How Community Feedback Supports Equitable Housing
Understanding how to collect and utilize community feedback helps create equitable housing solutions that are responsive to community needs and supported by empirical evidence. However, the narrative of data can shift conversations around housing, and how we collect evidence as developers and as nonprofits should encompass both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Here are some of the ways we gather feedback and incorporate it into our strategies for building communities. Hint: It is a lot of listening!
A Narrative Shift:
Many discussions around housing and community are filtered by individual stories and emotional appeal. These narratives are incredibly important in communicating the human element in housing but can create and be subject to bias, This is why we integrate data so we can root decisions in a comprehensive perspective. Data also helps contextualize insights and individual narratives into broader trends and patterns. It can help us identify systemic issues and measure the effectiveness of past solutions, and help us create new ones.
How do we collect feedback?
As developers and community builders, collecting feedback from residents, business owners, and community leaders is key to aligning housing initiatives with community needs and priorities. This information can be collected in several ways to contribute to different outcomes in qualitative and quantitative data including surveys, focus groups, and community events.
Surveys:
Surveys are good for collecting large amounts of feedback but have to be carefully administered where issues of access are concerned. They can be administered online, via mail, or in person. When designing surveys, it has to be understood the availability of computers, access to a mail carrier, or a point to take an in-person survey. Also, it's important to use a mix of closed-ended questions like rating scales for quantitative data and open-ended questions for qualitative insights. What is top of mind is that the design is approved by community leaders to ensure that they address the right topics and are accessible.
Focus Groups:
Focus groups offer a deeper dive into discussing issues and provide more qualitative insights. They operate by bringing together a small group of participants with diverse perspectives. They are a great way for leaders and developers to gain a greater understanding of the priorities and concerns of a community. These types of round table events can discuss complex issues and solutions to hear a microcosm of how solutions would be received by a community.
Community Events:
Community events offer a relaxed setting for getting feedback and engaging with residents and business owners. Some ways that community events can operate include town hall meetings, block parties, pop-up educational workshops, or celebrations as simple as pizza parties. Events provide an opportunity for developers to interact directly with community members and build relationships. Events are a great platform to make announcements and provide information about housing initiatives, get feedback on specific projects, and start a dialogue with community leaders. By actively listening to residents, developers can build trust and credibility within the community.
Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods:
Effective feedback collection requires a balanced approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative methods. While quantitative data provides valuable insights into trends and preferences at a broader scale, qualitative data offers a deeper understanding of the lived experiences and perspectives of community members. By integrating both types of data, developers can develop more holistic solutions that address the diverse needs of the community.
Data shapes conversations around housing, providing a better understanding of the issues faced by certain communities. As developers and nonprofit leaders, leveraging data informs housing initiatives, and obtaining feedback helps us engage with residents. At DCH we make it a priority to ensure that housing solutions are grounded in empirical evidence and also responsive to community needs. Through community events, surveys, and round table talks, we are always listening and receptive to your feedback.