potential residents Extremely challenging	Cherry-picking or creaming of potential residents Very challenging	Cherry-picking or creaming of potential residents Somewhat challenging	Cherry-picking or creaming of potential residents Not very challenging
Inappropriate language/behavior of staff with residents	Inappropriate language/behavior of staff with residents Extremely challenging	Inappropriate language/behavior of staff with residents Very challenging	Inappropriate language/behavior of staff with residents Somewhat challenging	Inappropriate language/behavior of staff with residents Not very challenging
Inappropriate language/behavior of residents with staff	Inappropriate language/behavior of residents with staff Extremely challenging	Inappropriate language/behavior of residents with staff Very challenging	Inappropriate language/behavior of residents with staff Somewhat challenging	Inappropriate language/behavior of residents with staff Not very challenging
Staff pay and benefits	Staff pay and benefits Extremely challenging	Staff pay and benefits Very challenging	Staff pay and benefits Somewhat challenging	Staff pay and benefits Not very challenging
Inappropriate sexual behavior of residents	Inappropriate sexual behavior of residents Extremely challenging	Inappropriate sexual behavior of residents Very challenging	Inappropriate sexual behavior of residents Somewhat challenging	Inappropriate sexual behavior of residents Not very challenging
Inappropriate sexual behavior of staff	Inappropriate sexual behavior of staff Extremely challenging	Inappropriate sexual behavior of staff Very challenging	Inappropriate sexual behavior of staff Somewhat challenging	Inappropriate sexual behavior of staff Not very challenging
Substance use by residents	Substance use by residents Extremely challenging	Substance use by residents Very challenging	Substance use by residents Somewhat challenging	Substance use by residents Not very challenging
Substance use by staff	Substance use by staff Extremely challenging	Substance use by staff Very challenging	Substance use by staff Somewhat challenging	Substance use by staff Not very challenging