El Dorado County Homeless Services Survey (Consumers)

We’re working on a plan to improve how our community serves people who are experiencing 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 most regularly reside?

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* 2. How long have you been experiencing homelessness?

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* 3. How long have you resided in this county?

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* 4. What kinds of help have you gotten from organizations or programs in El Dorado 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 or areas have you gotten help?

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* 6. Have the organizations and programs in El Dorado County helped your situation?

If Yes, please tell us a little about how:

If No, please explain a bit:

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

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* 8. How do you find help when you need it? How could it be easier to find help?

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* 9. What makes getting or keeping housing hard for you? (Select your top 5)

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

Landlords wont rent to me because I have bad credit

Landlords wont rent to me because I have bad rental history (evictions, bad relationships with landlords)

Landlords wont rent to me because of my immigration status (undocumented, in the U.S. illegally)

Landlords wont rent to me because I have a criminal record

My pet isn’t allowed

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

The landlord/property management wont let me drink alcohol

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

I would rather live outside (if you would like to explain this preference, please do so in the comment box below)

Other (please specify)

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

Not being able to bring my pet

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

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)

I don’t want housing. / I want to stay where I am (if you would like to explain this preference, please do so in the comment box below)

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What makes getting or keeping a job difficult for you in El Dorado County? (Select your top 5)

Not applicable-I am on disability and cannot work

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 would like to explain this preference, please do so in the comment box below)

Other (please specify)

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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

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)

A lawyer to help me (please indicate with what in the comment box below)

Anything else?

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH!