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Clackamas County Community Needs Survey

Are you struggling to pay for the basics, like food, housing, and healthcare? Are you worried about the rising costs of living and how you are going to pay for the things you need over the next few years? Clackamas County Social Services (CCSS) would like to learn more about your needs and how we can help.

Clackamas County’s Community Action Board and Social Services Division will use the results of this survey to learn what kinds of resources and services are needed most in the community and how CCSS can support and improve the lives of people whose incomes are not enough to meet their basic needs.

At the end of the survey, you will have the option to ENTER TO WIN 1 of 10 Fred Meyer $50 gift cards. If you want to enter the drawing, please use the link at the end of the survey to share your name and contact information in a separate form. This will keep your survey responses separate and anonymous. Please do not include your name, address, or other identifying information in your written responses in the survey itself.
Access to Information & Resources
1.When you need help, do you know who to contact for assistance?
2.How do you learn about available community resources?
3.Do you have regular, easy access to the Internet?
4.What stops you from using available community resources?
5.In the past 12 months, did you have a need listed below that you couldn't get help with. If yes, please check the need(s) below? (Check all that apply)
6.Have you been treated unfairly when trying to access community resources (such as housing assistance, food programs, transportation, etc.)? If yes, please answer - I or my family was treated unfairly because: (Check all that apply)
7.When you have questions about your rights or feel your rights are not being honored, do you know how to advocate for or seek help to advocate for your rights? (Check only one.)
Employment, Income & Childcare
8.Are you currently working?
9.If you are not currently working, what is your main reason for not working?
Note: Household is defined as all the people who live in the same home as you or, if you are currently unhoused, all who would live in the same home as you.
10.What makes it hard for you or members of your household to find and/or keep work? (Check all that apply)
11.If you have children, what are your current childcare needs? (Check all that apply)
12.During the past 12 months, how hard has it been for your household to pay basic expenses, including but not limited to food, rent/mortgage, car payments, medical expenses, student loans, etc.? (check only one)
13.During the past 12 months, which of the following did your household use to meet your spending needs? (Check all that apply.)
14.Right now, are you able to pay all of your household bills each month?
15.What do you do if you can't afford something you need?
Food Access
16.During the last 12 months, which of these statements best describes the food eaten in your household? (Check only one.)
17.During the last 12 months, did you or anyone in your household get food from a food pantry, food bank, church or other place that provides free food? (Check only one.)
18.What stops you from having the type and amount of food you want? (Check all that apply)
19.If you currently get SNAP benefits, do you expect to continue to get SNAP benefits in the next 12 months?
Housing
20.Is your house or apartment...?
21.How often is it hard for you to pay your rent/mortgage each month? (Check only one.)
22.How likely is it that your household will have to leave your current home or apartment within the next year because of eviction or foreclosure? (Check only one)
23.How often is it hard for you to pay for utilities (water/electricity/gas)? (Check only one.)
24.What stops you from keeping stable housing?
Transportation
25.How often does lack of transportation stop you from doing daily activities (work, volunteering, school, shopping, going to medical appointments, spending time with friends/family, etc.)?
26.How often do you use public transportation?
27.If you have a car, how often do you struggle to operate it because of the cost of gas, repairs, maintenance, parking fees, insurance, registration fees, etc.?
28.What are your main issues regarding public transportation? (Check all that apply.)
29.What transportation options would be most useful in helping you do your daily activities?
Health & Well-being
30.What are the main health care needs of your household? (Check all that apply)
31.What stops you from getting the medical and/or mental health care you need?
Future Needs
32.Thinking about the next three years, how likely are you or a household member to need the following services/programs? Check the column that most matches your level of need (High=may need service often; Low=may need service one or two times)
High Need
Medium Need
Low Need
Not a need
Asset building (financial education, money management)
Childcare
Clothing assistance
Culturally informed services
Dental services
Domestic violence/sexual assault services
Education assistance
Job training/employment services
Food assistance
Health insurance assistance
Housing assistance
Intellectual/developmental disabilities services
Legal assistance
LGBTQIA2S+ services
Mental health care
Older adult services
Physical disability services
Physical health services
Substance use disorder services
Transportation assistance
Utility assistance
Veterans Services
Youth activities
33.What did we not ask that you think we should know?
Demographic Background
Please answer the following questions so we know more about who has completed this survey. It will help us understand who needs what and where services are needed.

You can skip any question that you do not want to answer.
34.What is your age?
35.What is your gender?
36.What is the highest degree or level of school you have finished? (Check only one.)
37.Do you have a disability?
38.Does anyone else in your household have a disability?
39.Including yourself, how many people live in your home?
40.How many people who are under 18 years of age live in your home?
41.What is the primary language spoken in your home?
42.Do you identify as a member of an LGBTQIA2S+ community?
43.Have you served in the military?
44.How much money does your household earn every month? (Before taxes are taken out)
45.What is your race/ethnicity? (Check all that apply)
46.What is your zip code?
47.In what type of community do you live?
Thank you for completing this survey!

When you click done you will have the opportunity to enter your name and contact information for the gift card raffle.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support, help is available:
  • 988 - Call, text, or chat for immediate mental health, suicide prevention, or emotional crisis support.
  • Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC): 503-650-5622 - For information and assistance with aging, disability, and caregiving needs.
  • 211 - Call or visit 211info for help finding food, housing, health services, and other community resources.
  • Coordinated Housing Access (CHA): 503-655-8575 - For help connecting with housing programs and services in Clackamas County.
  • Veteran Service Office (VSO): 503-650-5631 – For help navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system to file for disability compensation.
You are not alone, and support is available.