CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Crime prevention, abandoned homes and police patrol are among some of the top improvements desired by residents living on Charleston’s West Side, according to a community needs assessment released Tuesday.
“The areas that we focused on in the assessment are housing, health and civic engagement,” said Michelle Foster, president of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. “Even though we weren’t really focusing on crime reduction, I think just by having positive activities, in which they can engage, I think that will help prevent the level of violence that we see.”
The foundation partnered with the Kanawha Institute of Social Research and Action to complete the report that was conducted from July to September 2015. The report covered the area bordered by Kanawha Boulvard, Stockton Avenue, thje railroad tracks and Glenwood Avenue.
Data was collected through door-to-door surveys and follow up focus groups with over 240 residents.
A press conference was held Tuesday to present the information.
Some of the key findings include:
Three quarters of residents are satisfied with the physical condition of their home.
One third of residents pay more than half of their net household income in housing costs.
Marriage rates on the West Side are significantly below county and state rates.
There is a strong association between voting in the 2015 City Council election and knowing their City Council member.
More than one third of residents are living in poverty and more than one half of children are living in poverty.
More than half of residents ages 18 to 24 are not high school graduates and one third of residents have some college or no college degree.
Parents need more after-school programs with tutoring, educational and creative components.
“It really gives you insight into how people are feeling on the West Side,” Foster said. “We believe that by really focusing in on this area, we’ll be really able to see change in a positive way.”
Based on the findings, the KISRA recommended the foundation invests in several areas such as leadership development, job-creation initiatives, green spaces including housing demolition to clear lots, a parent-to-parent mentoring program at Mary C. Snow Elementary School, GED/TASC partnerships to increase access for non-high school graduates, City Council member engagement and more.
Foster said now that they have this information, they will be seeking funding from the foundation, local and federal sources to really help improve the West Side.