Foothills residents experiencing housing or income struggles are invited to participate in a needs assessment survey to identify areas of potential improvement across the province.
The survey is being run by the Alberta Rural Development Network and facilitated by communities. For the Foothills region, the Okotoks Family Resource Centre has partnered with Westwinds Communities, the Okotoks Food Bank, Family and Community Support Services groups, Rowan House Emergency Shelter, Foothills Community Immigrant Services and McMan Family Resource Network to collect data from the area.
“It should help us understand better where our housing gaps are and what type of housing we need and then whether there are any gaps in social services that people may need,” said Debbie Posey, Okotoks community wellness manager.
The survey focuses on questions around housing needs and experiences, and some questions have been added that directly reference the impacts of COVID-19 on families, she said.
It is the second survey of this nature, with the first conducted in 20 Alberta communities in 2018. Posey said the follow-up questionnaire should provide additional insight that can be compared to the baseline data from two years ago.
The survey results will help inform the Town of Okotoks affordable housing strategy, she said.
“It will help provide some further information on what needs should be considered,” said Posey.
Surveys can be taken from home, but those wishing to participate need to contact one of the partner agencies to receive a unique key code. Responses will remain anonymous, but those who have completed will not be able to answer the survey questions more than once due to their unique identifier being recorded.
Posey said this way, the data is more reliable because it’s clear one person did not answer 10 times or go through two or three different partner agencies.
She said they hope to have more than 100 responses this time around, as the 2018 survey had just under that number.
“What we need is for anyone who is feeling not safely housed or having trouble keeping their housing, or problems finding adequate housing, to fill out the survey,” said Posey. “Anyone who is struggling with housing or income issues, we would ask they take a few minutes and provide information for us – anonymously, of course.”
With the effects of COVID-19 still not entirely realized, she said it’s important to get as much information as possible, to identify areas of concern in the community and across the province.
“There is job loss and some other factors going on now that may affect, impact housing and services and we may need to help more people get into secure housing,” said Posey.
She said currently in Okotoks there is a notable lack of affordable housing, especially for singles or couples without children. There is no subsidized housing available, so single parents are finding it difficult to attain lodging in town, she said.
Though the data was collected in 2018, she said nothing has changed as far as purpose-built accommodations, so the situation has not improved.
Responses from any Foothills residents are welcome through the partner agencies and if participants provide contact information in a separate form they could win one of 10 Tim Hortons gift cards worth $20, or one of five $50 Sobeys gift cards.
For more information or to receive a code to complete the online survey call the Okotoks Family Resource Centre at 403-995-2626.
