Table 4 Follow-up survey results from workshops in 2018 in Birmingham, AL
Location | Birmingham |
|---|---|
Participant number (%) | 23 (100) |
I am concerned about abandoned houses and overgrown lots because: | |
 Crime: drugs, sexual assault, vandalism, break-ins | 16 (69.6) |
 Property values | 4 (17.4) |
 Bad environment for youth in the community | 2 (8.7) |
 Other (crime and property values) | 1 (4.3) |
Who do you think is most responsible for getting rid of abandoned houses and keeping up overgrown lots? | |
 Homeowners who move away or the family of deceased homeowners | 10 (43.5) |
 Local government: city, mayor, city councilors | 9 (39.1) |
 Residents in the neighborhood with the abandoned homes/overgrown lots | 2 (8.7) |
 State government | 1 (4.3) |
 Other (resident and local government): | 1 (4.3) |
What I can do personally to get rid of abandoned houses/ overgrown lots: | |
 Go to city council meetings | 7 (30.4) |
 Go to neighborhood meetings | 6 (26.1) |
 Call police when I see suspicious activity near an abandoned | 5 (21.7) |
 Adopt a lot nearby and maintain it | 2 (8.7) |
 Drive others to Neighborhood or city council meetings | 1 (4.3) |
 Other (all of them) | 1 (4.3) |
 Other(neighborhood and city council meeting) | 1 (4.3) |
What I would like to see community leaders do: | |
 Go to city council meetings and report back to community at | 11 (47.8) |
 Communicate progress, plans, timelines | 5 (21.7) |
 Organize community clean up days and recruit people to participate | 3 (13.0) |
 Create a liaison position to communicate between the elected | 2 (8.7) |
 Other (all of them) | 2 (8.7) |
What I would like to see state and local governing officials do (pick two): | |
 Devote more work crews tearing down abandoned houses, mowing overgrown lots, and towing abandoned cars | 14 (60.9) |
 Provide incentives to build new businesses or new homes | 6 (26.1) |
 Provide more police presence in the neighborhoods | 5 (21.7) |
 Put signs up on houses/properties and advertise in the newspaper so potential buyers can know they are available for purchase | 3 (13.0) |
 Reducing the waiting time to purchase houses/ properties | 2 (8.7) |
 Devote more resources towards contacting previous owners | 1 (4.3) |
 Remove the liens for back taxes faster to incentivize the Buy- | 1 (4.3) |
 Other | 1 (4.3) |
In place of torn down houses, I would like to see: | |
 New houses by Habitat for Humanity | 14 (60.9) |
 New housing for homeless | 5 (21.7) |
 Community gardens or parks | 3 (13.0) |
 New businesses | 1 (4.3) |
What one specific thing would you most like to see besides progress on the abandoned houses/overgrown lots issue? (Circle 1/ ONE) | |
 More police presence | 8 (34.8) |
 A Community program and playground for kids | 5 (21.7) |
 Other | 3 (13.0) |
 High traffic roads paved | 2 (8.7) |
 A program for mold removal from houses | 2 (8.7) |
 A Senior Center within the community | 2 (8.7) |
 Missing | 1 (4.3) |
Are abandoned houses and overgrown lots your most important 1/ ONE environmental health priority for your community? | |
 Yes | 16 (69.6) |
 No | 7 (30.4) |
If no to previous question, what is your most important 1/ ONE environmental health priority for your community? | |
 Abandoned houses/lots | 16 (69.6) |
 Crime and safety | 2 (8.7) |
 Air pollution | 1 (4.3) |
 Water quality | 1 (4.3) |
 Other (road conditions, trash, and waste, work together) | 3 (13.0) |
Trusted information source | |
 TV | 8 (34.8) |
 City Council meetings | 6 (26.1) |
 Neighborhood meetings | 5 (21.7) |
 Phone calls or conversations with community leaders | 5 (21.7) |
 Newspaper | 4 (17.4) |
 Radio | 3 (13.0) |
 Health Department | 2 (8.7) |
 Neighbors | 2 (8.7) |
 Other | 1 (4.3) |