When asked to rank the issues of most concern going forward, respondents remained squarely focused on conditions in the labor and housing markets, followed by the public sector budget crises and the capacity of nonprofits and other social service agencies to respond to local needs. (Figure 6) In several surveys, respondents focused on the long-term consequences of the recession, and wondered how long it will be before the economic recovery takes hold in LMI communities. However, survey responses also pointed to some new issues confronting the community development field, including shifting demographics and the changing geography of neighborhood poverty. One respondent in California noted the emerging challenge of poverty in the suburbs, and emphasized the need to build community development capacity in areas that have not historically had as dense a network of CDFIs and CDCs.
Figure 6: Community Data Point: Emerging Issues in the 12th District
Source: FRBSF Community Development Indicators Survey, February 2011. Respondents were asked to rank the top three challenges going forward. Responses were weighted and overall score calculated based on both the frequency of selection and rank order.
Overall, the February 2011 survey raises a critical question. How can the community development field make strategic use of scarce resources to address the panoply of challenges currently facing LMI communities? By shedding light on the existing and emerging needs in LMI communities in the 12th District, we hope that this community indicators survey can help to inform policy-makers about community development priorities and identify possible points of intervention and leverage.