The Owensboro Human Relations Commission is conducting a community needs assessment survey to better understand the biggest housing, employment and discrimination issues facing area residents.
The survey is available online here through the end of March.
OHRC officials are connecting with local organizations, colleges and other community partners to spread the word.
OHRC will also be conducting drawings for gift cards and other prizes to incentivize more people to participate.
The Commission is considering also creating paper surveys, which could be passed out at bus stops, the H.L. Neblett Community Center, and Owensboro Community & Technical College. Officials said paper surveys would also be beneficial in getting more answers from those without reliable internet access.
According to Interim Executive Director Jaklyn Hill, the survey includes questions that address problems within the community, employment issues, and general data.
The general data portion includes questions resources that are being used or needed across the Owensboro area.
The responses will give OHRC more opportunities to step in and assist specific areas of the community, Hill said.
“If we find out through the survey that there are employment issues in one neighborhood, for example, we can go to that neighborhood and help,” she said.
The survey is slated to run until the end of March, but Hill said the deadline could be extended if necessary.
“It all depends on the amount of interest,” she said. “We can extend it as long as needed to collect data.”
