Page 37 - 2015 Compass Now

How people rate the safety of the community

Respondents of the COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey were asked to rate the safety of
their community, including the quality of emergency and law enforcement services, safety of schools and
neighborhoods, the community’s ability to respond to safety threats, and overall efforts to prevent crime.
Figure 10 shows these details. Both safety of schools and safety of neighborhoods scored the highest.
Efforts to prevent crime scored the lowest at 2.78 points out of a possible 4.

Figure 10: Rating of Quality of Public Safety Concerns

Efforts to prevent crime 2.78

Overall quality of law enforcement 2.90 COMMUNITY

Overall quality of community’s emergency services 2.90

Safety of schools 3.20

Safety of your neighborhood 3.20

Scale: No Concern=1; Very Concerned=4
Source: COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey

Care for Vulnerable Populations

Vulnerable populations include economically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, the uninsured,
low-income children, elderly, and the homeless. A community can be evaluated on how it cares for these
vulnerable populations. All people need a place to live and to call home.

A good quality of life depends on a housing supply that meets the demands of an increasing aging
population. There are a variety of options for senior living. These can include senior apartments, a family
household, living alone, and assisted living facilities. Independent living or senior apartments are designed
specifically for independent senior adults who want to enjoy a lifestyle filled with recreational, educational,
and social activities with other seniors. These facilities are designed for people who can live on their own
but want the security and/or convenience of community living. Public housing authorities manage housing
options for the elderly, as well for the disabled and low-income families. Limited options for a growing
population often lead to housing projects losing their intended purpose. Assisted living facilities can
be a freestanding part of a continuing care community that provides independent, assisted and nursing
care affiliated with a nursing home. Assisted living facilities are often specialized services brought into
independent retirement communities. It is difficult to gauge adequacy of housing opportunities in our
communities since the occupancy rates can vary daily for some types of facility.

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 43% of families had children under the age of 18 living with
them. Although a variety of child care options exist, quality child care that is affordable may be difficult to
find. The cost of child care varies depending on the type of child care setting, age, and number of children,
and whether the childcare provider is certified, licensed, or unregulated. State government subsidies for

COMPASS NOW 2015 29