Hope 6 neighborhood

Zaheeda Darvesh
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, MUP-1
Community Needs Assessment for
Hope VI Neighborhood in Rockford, IL

Hope VI Neighborhood, Rockford, IL
UP 508- Survey Design and Analysis
Zaheeda Darvesh
This Page is intentionally left blank

Zaheeda Darvesh
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, MUP-1 3
Content
History of the Hope VI Neighborhood Area..................................................................................Pg 4
Purpose and Information related to the of the Community Needs Assessment for
Hope VI Neighborhood........................................................................................................................Pg 5
Demographic and Socioeconomic Data..........................................................................................Pg 7
Racial/Ethnic composition and Population......................................................................................Pg 7•
Age Pyramid...................................................................................................................................................Pg 9•
Household and Housing characteristics ...........................................................................................Pg 11•
Property Values............................................................................................................................................Pg 12•
Employment by Age and Education.....................................................................................................Pg 13•
Crime Data......................................................................................................................................................Pg 14•
Data Collection Methodology -Surveys and Focus groups.......................................................Pg 16
Project Timeline....................................................................................................................................Pg 19
Research Expense Budget..................................................................................................................Pg 21
Data Analysis..........................................................................................................................................Pg 22
Ethical, Confidentiality, Design, and Validity Issues .................................................................Pg 23
Materials and Tools..............................................................................................................................Pg 24
Press and Radio Release...........................................................................................................................Pg 24•
Community Needs Assessment Survey...............................................................................................Pg 25•
Focus Group Questionnaire and Invitation Letter.........................................................................Pg 32•
References...............................................................................................................................................Pg 35

Zaheeda Darvesh
1
- (City of Rockford, Illinois. 2013)
History of the Hope VI Neighborhood Area
The Hope VI neighborhood falls under the “West End”
section of Rockford, IL. It is bounded by the W. State Street to its
North, S. Springfield Street and S. Pierpont Avenue to it West and
East respectively and Liberty Street to its South. Till the mid-
1950s, the City of Rockford displayed a concentric pattern of
development in which the downtown area formed the primary
source of development. The West End was located beyond this
concentric pattern and hence was associated with scattered and
irregular development. It wasn’t until 2005, that all the land
within the Hope VI neighborhood was incorporated within city
limits. West State St. which forms the northern edge of the Hope
VI neighborhood, acts as a major spatial bifurcation point here,
as development on either of the State Street represents two
different stories. East State Street is associated with burgeoning
commercial and residential development while West State Street
is a sight of rising crime rates and abandoned and deteriorated
developments.
The 1970s saw the development of two subsidized
public housing projects- Champion Park built by the Winnebago
County Housing Authority in 1967 and the Concord Common
apartments built by the Rockford Housing Development
Corporation. These developments comprised of minority and
low income households segregated by surrounding single family
homes by their character and physical barriers such as fencing,
surrounding vacant land and dense foliage.1
Use of funds from
the Community Development Block Grant funds to increase
commercial activity along West State Street has had no significant
impact. Lack of nearby services provide few options to the local
residents of the Hope VI neighborhood to access basic household
needs. More recently in 2005, The Champion Park apartments
was demolished to make way for the Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) funded Hope VI Development. Additionally,
other developments that impact the future of the neighborhood
include the redevelopment of Concord Common Apartments, the
Springfield Corridor Study- which aims at upgrading the existing
roadway to a major arterial road with significant developments
W. State Street
Liberty Street
Hope VI
Neighborhood
S.Spring�ieldRoad
Washington
Park
Efforts are being made to
increase coomercial activity
on W. State Street.
Initiatives to make
Spring�ield Street
to a major
thoroughfare are
being proposed.
S.PierpointAvenue
Figure 1: Detail plan of the Hope VI Neighborhood, Rockford, IL.
Source: Information derived from City-data.com/neighborhood/
HOPE-VI-Rockford-IL
to bolster commercial, housing and industrial land uses, and the W. State
Corridor Plan-whic plans to improve transportation along State St. for
which the City plans to remove a vast majority of structures on the N. and
S. side of W. State Street in order to provide open space/ public spaces to
improve the quality of life along the corridor.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Purpose of the Community Needs Assessment for Hope VI Neighborhood
With a wave of new developments likely to happen, this is the optimal time for weighing the public input, especially the perspective of
Hope VI Neighborhood residents in order to understand their needs and requirements. These projects - the redevelopment of the Concord
Commons, the Corridor plan for West State and South Springfield Street-will lead to demolition of structures, implementation of new
and varied use, and hence movement of people. The residents have to understand the impact of these proposed developments and how it
shapes their neighborhood with respect to opportunities that will be made available or lost. A community needs assessment (CNA) will be
one step in enabling promotion and development of activities within the Hope VI neighborhood which will be in line with the community
vision. This analysis will be representative of the voices of the Hope VI neighborhood residents and not just the City or the County. It
will relay the hope and vision of the community and propose an action plan which better fits their needs and requirements. Also, the
information derived from the Community Needs Assessment will enable the planners to identify and outline critical issues associated
with the area which will be pivotal in formulating future goals to improve the area.
The Urban and Regional Analysis of Winnebago County and
the region at large laid the groundwork to understand the
macroscopic nuances of the region. The information from the
region was then translated into smaller microscopic areas
such as the Hope VI Neighborhood where the secondary data
related to racial composition, population change, crime data,
employment, housing characteristics, income, educational
attainment and others were used to initially understand the
background of the region which helped identify the issues
pertaining to the neighborhood such as vacant properties,
foreclosed homes, high denomination of minorities, lack
of connectivity through mass transit, accessibility to food
stations, deteriorating houses, increased crime and others.
This was further exacerbated by the historical development
of Rockford city which has created pockets of undeveloped,
unconnected areas on the West end of the city, and is, to
some extent responsible for the distressed nature of this
neighborhood. This was supplemented by the fact that
recent developments within the area will directly impact its
residents and the community at large. The timing is perfect
as a CNA facilitated at this time, prior to the enactment of
the changes, will give the residents an opportunity to be
involved in projects that will be in line with their preferences
and expectations. The data derived from the secondary sources
will be used to derive more substantial information from the
stakeholders for which a primary data collection strategy needs to be
implemented.
Information that will help shape the Community Needs Assessment (CNA) for the Hope VI neighborhood
HOPE VI Neighborhood
East section of State Street
associaed with flourishing
commercial and residential
development
The West Side of State Street associated
with deteriorated developments
Figure 2: Distribution of development on either
side of State Street.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Stakeholders of the Hope VI Neighborhood
Current Residents of Hope VI neighborhood1.
Public Agencies include:2.
Winnebago County Housing Authority•
Rockford Housing Authority•
Rockford Park District•
Rockford Public Schools•
Rockford Mass District•
City officials from the City of Rockford and the County Board•
Illinois Department of Transportation•
Washington Park Community Recreation Center•
Bridging the gap with a CNA
The Community Needs Assessment will incorporate Quantitative
information which is derived from secondary sources such as the U. S.
Census Bureau, City-data and others to understand the background and
demographics of the place. This information will then be clubbed with
Qualitative information derived from the feedback from community
residents and stakeholders in the form of surveys and focus groups that
will enable the decision makers to garner information pertaining to
issues and concerns of the people.
Important information needed for the CNA
for Hope VI neighborhood
Quantitative information
Demographic and socioeconomic data derived for the•
Census (See pages 5-13).
Qualitative information
Urgent needs of the residents of the neighborhood.•
Problems and issues associated with the neighborhood.•
Assets of the community such as existing parks,•
recreation center, churches etc.
Accessibility through public modes of transportation.•
Concerns about housing-vacant/foreclosed houses and•
condition of the houses.
Accessibility to employment, education, food and•
recreational.
Safety and Urban fabric of the neighborhood.•
Resources available within the community.•
How recent developments associated with the corridor•
redevelopment project of State Street and Springfield
Street facilitate a change-positive or negative- in the
community?
Target population
Current residents of Hope VI neighborhood
The majority of the residents of Hope VI neighborhood are low income
African American residents and the lack of educational as well as
employment opportunities is segregating this part of the neighborhood.
Hence efforts must be made in the form of the community needs and
assessment to incorporate this marginalized area and its people.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Population decreases in the Hope VI
Neighborhood by 6%
The population of Hope VI neighborhood
decreased by 6% according to the Census Data
derived for the years 2000 and 2010. This could
be accounted to the demolition of the Champion
Park apartments in 2005, which might have
resulted in the displacement of people in this
neighborhood. This trend was dissimilar to the
2% population increase in the City of Rockford
for the same time frame.
2000 2010 % Change
Hope VI
Neighborhood
City of
Rockford
Hope VI
Neighborhood
City of
Rockford
Hope VI
Neighborhood
City of
Rockford
Total population 2,141 150,115 2,009 152,871 -6.17% 1.84%
Hispanic or Latino 136 15,278 281 24,085 106.62% 57.64%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,005 134,837 1,728 128,786 -13.82% -4.49%
White 480 109,303 478 99,517 -0.42% -8.95%
Black / African American 1,497 26,072 1,302 31,359 -13.03% 20.28%
Asian alone 0 3,301 2 4,443 200.00% 34.60%
Other races 110 7,741 132 12,068 20.00% 55.90%
Two or more races 54 3,698 95 5,484 75.93% 48.30%
Source: Hispanic or Latino and Non-Hispanic or Latino by Race 18 years and older,
2000 Census Summary File 1 - P006, 2010 Census Summary File 1 - P11
Table 1: Racial/ Ethnic Composition of Hope VI Neighborhood- Block Group 1 and 3
for Census Tract 24 and Rockford City for 2000 and 2010
1,900
1,950
2,000
2,050
2,100
2,150
2,200
Total population
2000 Hope VI neighborhood
2010 Hope VI neighborhood
Figure 3: Population change of
Hope VI Neighborhood
148,500
149,000
149,500
150,000
150,500
151,000
151,500
152,000
152,500
153,000
153,500
Total population
2000 City of Rockford
2010 City of Rockford
Figure 4: Population change of
the City of Rockford
Demographic and Socioeconomic Data

Zaheeda Darvesh
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
White Black /
African
American
Asian alone Other races Two or more
races
Racial/Ethnic Composition of Hope VI Neighborhood
2000 Hope VI Neighborhood 2010 Hope VI Neighborhood
Figure 5: Racial/ Ethnic Composition of Hope VI Neighorbood
Source: Race, Combinations of Two Races, and Not Hispanic or Latino, Census
2000 and 2010 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data, QT-P4
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
White Black /
African
American
Asian alone Other races Two or more
races
Racial/Ethnic Composition of the City of Rockford
2000 City of Rockford 2010 City of Rockford
Figure 6: Racial/ Ethnic Composition of the City of Rockford
Source: Race, Combinations of Two Races, and Not Hispanic or Latino,
Census 2000 and 2010 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data, QT-P4
Racial Demographics of Hope VI
Neighborhood
Unlike the City of Rockford which is predominantly White,
the Hope VI neighborhood is predominantly Black at
64%. The area has seen a decline in the African American
population by 14% unlike the city of Rockford whose black
population for the same time frame has increased. This
could be due to development projects being carried out
in the Hope VI neighborhood resulting in the movement
of people. Except for the Hispanic population which has
increased by almost 100% at 281 residents now, the rest of
the racial makeup has experienced decline from 2000-2010.

Zaheeda Darvesh
150 100 50 0 50 100 150
Under 5 years
5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 to 69 years
70 to 74 years
75 to 79 years
80 to 84 years
85 and over
Population Pyramid of Hope VI Neighborhood
in 2010
Male Female
200 150 100 50 0 50 100 150
Under 5 years
5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 to 69 years
70 to 74 years
75 to 79 years
80 to 84 years
85 and over
Population Pyramid of Hope VI Neighborhood
in 2000
Male Female
Figure 7: Population Pyramid of Hope VI Neighborhood 2000
Source: SEX BY AGE Universe: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1)
100-Percent Data
Figure 8: Population Pyramid of Hope VI Neighborhood 2010
Source: SEX BY AGE Universe: Census 2010 Summary File 1 (SF 1)
100-Percent Data
The net population % change from 2000-2010 for the Hope VI
neighborhood shows an overall increase in the “Middle” age and
“Baby Boomers” age group collectively designated as the “45-64”
age group by almost 20% (See Figure 9). The “15-29” cohort, on
the other hand, has decreased by 26% which indicates that the
younger population might be moving out of the neighborhood due
to high incidence of crime, foreclosed homes, lack of housing, and
connectivity. Even then the median age of the Hope VI
neighborhood has decreased from 28.22
in 2000 to 25.93
in 2010,
which indicates that the neighborhood primarily comprises of
younger adults. The City of Rockford, on the other hand, displays
the opposite trend, in which the median age has increased from
34.44
to 35.85
from 2000 to 2010 indicating a shift in the
distribution of the population towards older ages.
Hope VI Neighborhood shows a decline in the younger population percentage from 2000 to 2010

Zaheeda Darvesh
-60.00% -40.00% -20.00% 0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00%
Under 5 years
5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 to 69 years
70 to 74 years
75 to 79 years
80 to 84 years
85 years and over
Decrease in the younger population
15 to 29 age group
Increase in the “Middle” age and “Baby
Boomers” cohort, the 45 to 64 age group
Figure 9: Net Population Percentage Change by Age group for Hope VI Neighborhood
from 2000 to 2010
Source:Census 2000, 2010 Summary File 1 (SF 1)
2
- Median Age by Sex from Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1)
3
- Median Age by Sex from Census 2010 Summary File P13
4
- Age Groups and Sex: 2000 Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
5
- Age Groups and Sex: 2010 Census Summary File 1 QT-P1

Zaheeda Darvesh
Household and Housing characteristics
of the Hope VI Neighborhood
More than half of the housing units in the Hope VI
neighborhood are renter occupied as against owner
occupied. This translates as low property taxes that
are generated that could be used to improve
facilities in the city. The Hope VI neighborhood is
mostly residential. There has been some decline in
the number of vacant properties from 2000 to 2010.
But, even then it’s significantly high at 14% of the
total housing units which could be due to
unemployment and job losses forcing the home
owners to vacate their properties due to foreclosure.
This has also added to the seclusion and blight of
the area, which is further exacerbated with the high
crime rate associated with the area. On one hand,
vacant properties are a haven for vandalism,
prostitution and illegal activities. But at the same
time, they provide an opportunity for
redevelopment and reshaping of the neighborhood.
Average household size of renter occupied
properties has increased suggesting that people
might be moving with friends and family due to
increased costs of living and lack of jobs.
Household and Housing characteristics for
Hope VI Neighborhood
Year 2000 2010
Total Households 725 693
Total Housing Units 853 799
Occupied housing units• 725 693
Vacant• 128 106
Owner-occupied(O-O) housing units 319 321
O-O Family households• 218 207
O-O Nonfamily households• 101 114
Renter-occupied(R-O) housing units 406 372
R-O Family households• 318 303
R-O Nonfamily households• 88 69
Average household size of owner-occupied units 2.65 2.63
Table 2: Household and Housing characteristics for Hope VI Neighborhood
for 2000 and 2010
Source: Household Population and Household Type by Tenure: 2010 Census Summary
File 1 QT-H3
General Housing Characteristics: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent
Data QT-H1
HO13-Household Size Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent
QT-P11 Households and Families: 2010 Census Summary File

Zaheeda Darvesh
0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00%
upto $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $149,999
$1,000,000 or more
% City of Rockford Hope VI Neighborhood
Figure 10: Value of Owner-occupied housing units in % for Hope VI
Neighborhood and the City of Rockford 2000-2012
Source: American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates B25075
Value for all Owner Occupied(O-O) Housing Units
Absolute number % of Owner Occupied units
Hope VI
Neighborhood
City of
Hope VI
Neighborhood
% City of
Rockford
Total Owner
Occupied (O-O)
housing units
340 36,304 100.00% 100.00%
Up to $49,999 226 5,345 66.47% 14.72%
$50,000 to $99,999 100 21,037 29.41% 57.95%
$100,000 to $149,999 9 6,660 2.65% 18.35%
$1,000,000 or more 5 3,262 1.47% 8.99%
Table 3: Value for all Owner Occupied(O-O) Housing Units in
Hope VI Neighborhood and the City of Rockford
Source: American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates B25075
Property Values
There is a substantial difference in median value for homes in
Rockford City which are priced at $101,700 (U.S. Census Bureau,
2010-2012 American Community Survey) and owner occupied
homes in Hope VI Neighborhood which are valued at $39,250(Census
2000 Summary File SF3 -H085). These numbers might vary as new
homes have been built in the area since 2000 with HUD acquired
funds. Table 3 indicates that majority of homes in the Hope VI
neighborhood are under $50,000. There are very few moderately
priced homes. On the contrary, most houses in Rockford City which
are under $100,000. In 2000, the Hope VI neighborhood comprised
of two public housing complexes-the Champion Park apartments
(which was demolished in 2005) and the Concord Commons. The
latter consists of 216 units and shows an occupancy rate of 78%. In
addition to this, Hope VI neighborhood is associated a number of
housing challenges such as a high concentration of low priced homes,
high rates of renter occupied housing, and high vacancy rates.
Employment by Age and Education
The unemployment rate for Winnebago County for 2008-
2012 (data derived from the ACS) is 12%. In contrast to this,
Table 4 shows that the Census Tract 24 Data for Hope VI
neighborhood reflects a high unemployment rate at 19%.
The unemployment rate is the highest for the 16-19 years
age clohort at 71% as is for Hope VI residents possessing a
college or an associate degree at 42%-which is unexplained
at this time (See Table 5). It could be factored to lack of job
opportunities as well as lack of connectivity associated with
the area. On the other hand, residents possessing a bachelor
or a higher degree stand a better chance of being employed.
Likewise residents of the neighborhood who are high school
graduates are mostly employed too. The current makeup
comprises of very few residents with a bachelor’s or a higher
degree. Considering Census Tract 24’s total population is
calculated at 2307 residents (DP05 ACS 5 Year Estimates
2008-2012) which implies that people with a bachelor or
higher degree make up only 3.4% of the total population.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Census Tract 24, Winnebago County, Illinois
Total
Estimate
In labor
force
Estimate
Employed
Estimate
Unemployment
Rate Estimate
Population 16
years and over
1511 49.70% 40.20% 19.00%
AGE
16 to 19 years 74 81.10% 23.00% 71.70%
20 to 24 years 190 63.70% 63.70% 0.00%
25 to 44 years 541 55.80% 45.30% 18.90%
45 to 54 years 220 56.80% 50.90% 10.40%
55 to 64 years 244 36.10% 23.80% 34.10%
65 to 74 years 95 17.90% 17.90% 0.00%
75 years and over 147 25.90% 25.90% 0.00%
Source: S2301 Employment Status, 2008-2012 ACS 5-Year Estimates
Table 4: Employment by Age for Census Tract 24
Figure 11: Employment by Age for Census Tract 24
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%
16 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 to 74 years
75 years and over
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
Population 25
to 64 years
Less than
high school
graduate
High school
graduate
(includes
equivalency)
Some college
or associate's
degree
Bachelor's
degree or
higher
Figure 12: Employment by Education for Census Tract 24
Census Tract 24, Winnebago County, Illinois
Total
Estimate
In labor
force
Estimate
Employed
Estimate
Unemployment
Rate Estimate
Population 25 to 64 years 1,005 51.20% 41.30% 19.40%
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Less than high school
graduate
380 26.10% 26.10% 0.00%
High school graduate
(includes equivalency)
302 65.90% 55.30% 16.10%
Some college or Associate's
degree
244 60.70% 34.80% 42.60%
Bachelor's degree or higher 79 87.30% 81.00% 7.20%
Table 5: Employment by Education for Census Tract 24

Zaheeda Darvesh
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Rockford
Average Crime
rate/1000,000
654.9 663.4 744.5 739.8 647.1 647.1 688.6 634.9 682.3 615.7 734.5 671.1 624.2
U.S. Average
Crime rate/
100,000
328 331 328 322 315 313 312 305 297 280 266 250 257
Table 6: Crime Rate in Rockford, IL and the United States from 2000-2012
Source: City-Data.com
Crime Data
The Forbes magazine October 2011 edition rated
Rockford, IL as the 3rd
worst city to live in the United
States. Rockford suffers from high poverty and
unemployment rates. Additionally, its crime rate is
extremely high than the state and the national level.
Property crimes form a huge percentage of the total
crimes in Rockford. Hope VI neighborhood is also
synonomous with this aspect of the city. The area is
associated with high property crime rates, vandalism,
larceny and other crimes. This could also be attributed
to a large number of vacant properties in the area that
serve as a perfect spot for breeding illegal activites.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,00012,00014,000
Violent crime
Murder and nonnegligent…
Forcible rape
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Property crime
Burglary
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
Rate per 100,000 inhabitants Estimated total crimes for Rockford
Figure 13: Crime Rate for Rockford for 2010
Source: http://www.fbi.gov, Table 6, Crime in the United States by
Metropolitan Statistical Area, 2010

Zaheeda Darvesh
Census Tract 24, Winnebago County,
Illinois
Estimate M.O.E
Larger
estimate
Lower
estimate
Total households 852.00 102.00 954.00 750.00
Less than $10,000 199.00 73.00 272.00 126.00
$10,000 to $14,999 88.00 56.00 144.00 32.00
$15,000 to $24,999 191.00 69.00 260.00 122.00
$25,000 to $34,999 145.00 76.00 221.00 69.00
$35,000 to $49,999 100.00 48.00 148.00 52.00
$50,000 to $74,999 111.00 73.00 184.00 38.00
$75,000 to $99,999 18.00 16.00 34.00 2.00
$100,000 to $149,999 0.00 11.00 11.00 -11.00
$150,000 to $199,999 0.00 11.00 11.00 -11.00
$200,000 or more 0.00 11.00 11.00 -11.00
Median household income (dollars) 22,636.00 4,458.00 27,094.00 18,178.00
Table 7: Economic characteristics of Census Tract 24, Winnebago County, IL
Source: Economic Characteristics, 2008-2012 ACS 5-Year Estimates ,
Demographic Summary
With the demolition of the Champion park apartments,
the population of Hope VI neighborhood has decreased
which might be due to dislocation of people.
Unlike the City of Rockford which is predominantly White,
the Hope VI neighborhood is predominantly Black at 64%.
Younger population might be moving out of the
neighborhood due to high incidence of crime, foreclosed
homes, lack of housing, and connectivity. Even then the
median age of the Hope VI neighborhood has decreased
from 28.2 in 2000 to 25.9 in 2010, which indicates that
the neighborhood primarily comprises of younger adults.
More than half of the housing units in the Hope VI
neighborhood are renter occupied as against owner
occupied. This translates into low generation of property
taxes that could be used to improve facilities in the city.
Also, vacant properties are significantly high at 14% of
the total housing units.
Majority of homes in the Hope VI neighborhood are under
$50,000. There are very few moderately priced homes.
The Census Tract 24 Data for Hope VI neighborhood
reflects a high unemployment rate at 19% which could
be factored to lack of job opportunities as well as lack of
connectivity associated with the area.
The area is associated with high property crime rates,
vandalism, larceny and other crimes which can be
attributed to a large number of vacant properties in
the area that serve as a perfect spot for breeding illegal
activites.
Around 56% of the total households in the area earn less
than $25,000 annually. This is reflective of the extreme
poverty rate associated with the area.
0 50 100 150 200 250
Less than $10,000
$10,000 to $14,999
$15,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $34,999
$35,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $74,999
$75,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $199,999
Figure 14: Economic Characteristics by income range
Source: Selected Economic Characteristics, 2008-2012
American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates , DP03
Income
The median household
income for Census Tract
24(consisting of Hope
VI neighborhood) in
Winnebago County, IL is
from $27,000 to $18,000.
Majority of the households
in the area earn less than
$10,000 annually.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Final Deliverable
The Final Community Needs Assessment of the Hope VI Neighborhood will comprise of suggestions for future action that will be based on
the analysis of the responses received from the community residents and stakeholders through the survey and the focus group. The survey
will concentrate on the community’s response to existing conditions as well as proposed new commercial developments along West State
Street which is intended to provide diversity as well as structure to an otherwise dead and isolated stretch. The analysis will contain a report
that will highlight the community’s perspective on these proposed changes along with recommendations to focus on areas that provide new
avenues for mixed use or other feasible opportunities in the current scenario where existing low income public housing apartments are being
demolished or redeveloped.
The survey along with the focus group which is targeted to derive community input will be the heart and soul of this analysis. The survey
will provide key information about the resident’s viewpoints on the recent redevelopment projects that the area is prone to undergo. This
will be accompanied with the current demographic and socio-economic data, project schedule, data analysis summaries and findings of the
community needs and requirements which will form the deliverable.
Expected time to formulate the Community Needs Assessment will be seven months from April1, 2014 to October 31, 2014.
Data Collection Methodology -Surveys and Focus groups
Surveys: Community residents + Stakeholders
Community Residents of Hope VI neighborhood
Household and Housing characteristics for Hope VI Neighborhood
Year 2000 2010
Total Households 725 693
Total Housing Units 853 799
Occupied housing units• 725 693
Vacant• 128 106
Source: Household Pop. and Household Type :2010 Census Summary File 1 QT-H3
General Housing Characteristics: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) QT-H1
HO13-Household Size Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1)
QT-P11 Households and Families: 2010 Census Summary File
(For the complete table refer to Table 2, Pg. 11)
Used as a sampling method
For this analysis, I’ll be sampling the population
based on the total housing units rather than the
households. My methodology incorporates mailing
the surveys rather than using “door to door surveys”
for distribution of questionnaires. As a result of
which there won’t be a direct tool that will enable
me to identify multiple households within a housing
unit. For the feasibility and efficiency of the project, I
would assume that the housing units will capture the
information related to the households.

Zaheeda Darvesh
The addresses will be derived from Winnebago County Geographic Information Systems (www.ims.wingis.org/PropertySearch.aspx?p
in=1120278016&county=winn). The 2010 Census Data reflects 853 total housing units in the area of which there are 128 total vacant
properties. The Rockford Township Assessor’s Office can substantiate the existing vacant properties by aerial images of the property.
Also, a couple of other measures can be employed where the information about vacant properties in the neighborhood can be accessed
through “Craigslist” or “Driving for Vacant Properties” or “Bird Dogs”- a procedure where individuals can provide information about
vacant/foreclosed properties for monetary compensation. Of these 725 houses, 319 are owner occupied and 406 are renter occupied.
On the basis of the addresses and zip code this could be narrowed down to the category of the housing unit.
Probability sampling is used here as the geographic area is confined to the extent of the neighborhood and it will be an efficient
method of randomly sampling the general yet representative population. A “Stratified Random Probability Sampling” method is
employed to derive a sample from these two groups “owner occupied and renter occupied housing units.” The results are as follows:
Owner Occupied (O-O) 319 housing units yield a sample size of 175 at 5% Confidence level, which translates to1. 700 surveys being
sent out for a 25% response rate. Hence surveys will be sent out to all 319 O-O housing units
Renter (R-O) Occupied 406 housing units, a sample size of 198 was derived at 5% confidence level, which translates as2. 792 surveys
being sent out for a 25% response rate. Hence surveys will be sent out to all 406 R-O housing units.
A total of 725 surveys will be mailed to community residents. Instructions on the survey will include the option of answering the
questionnaire electronically through the website or a kiosk that will be provided at the Washington Park Community Recreation
Center at 3617 Delaware St, Rockford, IL 61102. In the event that a recipient fills out a paper as well as an electronic questionnaire,
during data analysis, the results of only one will be considered in order to avoid duplication. The data system that will be used to store
information from both paper and electronic surveys will cross reference for multiple entries based on the primary information as well
as the address of the recipient.
A Radio and Press release will be made available through the local newspapers as well as radio stations which will disseminate
information to the community residents. Additionally, pamphlets will be distributed that will convey the information as well.
To survey the residents, Probability Sampling will be used in which a sample of the total
housing units in Hope VI Neighborhood (Data derived from 2010 Census, see page 11 and 16)
will be surveyed. A random sample of the recipients of the survey will be selected.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Stakeholders
Stakeholders of the community such as employees of IDOT, Winnebago County Housing Authority, Rockford Housing Authority, Rockford
Park District, Washington Park Community Recreation Center, the City Council, Winnebago County Board and others who are directly
involved in the decision making process that will dictate the activities within this area will be surveyed as well.
Non-Probability Purposive sampling will be used here as a method to survey the city officials and stake holders, mostly because the
population though known is not measurable and the people who’re being targeted to be surveyed will be limited to their involvement in
the redevelopment projects in and around Hope VI neighborhood.
After identifying the stakeholders, a sample will be randomly selected and the selected recipients will then be surveyed through email as
well as mail. A reminder email will be sent half way through the open time period.
The purpose of surveying two different groups-community residents as well as stakeholders is to achieve variation in identifying the
needs and issues pertaining to the community and then using the results to validate the predominant concerns and expectations. Two
different methods of sampling are used to survey two different groups of people which will allow to view the current condition through
a different lens, both of which will complement each another and add a lot of value to the data procuring and analysis method.
Focus Groups
The focus groups will be composed of cross-functional stakeholders as well as community residents. The meetings will convene at the
Winnebago County Housing Authority/ Washington Park Community Recreation Center at 3617 Delaware St, Rockford, IL 61102•
Two focus group meetings will be held once a week on Thursday at 6:00pm (See project time
frame) and will consist of 15 group members each including a moderator. Since the community
members will be invited and there will be no method to determine the number of attendees, two
focus groups will be held at the same time (2X15). Focus groups will be formatted to facilitate
open-ended, relatively broad, and qualitative discussions. A total of four focus group meetings will
be held; the dates for which are May 9, June 5, June 12 and June 29, 2014. The Recreation Center
will be an optimum venue in its current use in which it provides a podium for families to have fun
and congregate. The Recreation Center will allow the stakeholders and decision makers to interact
with the community members on a personal level. The residents will be invited to the focus group
meetings through pamphlet distribution and trifold displays at the Washington Park Christian
Church at 801 Concord Avenue, Rockford, IL 61102 on Sundays, when there is a higher chance
to interact with locals after the Sunday sermon. Efforts (moderator) will be made to make the
discussions as equitable and unbiased as possible in order to prevent a particular section or group of
people dominating the interaction process.
Additionally, a Kiosk will also be provided at the Washington Park Community Recreation Center at
3617 Delaware St, Rockford, IL 61102, from the May 12 to July 11, 2014,which will allow community
members to electronically take the survey, Monday through Friday between 9:00am to 5:00pm,
rather than mailing it back to the Department.

Zaheeda Darvesh
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Background Research/Framework Designing
Community assessment
Organize a team(volunteers{4}+ paid{1})
Identifying key stakeholders
Compilation of resident address list
Phase 2
Survey Designing/ Meeting/Disseminating info. upto 4
Designing Survey 1
Mail Surveys(Residents) 4
Mail & email Surveys(Stake holders) 2
Focus groups 4
Disseminating information(Church) 4
Reminder emails/calls to stake holders 4
Phase 3
Data Analysis/ Findings/ Report upto 4
Data Analysis 2
Key Findings 2
Rough report 2
Gather Feedback from stakeholders 4
Produce Final Report 2
2014 Hope VI Neighborhood Community Needs Assessment Schedule
September October
Progress 2014
Number
of
workers
May June July AugustActivities April
Weeks of the Month
Project time from from April 1, 2014 - October 31, 2014
Phase 1
2
Table 8: Project Timeline for the Community Needs Assessment for Hope VI Neighborhood
(Interns

Zaheeda Darvesh
Project Timeline
The total time period required for completion of the project is estimated at 7 months-April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014.
The project will be completed in 3 phases: Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Phase 1-April 1, 2014 to May 6, 2014
Phase 1 will be completed in 6
weeks. It will include community
assessment prior to designing of the
survey in Phase 2. Also, during this
time frame, a team will be organized
which will comprise of one paid
employee and four interns. The major
task carried out during this phase
includes compiling a list of addresses
of the community residents of Hope
VI neighborhood as well as the
stakeholders.
Phase 2-April 15, 2014 to June 24, 2014
Phase 2 will span over a time of 10
weeks. Major tasks accomplished
during this phase include designing the
survey based on the initial community
assessment. Once the survey has been
finalized, then this will be followed
byuploading them on SurveyMonkey
to be tested. Also, paper surveys will
be printed. Based on the address list
generated in Phase 1, the surveys will
be mailed/ emailed to the sample pool
of recipients. Also, information will be
provided on the focus groups as well
as submitting the survey questionnaire
electronically through the website,
or accessing a kiosk located at the
Recreation Center to do the same.
Information about focus groups that
will be held from May 27, 2014 to June
19, 2014 will be provided through
pamphlets and trifold displays at the
Washington Park Christian Church at
801 Concord Avenue, Rockford, IL 61102
every Sunday after the sermon. The
community residents will be encouraged
to attend these focus groups which will
be held every Thursday at 6:00pm for the
allotted time frame. Reminder calls will
also be sent out to the stakeholders.
Phase 3-April 15, 2014 to June 24, 2014
Phase 3 mostly will consist of collecting
the information and storing it centrally
to be analyzed. The recipients will be
afforded a substantial time of 7 weeks
to return their questionnaire through
mail/email. Once the results have been
received, then Data Analysis and key
findings will be carried within the time
frame of 4 weeks. A draft preliminary
report will be formulated which will then
shared with a group of 5 (2 community
residents and 3 stakeholders). The input
form this group will be incorporated
in the final report that will be then
submitted on October 31, 2014.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Research Expense Budget
Hope VI Neighborhood Community Needs Assessment, April 2014
Personnel Budget Time Estimates Compensation/hour Units Needed Notes
Consultant/ Data Analysis/
Clerk
$19,040
28 weeks/
1120 hours
$17/hr.
Entry level experience
1 personnel
The consulatant will be employed
full time
Grant Writer/Administrative $44,800
28 weeks/
1120 hours
$40/hr.
4 year experience
1 personnel
The grant writer will be employed
full time
4 paid interns $1,632 34 hours $12/hr. 4 interns Payment is hourly
Travel Budget Esimates Compensation Units Needed Notes
Food $600
4 weeks of focus
group
$5/person 30 members
Only for focus groups with 30
members/week
Commute $5,600 5600 miles 0.5 /mile 2 personnel Average 20 miles/day/person
Operating Budget Time estimates Compensation Units Needed Notes
SurveyMonkey subscription $200 12 months $200/year 1 NA
SPSS Subscription $196 12 months $98/person 2 personnel
IBM® SPSS® Statistics Standard
GradPack-12 month
Office supplies $700 7 months $50/month
2 personnel* 7
months
Based on historical usage, $50/
person/month
Postage and Shipping $795 2 weeks 49*2=$1.06/person NA
Envelopes + postage for 750 housing
units
Equipment/ Computers/
Supplies
$1,121 NA $80/month/person
2 personnel* 7
months
2 laptops+ printer+ink+paper
Rental Space $0 NA NA NA
Space will be provided by
the Washington Recreation
Center(WRC)
Cost of printing surveys $3,080 NA
10 cents/page+ 2
trifolds($40 each)
to print 750
surveys+pamphlets+Trifolds
Telephone/ Utilities/Others $1,400 7 months $100 Plan/month
2 personnel* 7
months
Cell phone costs,the internet
connection will be provided by WRC
Total Expenses $79,164
Table 9: Research Expense Budget for the CNA for Hope VI Neighborhood

Zaheeda Darvesh
Research Expense Budget
For the CNA for the Hope VI neighborhood, along with the primary
grant writer, a contracted data analyst will also be required. The
pay scale for the grant writer is allocated at $40/hr. based on four
years of grant writing experience (http://thegrantplant.blogspot.
com/2007/07/pricing-grant-writers-what-should-we.html) while
that of the data analyst with entry level experience is allocated at
$17/hr. (www.payscale.com). Four paid interns are hired at $12/
hr. (Standard University Rate) for a specific time frame. This survey
will be facilitated in joint collaboration with the Rockford Housing
Authority. Hence, office space will be provided (free of cost with
electricity and internet included) by the Washington Recreation
Center. Surveys will be electronically administered by SurveyMonkey
and Data Analysis will be carried out using the SPSS software, for
which subscription needs to be aquired for a 12 month period. Also,
expenses related to food will be restricted for focus groups when
the residents will meet with the stakeholders. According to the
Federal Regulations, mileage is reimbursed at 0.5cents/mile and the
corresponding costs are reflected on the budget sheet. The budget
sheets also reflects the allocation of funds for printing surveys,
pamphlets and other means of inviting/educating the community
residents. Overall, effort has been made to keep the budget as
minimal as possible.
The budget sheet reflects a final expense of $79,164.00 for the
Community Needs Assessment.
Data Analysis
The Data acquired though surveys –mail and electronic along with the focus groups will
be cleaned first so that if there are any repeated results, then these can be deduplicated.
Descriptive Statistics will be employed here as the qualitative data derived from the
survey questionnaire will be quantified and in doing so the attitude and perception of the
population would be captured. For instance using the demographic and socioeconomic data,
it was identified that unemployment and crime are prevalent in Hope VI neighborhood. By
posing questions that address these issues, for one validity would be exercised here which
will reinstate and confirm the resident’s perspective of viewing this as a problem, and if it
is, what measures/ actions do they want implemented to curb this issue? They might see
commercial development as an option of employing the residents and curbing crime as well.
The survey when quantified will allow us to pontificate the requirements of the residents
and deliver those to the stakeholders so that future developments in the neighborhood
will be in sync with these demands. Additionally, descriptive statistics will allow us, in this
case, to cross tabulate other variables such as household demographics and perceptions
of the population. This can be further explained by posing a question on change and then
quantifying and cross tabulating the attitude of the people towards change to housing
characteristics. So a series of cross tabulations will allow us to capture the prominent issues
and probable solutions which is the sole purpose of conducting the CNA.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Ethical, Confidentiality, Design, and Validity Issues
Ethical Issues
As planners and researchers caution has to be exercised in ascertaining that
the survey has been administered in an ethical manner. Care has to be taken
to ensure that there has been no infringement of the respondent’s privacy
and confidentiality. The objective should be to make the process as inclusive
and transparent as possible. The method adopted to get the response of the
residents as well as the stakeholders must not be taken as pressurizing and
leading. The individual who is being surveyed must not be pressurized to
participate, which in all instances, must be voluntary.
Confidentiality
The surveys returned through mail must be stored in a safe place to prevent
breach of confidentiality that can impact the results of the survey or can
render in invalid. The idea is to provide a survey that is unbiased and
untarnished. Hence, utmost care has to be taken to avoid creating situations
that can adversely impact the process of gaining information and data
collection to deciphering the results.
Design Issues
The survey must be designed such that there are no biases as this may
render the results of the survey obsolete. While designing the questionnaire,
one must be aware that this survey is not just catering a particular sect of
society/community, but a diverse range of people. Hence, the design and
language of the survey must be simple and uncomplicated. Also, the location
of focus groups should be in an inviting place, a place that resonates with
the majority of the community residents. This would avoid harboring an
environment in which the residents might feel out of place or unwanted.
Validity
The Hope VI neighborhood CNA is designed to receive responses from the
community residents as well as the stakeholders. This is to assure that the
perceptions of the residents and the stakeholders are validated by each other.
Also, this prevents the survey from being unidirectional and one sided.
Know-Hows of a Survey Questionnaire6
Know the objectives•
Pay attention to wording style, type, and question•
sequence
Pay attention to survey length and make the•
survey interesting
Collect the data in a reliable and valid way to•
ensure accuracy
Use relevant questions•
Avoid technical jargon•
Avoid negatives or double negatives•
6
- Information derived from SurveyMonkey.com.
Link to access the electronic
Needs Assessment Survey for
HopeVI Neighborhood
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8V696D3

Zaheeda Darvesh
Materials and Tools Press and Radio Release
Community Needs Assessment Survey for the Hope VI Neighborhood for Rockford, IL
Residents of Hope VI Neighborhood, Rockford, IL will soon have an opportunity to tell what they think is right or wrong with the
community through a “Community Needs Assessment Survey” which will include a questionnaire covering nearly every phase of
the community including planning, human relations and cultural enrichment, economic
development, physical environment and community services. Focus groups will also be
scheduled where community members will get a chance to interact with the stakeholders
and city officials on May 9, June 5, June 12 and June 29, 2014 at the Washington Park
Community Recreation Center at 3617 Delaware St, Rockford, IL 61102 at 6:00pm.
Community Needs Assessment Specialists from the University of Illinois, Urbana-
Champaign will assist with the survey.
The primary purpose for conducting the survey and the focus group is to find out where
efforts need to be concentrated in order to make the Hope VI Neighborhood a livable
place. Information collected through the survey and the focus group will enable us to identify problem areas and develop action
programs. We want to know how the Hope VI neighborhood measures up as a (community) place to live and the only way that
we can be sure that we are getting a complete picture is by asking people who really know –the people who live here. We would
appreciate your cooperation by responding to the surveys that will be mailed to you shortly and by participating in the focus
groups. Surveys can be electronically submitted through the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8V696D3 or by accessing a
kiosk located at Washington Park Community Recreation Center at 3617 Delaware St., Rockford, IL 61102, from May 12 to July 11,
2014, Monday through Friday between 9:00am to 5:00pm. We appreciate your cooperation as this will be extremely helpful to us
in defining the future of Hope VI Neighborhood and the community at large. For questions, please feel free to contact Jane Doe at
123-456-7890 or email us at questions@hope6.com.
Thank you.

Zaheeda Darvesh
Demographics
Do you live in the Hope VI neighborhood? (Please select one)1.
 Yes
 No (If no, please mail the survey back to the return address)
(Rerouted to the last page in case of electronic surveys)
How long have you been a resident of Hope VI neighborhood?2.
____________Days/Months/Years
Please select your Gender3.
 Male
 Female
 Not applicable
Please select your Age4.
 Under 20 years
 20-29 years
 30-44 years
 45-64 years
 65-74 years
 75+ years
Number of adults living in the household5. ____________
Number of children living in the household6. ____________
How would you describe yourself? (Please select all that apply)7.
 White (non-Hispanic)
 Black/African-American (non-Hispanic)
 Asian (non-Hispanic)
 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)
 American Indian (non-Hispanic)
 Hispanic or Latino
 Other
Educational qualification8.
 Less than High School
 High school or GED
 Some College, no Degree
 Associate Degree
 Bachelor’s Degree or higher
 Graduate or Professional Degree
 Others
Please take a a few minutes to answer this brief Community Needs Assessment Survey for Hope VI Neighborhood of Rockford, IL.
The results of this survey will be used to evaluate and make improvements towards community development. All information will be confidential.
Materials and Tools Community Needs Assessment Survey
Surveys can be electronically submitted through the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8V696D3 or by
accessing a kiosk located at Washington Park Community Recreation Center at 3617 Delaware St, Rockford,
IL 61102, from May 12 to July 11, 2014, Monday through Friday between 9:00am to 5:00pm

Zaheeda Darvesh
Are you married? (Please select one)9.
 Yes
 No
 Other (please specify) _____________
Are you a single parent? (Please select one)10.
 Yes
 No
 Not applicable
Employment
Please identify your employment status11.
 Employed Full time
 Employed Part-time
 Unemployed
 Self-employed
 Business owner
 Student
 Retired
 Other (please specify)
What industry are you currently working in?12.
 Technology
 Professional or business services
 Healthcare
Question 12 continued
 Retail or food service
 Education
 Construction
 Public sector
 Manufacturing and semiconductors
 Automotive
 NA
 Other (please specify) __________________________
How far is your place of employment from the Hope VI neighborhood?13.
 1 mile or less
 1 to 5 miles
 5 to 10 miles
 More than 10 miles
How do you get to work?14.
 Private Transportation
 Public transit
 Carpool
 Bicycle
 Park and ride
 Walk
 Work at home
 Other (please specify) __________________________

Zaheeda Darvesh
Opportunities for employment in the region are15.
 Getting better
 Getting worse
 Staying the same
 NA
What are your barriers to employment?16.
 No barriers
 Lack of education
 No jobs for my field
 No transportation
 Lack of training or experience
 Others (Please specify)
For each statement, check whether “Yes” or “No” describes17.
your situation with your current primary job. Do not answer if you
are unemployed
Commuting too much, need a closer job•
I need further education or training to•
improve my job skills
My pay does not support my family•
Overall I’m satisfied with my job•
Yes No NA
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
Housing
Are your housing conditions adequate?18.
 Yes
 No
Do you own your home?19.
 Yes
 No
What type of residence do you live in?20.
 Single-family home
 Apartment
 Town Home
 Others (Please specify) __________________________
What are your major housing concerns? (Check all that apply)21.
 Rent too high
 House needs major repairs
 Utilities too high
 Can’t afford house payments
 Can’t find house in price range
 No Concerns

Zaheeda Darvesh
1 2 3 4
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
For the development of empty/ vacant lots, rank these in the25.
order of preference using the following scale:
1= most preferred,
2= preferred
3= less preferred
4= least preferred
Single family homes•
Multi-family dwellings•
Recreation Centers•
Business stores•
Educational facilities•
Parks•
Given the opportunity would you move out of this26.
neighborhood? (Please select one)
 Yes
 No
 Not applicable
Community
The following are concerns that exist in many communities.27.
Please select up to five issues which you feel need greater attention in
your community to improve the quality of life for families.
 Affordable housing
 Business stores
 Job availability
 Job training
Please rank on a scale of 1 to 4 as to how satisfied you are22.
with current conditions in Hope VI neighborhood
1= very satisfied
2= satisfied
3= less satisfied
4= unsatisfied
The overall property conditions•
Conditions of vacant lots or lots with•
high vacancy rates
Conditions of rental property•
Conditions of occupied private property•
What types of housing does the Hope VI Neighborhood need23.
the most? (Check all that apply)
 Single-family homes
 Apartments
 Senior Housing
 Duplex
 Town Homes
 Others (Please specify) __________________________
Given the opportunity, would you prefer to move out of24.
multi-family dwellings to single-family homes? (Please select one)
 Yes
 No
 Not applicable
1 2 3 4
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o

Zaheeda Darvesh
Question 27 continued
 Crime prevention
 Illiteracy
 Lack of accessibility to stores
 Public Transportation
 Parks, Recreation
 Others (Please specify) __________________
Please rank on a scale of 1 to 4 as to how important are the28.
following services to you in your community?
1= very important , 2=important , 3= unimportant , 4=completely
unimportant
Availability of good grocery stores•
Well lit streets•
Response time of police to emergency calls•
Availability of employment opportunities•
Access to affordable housing•
Access to quality housing•
Neighbors taking care of the appearance•
of their homes
Availability of small businesses in the•
community
Opportunities available to open small•
businesses in the community
Availability of agencies providing services•
to adults/youths
How satisfied you are with the following services in your29.
community? Please circle the appropriate score using the following
scale:
1=very satisfied
2=satisfied
3=unsatisfied
4=completely unsatisfied
Availability of good grocery stores•
Well lit streets•
Response time of police to emergency calls•
Availability of employment opportunities•
Access to affordable housing•
Access to quality housing•
Neighbors taking care of the appearance•
of their homes
Availability of small businesses in the•
community
Opportunities available to open small•
businesses in the community
Availability of agencies providing services•
to adults/youths
How do redevelopment projects impact the Hope VI30.
neighborhood?
1 2 3 4
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
1 2 3 4
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o

Zaheeda Darvesh
Transportation
Do you have reliable transportation? (Please select one)31.
 Yes
 No
What are your barriers to reliable transportation? (Check All32.
That Apply)
 No Barriers
 No Car/Can’t Afford Car
 No Public Transportation
 Price of Gas
 No Private Transportation
 No Routes near Home
 No Routes near Work
 Others (Please specify) _______________________________
If you need transportation assistance, for what purpose(s) do33.
you need a ride? (Check All That Apply)
 Getting to work
 Medical appointments
 Social or recreational activities
 School/college
 Social agency, government office
 Groceries and/or drug store
 Others (Please specify) ___________________________________
Safety
Please rate how serious you feel the level of crime is in your34.
community.
 Not at all serious
 Somewhat Serious
 Serious
 Very serious
How safe do you feel in your community?35.
 Very safe
 Safe
 Unsafe
 Very unsafe
How safe do you feel going out at night in your community?36.
 Very safe
 Safe
 Unsafe
 Very unsafe
In the past three years would you say the level of crime in your37.
community has increased, stayed about the same, or decreased?
 Increased
 Stayed about the same
 Decreased

Zaheeda Darvesh
Please rank what you feel are the most important causes of38.
crime using the following scale:
1 =least likely to cause crime
2=less likely to cause crime
3=likely to cause crime
4=most likely to cause crime
Unemployment
Poverty
Drugs
Lack of supervision of minors
Lenient sentencing of criminals
What, if anything, do you feel could be done to decrease39.
crime in your community?
Thank you for your time and willingness to provide information
that will be vital to the future of Hope VI Neighborhood.
1 2 3 4
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o
o o o o

Zaheeda Darvesh
The Community Needs Assessment Focus Group Questionnaire
for Hope VI Neighborhood, Rockford, IL
Thank you for agreeing to be a part of this Focus Group. I expect this meeting will take no longer than 45 minutes. I will be facilitation the
discussion to better understand the needs of this neighborhood. Confidentiality is part of the process. Be assured that responses will only
be reported as an aggregate and no individual responses or quotes will be presented. Any questions about the process today?
Focus Group Questions Recorded Responses
In your opinion, what are factors related to employment in1.
this community (accessibility, opportunities, barriers)
How do these factors impact the residents in your2.
neighborhood?
How does it impact you?3.
In your opinion, are housing conditions adequate in your4.
neighborhood?
What are some of your major housing concerns?5.
What are some of the major housing concerns of the6.
residents in the neighborhood?
What are some of the major issues that need greater7.
attention in your community in order to improve the quality of life ?
How satisfied are you with the availability and accessibility8.
of services in your community?
How will redevelopment projects in the neighborhood9.
impact the Hope VI residents and neighborhood?
Additional concerns or comments10.
Materials and Tools Focus Group Questionnaire and Invitation Letter

Zaheeda Darvesh
Thank you for taking the time to participate in this focus group meeting. I will make sure that all of the participants receive aggregated
analysis of this meeting and all other meetings.
For facilitator observation only
(aggregated numbers)
Total number of participants=
Males=
Females=
Age groups=
Ethnicity=
Race=
COME AND SHARE WITH US!
You are cordially invited to a
FOCUS GROUP to assess the communty needs of
Hope VI Neighborhood in Rockford, IL.
Date: May 9, June 5, June 12 and June 29, 2014
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Washington Park Community Recreation Center
3617 Delaware St, Rockford, IL 61102.
RSVP: Jane Doe at 123-456-7890 or email us at questions@hope6.com.
Refreshments will be served
Washington Park Community Recreation Center
3617 Delaware St, Rockford, IL 61102
W. State Street
S.SpringfieldStreet
S.PierpointAvenue
This focus group will allow the members of the community to interact with
stakeholders involved in redevelopment projects in and around the Hope VI
Neighborhood. It will provide both parties the opportunity to discuss possible
projects that can benefit the Hope VI neighborhood and the community at large.
Residents will also get a chance to participate in a “Community Needs
Assessment Survey” which will include a questionnaire covering nearly
every phase of the community including planning, human relations and cultural
enrichment, economic development,
physical environment and community services that
will be mailed to them. Alternatively this survey
questionnaire can be accessed at :
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8V696D3.
Information collected through the survey and the fo-
cus group will enable us to identify problem areas and
develop action programs.
Your co-operation will enable us to build a better
future.
FOCUS GROUP
INVITATION
LETTER

Zaheeda Darvesh
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Zaheeda Darvesh
References
1
-2013. City of Rockford, Illinois. May 2006. Accessed on May 05, 2014. http://www.rockfordil.gov/uploadedFiles/government/
CommunityDevelopment/PlansStudies/HOPEVIPlan.pdf
2
-Median Age for Hope VI Neighborhood in 2000 is 28.2, Median Age by Sex (3) Universe: Total Population Census 2000 Summary
File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
3
-Median Age for Hope VI Neighborhood in 2010 is 25.9, Median Age by Sex (P13) Universe: Total Population Census 2010
Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
4
- Median Age for Rockford in 2000 is 34.4, Age Groups and Sex: 2000, Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
5
- Median Age for Rockford in 2010 is 35.8, Age Groups and Sex: 2010, Census 2010 Summary File 1 QT-P1
6
- Information derived from SurveyMonkey.com.

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