1. Alexander Needs Assessment
Identifying Priorities & Strengths
September 28, 2016

2. Background
Funding came from the Community Development Framework to conduct a needs assessment in the Alexander neighbourhood.

3. Steering Committee Carlington Community Health Centre
City of Ottawa Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Ottawa Community Housing
Carlington Community Association

4. Why do a Needs assessment?
Assess the specific needs in your community
Identify the priorities and strengths in your community

5. Community Development Framework Approach
Future
surveys
Developing a local committee
Evaluating
What we have learned
Steering Committee
Putting the plan into action
Learning about and from the neighbourhood
Survey
Prioritizing and action planning
Next Steps
Tonight’s
Community Resident
Meeting

6. Map- geographical boundaries
FISHER

7. About the Survey Anonymous & confidential;12 questions regarding:
Comfort with the neighbourhood
Involvement with the community
Perception of crime in the neighbourhood
Demographics (age, # of years lived in Alexander, gender)
Top 3 best things of your
neighbourhood
Top 3 concerns of your

8. We heard from you at… May 14 - Book Fair at W.E. Gowling Public School
May 23 - Alexander Family Fun Day
May 25 - Annual General Meeting for Carlington Community Association
Jun River Ward Seniors’ Strawberry Social
Jun Outreach at Alexander Community Centre
Jun Family Fun Day-Alexander Community Centre
Jul/Aug - Parks, pools and door knocking

9. Of the 142 surveys collected

10. What is your age group?
16-20
21-40
41-65
66 and above

11. How long have you lived in this neighbourhood?
0 to 1 year
1 to 3 years
3 to 10 years
10 to 20 years
20 to 40 years
40 + years

13. I feel comfortable talking with my neighbours
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

14. I feel welcome to participate in neighbourhood events
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

15. I feel safe in my neighbourhood during the day
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

16. I feel safe in my neighbourhood at night
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

17. There are a lot of things to do in my neighbourhood
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

18. There is vandalism/graffiti/damage in my neighbourhood
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

19. Junk & garbage are left on the streets in my neighbourhood
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

20. I can get affordable food in my neighbourhood
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

21. If I asked, I feel my neighbours would help me if I had a problem
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

22. I feel my neighbours would get involved to solve a community problem
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know

23. Generally speaking, would you say that you can trust most people in your neighbourhood?No
Yes

24. Are there people, groups or organizations in your neighbourhood you can count on to help solve community problems or conflicts?
Sometimes
Yes No

25. Who can help in your community?
Carlington Community Association
Neighbours
Ottawa Police Service
Carlington Community Health Centre
Alexander Community Centre
City Councillor
Neighbourhood Watch

26. Are you involved in neighbourhood activities, community events, associations and/or groups?
Sometimes
Yes No

27. What neighbourhood groups you are involved with?
Carlington Community Association
Community Centre
School Events
Too busy to participate
W.E Gowling Parent Council
Garage Sale

28. When there are important issues in your community, to what extent do you get involved to address the issues?
Not at all
follow
participate
organize
advocate

29. Did any crime happen to you or anyone in your household or did you witness a crime in your neighbourhood since June 2015?  No
Yes

30. Did any crime happen to you or did you witness any since June 2015?
Breaking into cars
Drug dealing
Shootings
Theft
Break and enter
Vandalism
Stabbings

31. If you answered yes to the above question, did you report the crime to the police?No
Yes

32. If you answered no, why not?
Police were already called
It was reported by others
Not involved
No way to catch those involved

33. What do you think are the 3 best things about your neighbourhood?
Friendly neighbours
Parks, paths & greenspace
Good location
Recreation centres
Transportation
Experimental Farm
Diversity
9 affordable
17 experimental farm
21 quiet..
69 Parks…
22 transportation
39 location
70 neighbours
17 rec centres
8 diversity
11 schools
17 services
10 community pride
“Other” consisted of:
- 3 Events in the neighbourhood
- 2 Carlington Community Association
- 1 Having a good Councillor
Good location
Services in the area
Affordable
Community Pride
Quiet, clean & safe
Schools

34. What are the 3 biggest concerns you have about your neighbourhood?
Criminal activity
Safety & security
Environmental & living conditions
No concerns
Food availability
Lack of programming/resources

35. Conclusions What are your thoughts of what your community had to say?
Did anything stand out to you?

36. Next steps Your top 5 priorities (by “dots” activity)
Criminal Activity
Safety & security
Environment & living conditions
Lack of programming & resources
Access to healthy food

37. Thanks for your participation!