Residents of any community have thoughts about what it offers them, how it is governed and what they think could be done better.
That’s natural. Residents form such opinions after living in a community for a period of time.
But, not all residents share their opinions publicly, such as at a city council meeting or in a letter to the editor in a newspaper. That means valuable feedback is missed that could offer a new perspective, shed light on an issue that needs further examination or suggest improvements.
It would be a shame if residents didn’t take advantage of a new opportunity to make their voices heard in the community.
The Columbus Department of Community Development is currently working on setting priorities for its five-year plan. This is important because it influences how the city will spend federal community development funding.
For local residents, the good news is that the community development department wants to hear what residents think, and is offering an eight-question survey that can be taken quickly, easily and anonymously.
Residents can go online at surveymonkey.com/r/ColumbusConPlan to answer the questions, or obtain a paper version at the Columbus Department of Community Development at Columbus City Hall, 123 Washington St.
One of the questions asks about the greatest housing needs or issues facing the community. Respondents may choose from about a dozen answers, such as affordable rental housing, senior housing, emergency shelter, home ownership assistance and substance abuse facilities.
Another question asks about the greatest community and economic development needs facing the community. Respondents can choose from a list of answers, including child care centers, work force training, street/alley improvements, sewer improvements and small business loans.
The survey takes takes only a few minutes to complete, so it’s not burdensome.
For residents who want to be heard on matters involving the community, this is a good opportunity to provide input that can shape it. It’s worth taking the time to complete.
