Parking and homelessness topped a list of what residents like least about living in Bloomington, but overall, respondents to an inaugural city survey stated they enjoy a high quality of life in the city.
“It’s great to finally have data to quantifiably inform us about how we view Bloomington’s strengths and weaknesses,” Mayor John Hamilton said in a news release. “The survey information identifying areas for improvement and possible future focus is incredibly valuable as we prioritize our work on behalf of residents every day.”
The survey acts as a report card for the city, Ashly Perez de Tejada, survey consultant with National Research Center said at Wednesday’s city council meeting. The consultant firm contracted with the city in January to administer the survey for an amount not to exceed $34,000.
Of the 3,000 Bloomington households that were randomly selected and mailed the survey, 595 households responded, she reported. In addition,1,435 residents voluntarily participated in an online survey.
Perez de Tejada said nearly every respondent to the survey was concerned about homelessness in the city. According to the report, 61 percent of respondents considered addressing homelessness a major challenge for the city.
Respondents also seemed to favor the city taking a more active role in addressing this issue through providing assistance for supportive housing, Perez de Tejada said. According to the report, 7 in 10 residents showed strong support for the measure.