FY2026 Community Needs Survey

CDBG Application - Community Needs Survey FY2026

On behalf of the Town of Chesterfield, the Hilltown CDC is applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for FY26. These resources support essential services in the hilltowns including senior chore assistance, ride share opportunities, food pantry access, necessary home repairs and much more. Your participation in this survey helps to make our funding possible. Thank you for your time!

Question Title

* 1. What community do you live in? Please do not complete this survey if you do not live in one of the towns listed below. w 0

Chesterfield

Cummington

Goshen

Plainfield

Savoy

Westhampton

Williamsburg

Worthington

Question Title

* 2. Find your household size, then click on yes if your household income is at or below the dollar amount, or no if your household income is above the dollar amount. w 0

	Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	No, my/our income is above the limit
1 person household income limit $67,000	1 person household income limit $67,000 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	1 person household income limit $67,000 No, my/our income is above the limit
2 person household income limit $76,550	2 person household income limit $76,550 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	2 person household income limit $76,550 No, my/our income is above the limit
3 person household income limit $86,100	3 person household income limit $86,100 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	3 person household income limit $86,100 No, my/our income is above the limit
4 person household income limit $95,650	4 person household income limit $95,650 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	4 person household income limit $95,650 No, my/our income is above the limit
5 person household income limit $103,350	5 person household income limit $103,350 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	5 person household income limit $103,350 No, my/our income is above the limit
6 person household income limit $111,000	6 person household income limit $111,000 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	6 person household income limit $111,000 No, my/our income is above the limit
7 person household income limit $118,650	7 person household income limit $118,650 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	7 person household income limit $118,650 No, my/our income is above the limit
8 person household income limit $126,350	8 person household income limit $126,350 Yes, my/our income is at or below the limit	8 person household income limit $126,350 No, my/our income is above the limit

Question Title

* 3. What social services do you feel are most important to your community? (Please rank each) w 0

	Minimally Important	Moderately Important	Very Important
In-home chore assistance for seniors	In-home chore assistance for seniors Minimally Important	In-home chore assistance for seniors Moderately Important	In-home chore assistance for seniors Very Important
In-home health care for seniors	In-home health care for seniors Minimally Important	In-home health care for seniors Moderately Important	In-home health care for seniors Very Important
Transportation for seniors or people with limited mobility	Transportation for seniors or people with limited mobility Minimally Important	Transportation for seniors or people with limited mobility Moderately Important	Transportation for seniors or people with limited mobility Very Important
Childcare assistance	Childcare assistance Minimally Important	Childcare assistance Moderately Important	Childcare assistance Very Important
In-home assistance for families with newborns	In-home assistance for families with newborns Minimally Important	In-home assistance for families with newborns Moderately Important	In-home assistance for families with newborns Very Important
Parenting support groups or workshops	Parenting support groups or workshops Minimally Important	Parenting support groups or workshops Moderately Important	Parenting support groups or workshops Very Important
Food pantry or other food security services	Food pantry or other food security services Minimally Important	Food pantry or other food security services Moderately Important	Food pantry or other food security services Very Important
GED/HISET education services	GED/HISET education services Minimally Important	GED/HISET education services Moderately Important	GED/HISET education services Very Important
Resume prep, job search, and/or other career services	Resume prep, job search, and/or other career services Minimally Important	Resume prep, job search, and/or other career services Moderately Important	Resume prep, job search, and/or other career services Very Important
Domestic violence and/or mental health services	Domestic violence and/or mental health services Minimally Important	Domestic violence and/or mental health services Moderately Important	Domestic violence and/or mental health services Very Important
Housing services	Housing services Minimally Important	Housing services Moderately Important	Housing services Very Important

Question Title

* 4. What type of housing repairs are most needed in your community? (Please rank each) w 0

	Minimally needed	Moderately needed	Very needed
Electrical	Electrical Minimally needed	Electrical Moderately needed	Electrical Very needed
Plumbing	Plumbing Minimally needed	Plumbing Moderately needed	Plumbing Very needed
Roof and/or chimney	Roof and/or chimney Minimally needed	Roof and/or chimney Moderately needed	Roof and/or chimney Very needed
Handicap accessibility	Handicap accessibility Minimally needed	Handicap accessibility Moderately needed	Handicap accessibility Very needed
Septic and/or sewer tie-in	Septic and/or sewer tie-in Minimally needed	Septic and/or sewer tie-in Moderately needed	Septic and/or sewer tie-in Very needed
Well	Well Minimally needed	Well Moderately needed	Well Very needed
Doors/ windows/ siding	Doors/ windows/ siding Minimally needed	Doors/ windows/ siding Moderately needed	Doors/ windows/ siding Very needed
Lead paint removal	Lead paint removal Minimally needed	Lead paint removal Moderately needed	Lead paint removal Very needed
Furnace and/or hot water heater	Furnace and/or hot water heater Minimally needed	Furnace and/or hot water heater Moderately needed	Furnace and/or hot water heater Very needed
Foundation repairs	Foundation repairs Minimally needed	Foundation repairs Moderately needed	Foundation repairs Very needed

Question Title

* 5. Housing Rehab Program assistance provided to low-to-moderate income families could have the following positive impacts: (Please rank each) w 0

	Minimal	Moderate	Maximum
Hazard reduction leading to reduced emergency services	Hazard reduction leading to reduced emergency services Minimal	Hazard reduction leading to reduced emergency services Moderate	Hazard reduction leading to reduced emergency services Maximum
Reduced stress and increased comfort resulting from necessary repairs	Reduced stress and increased comfort resulting from necessary repairs Minimal	Reduced stress and increased comfort resulting from necessary repairs Moderate	Reduced stress and increased comfort resulting from necessary repairs Maximum
Increased capacity for spending on essentials like food, prescriptions, and bills	Increased capacity for spending on essentials like food, prescriptions, and bills Minimal	Increased capacity for spending on essentials like food, prescriptions, and bills Moderate	Increased capacity for spending on essentials like food, prescriptions, and bills Maximum
Potential increase of home value and available equity	Potential increase of home value and available equity Minimal	Potential increase of home value and available equity Moderate	Potential increase of home value and available equity Maximum

Question Title

* 6. How should applicants be chosen to participate in the Housing Rehabilitation Program? w 0

First come first served

Prioritize low income applicants

Prioritize homes with the most severe repair needs

Prioritize needs for handicap accessibility repairs

A combination of the above factors

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. Low-to-moderate income homeowners need financial assistance to make home repairs because: (Please choose the answer you think is the most accurate) w 0

They do not have enough savings to pay for necessary repairs.

They do not earn enough income to make payments on a loan for necessary repairs.

They may not have a credit rating that allows them to obtain a loan for necessary repairs.

Other

Question Title

* 8. If you could not participate in the Housing Rehabilitation Program, and needed necessary home repairs, could you make them? w 0

Yes

Not Applicable

Question Title

* 9. If NO, what might you do to make these necessary repairs? w 0

Question Title

* 10. What is the best type of financing for the Housing Rehab Program? w 0

DPL - Deferred Payment Laon - No monthly payment forgiven over 15 years at 6% per year - Payable upon sale or transfer of the home.

Low Interest Loan - Payable monthly

0% (Zero) Interest Loan - Payable monthly

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. Do you support an ACCELERATED Deferred Payment Loan for seniors, veterans, and/or veterans' spouses? (Accelerated DPL reduces at 15% per year for the first 5 years) w 0

Yes

Question Title

* 12. Housing Rehab Program assistance provided to low-to-moderate income families could have the following positive impact on the COMMUNITY: (Please rank each) w 0

	Minimal	Moderate	Maximum
Decreased community blight, "ugly buildings", deteriorated housing	Decreased community blight, "ugly buildings", deteriorated housing Minimal	Decreased community blight, "ugly buildings", deteriorated housing Moderate	Decreased community blight, "ugly buildings", deteriorated housing Maximum
Decreased use of emergency services, resulting in cost savings for the community	Decreased use of emergency services, resulting in cost savings for the community Minimal	Decreased use of emergency services, resulting in cost savings for the community Moderate	Decreased use of emergency services, resulting in cost savings for the community Maximum
Deceased community health and environmental hazards from failing septic systems	Deceased community health and environmental hazards from failing septic systems Minimal	Deceased community health and environmental hazards from failing septic systems Moderate	Deceased community health and environmental hazards from failing septic systems Maximum
Increased community property values	Increased community property values Minimal	Increased community property values Moderate	Increased community property values Maximum

Question Title

* 13. A grant for $25,000 dollars in lead paint remediation could have the following positive impacts: w 0

	Minimal	Moderate	Maximum
Increased equity for homeowners to complete necessary repairs	Increased equity for homeowners to complete necessary repairs Minimal	Increased equity for homeowners to complete necessary repairs Moderate	Increased equity for homeowners to complete necessary repairs Maximum
Decrease the size of the DPL (deferred payment loan) on the house	Decrease the size of the DPL (deferred payment loan) on the house Minimal	Decrease the size of the DPL (deferred payment loan) on the house Moderate	Decrease the size of the DPL (deferred payment loan) on the house Maximum
Increased accessibility for homeowners who do not qualify for a DPL	Increased accessibility for homeowners who do not qualify for a DPL Minimal	Increased accessibility for homeowners who do not qualify for a DPL Moderate	Increased accessibility for homeowners who do not qualify for a DPL Maximum
Increased safety for families living in homes containing lead paint	Increased safety for families living in homes containing lead paint Minimal	Increased safety for families living in homes containing lead paint Moderate	Increased safety for families living in homes containing lead paint Maximum

Question Title

* 14. The HEN program offers in-home chore assistance to seniors. What do you feel is the most important benefit of this program? (Please rank each) w 0

	Minimally Important	Moderately Important	Very Important
Decreased feelings of isolation	Decreased feelings of isolation Minimally Important	Decreased feelings of isolation Moderately Important	Decreased feelings of isolation Very Important
Decreased likelihood of injury as a result of cleaning and/or chores	Decreased likelihood of injury as a result of cleaning and/or chores Minimally Important	Decreased likelihood of injury as a result of cleaning and/or chores Moderately Important	Decreased likelihood of injury as a result of cleaning and/or chores Very Important
Increased self-esteem from increased support	Increased self-esteem from increased support Minimally Important	Increased self-esteem from increased support Moderately Important	Increased self-esteem from increased support Very Important
Increased ability to maintain independent living	Increased ability to maintain independent living Minimally Important	Increased ability to maintain independent living Moderately Important	Increased ability to maintain independent living Very Important
Potential for a more balanced diet though meal prep	Potential for a more balanced diet though meal prep Minimally Important	Potential for a more balanced diet though meal prep Moderately Important	Potential for a more balanced diet though meal prep Very Important

Question Title

* 15. If a program such as the food pantry, in-home chore program (HEN), or the visiting nurse program (HOPE) did not exist, how would you get your needs met? w 0

I don't know

I would have to travel

I would ask friends and/or family

I would go without

Question Title

* 16. If you are a senior who is currently receiving in-home chore assistance, are your needs being fully met? w 0

Yes

Somewhat

Question Title

* 17. Are there any other programs or services you would like to see funded and/or supported by the Hilltown CDC in your community? Please include as many details as possible. w 0