Neighbors United Neighborhood Association and Neighborhood Housing Service of New Orleans conducted a survey of the Freret and Milan area residents this past January. Residents and volunteers went door-to-door and surveyed 200 neighbors in the area bounded by Dryades, S. Claiborne, General Taylor and Jefferson Avenue. Together, we learned about the demographic information and satisfaction levels of the community, and determined action steps necessary to create a foundation for improvements.

The Resident Satisfaction Survey was designed by NU members and NHS staff with training expertise and templates provided by Success Measures. The entire process was based on participatory research methods, and over sixty neighbors were involved in development, implementation, and/or analysis of the survey and results.

What We Learned
• Over 85% of survey respondents said they were likely to stay in the neighborhood for at least two years.

• 92 % of survey respondents agree that residents here are friendly.

• 86% would recommend their neighborhood to anyone as a good place to live. The majority of respondents reported communicating regularly with their neighbors.

• About two thirds of the respondents have lived in the neighborhood since before Katrina.

• Approximately 60% of the respondents are homeowners and 40% renters.

• When asked to identify their race/ethnicity, 56% said Black or African American, 31% said White, 5% said Hispanic/Latino and 8% are other.

• When asked what they liked least about the neighborhood, the area of greatest concern by a large margin was the “number of vacant or run-down buildings.”

When asked what activities Neighbors United Neighborhood Association should prioritize the top choices were 1) Crime prevention and safety improvements and 2) Advocacy for redevelopment of blighted and abandoned housing.

Respondents were also asked to select the activities and programs in which their family would most likely participate at the Freret Neighborhood Center. The top choices reflected current programs and others in the development: health/wellness/fitness/sports; computer center; family/social events; senior programs; and youth programs.

At a preliminary meeting in March, residents met and analyzed the data to determine action steps. If you would like to get involved, make comments, ask questions, or get a copy of the complete survey results, please contact us.

* Freret Neighborhood Center at 373-6406 or kimberlyvanwagner@nhsnola.org

* Neighbors United at neighborsunited@bellsouth.net
http://freretneighborsunited.com.

Special thanks to everyone who participated in the Survey Project, especially: all the residents who gave of their time, and Councilwoman Stacy Head, who surveyed with us; the students of Monterrey Institute for International Studies, Middlebury College, and Bronx Community College who worked tirelessly to help us; Megan Bronson and LSUHSC - NO School of Public Health Epidemiology Data Center; and the Success Measures Program of NeighborWorks America.