Solano County Homeless Services Survey

We’re working on a plan to improve how our community serves people who are homeless. Your answers and comments will help us do that. You do not need to write your name. Your answers will stay anonymous.

Thank you so much for your help!

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* 1. What city do you live in?

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* 2. How long have you lived in Solano County?

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* 3. How long have you been homeless?

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* 4. What kinds of help have you gotten from organizations or programs in Solano County in the past few years?

Medical care (including mental health care) from the County Health Department

Food stamps (TANF, EBT)

Social security/disability

Help getting health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, MediCal)

Help paying rent (for example, Section 8)

Help paying utilities, deposits, or moving costs

Emergency (overnight) shelter or other temporary housing

Helping finding a permanent place to live

Services from a church or other religious group

Other (please specify)

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* 5. In which cities?

Benicia

Dixon

Fairfield

Suisun City

Rio Vista

Vacaville

Vallejo

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* 6. Have the organizations in Solano County helped you?

If your answer is YES, please tell us a little about how.

If your answer is NO, please explain a bit.

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* 7. How well do you think the programs in Solano County work? What changes would make them better?

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* 8. What makes getting or keeping housing hard for you? (Please select the Top 5 reasons)

I can’t afford the rent

I can’t afford the utilities

I don’t have a job or other way to make money

Not enough affordable apartments or houses

Housing is too small for my family

Housing that is available is in bad condition or in an unsafe area

Housing that is available has too many restrictions/strings attached

Housing that is available is too far from work or my kids’ school or other places I need to go

Bad credit

Bad rental history (evictions, bad relationships with landlords)

Landlords won’t rent to me

My pet isn’t allowed

I’m not allowed to bring my wife/girlfriend/husband/wife

Drug or alcohol use

I have mental health issues (for example, severe depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar)

I have a criminal record

My immigration status (undocumented, in the U.S. illegally)

I don’t trust the system

I would rather live outside

Other (please specify)

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* 9. If you were offered housing today and money were not a problem, would any these prevent you from accepting it?

I don’t want housing. / I want to stay where I am.

Not being able to bring my pet

Not being able to bring my wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend

Not being able to have my family or friends visit or stay with me

If I have to stay sober or stop using drugs

If I have to get a job

If I have to participate in programs or groups

If I have to move to a different part of town

If I have to move to another city

A bad location. (Unsafe area, far from public transportation)

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What makes getting or keeping a job difficult for you in Solano County? (Please select the Top 5 reasons)

Immigration status (undocumented, in the U.S. illegally)

Criminal history

Discrimination

Transportation problems (no car, not enough buses)

I don’t have child care

I need more training

I need more education

I need help with looking for jobs

I need help with my applications or resume

I have a hard time with interviews

My job history isn’t good enough

Health problems

This isn’t a problem for me. I have a job.

I don't want a job. (If you select this, please answer the next question.)

Other (please specify)

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* 11. If you checked the box in Question 10 that said "I don't want a job" please tell us why.

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* 12. What kinds of assistance would be most helpful to you? (Please choose the 3 most important to you)

Help paying rent

Job skills

Help finding jobs

Help getting benefits, like social security, disability, food stamps, veterans benefits

A lawyer

Health care (doctors’ appointments)

Medicine

Mental health care (for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, etc.)

Help to stop drinking or using drugs

Childcare

Transportation help (getting or fixing a car, getting rides, bus pass)

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!