May 2013 Project Connect Event Report

The Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative and a large group of dedicated volunteers coordinate Project Connect. Data Analyzed by Lewis Walker Institute, WMU Research Section

Introduction:
What is Project Connect? According to 2010 US Census data, over 50,000 people in Kalamazoo County live at or below the poverty level. Coupled with the increased cost of transportation, this created the need to provide a variety of essential human services in a group setting, at one location, and on one day. Project Connect (PC) is an annual event that provides over fifty human services at no cost to families and individuals living in poverty in Kalamazoo County. The Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative (KPRI) makes this event possible by collaborating with dozens of local service providers, such as the Department of Human Services and Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. We also enlist up to 100 volunteers from our community to provide assistance and information to participants, while respecting their dignity, and providing a hospitable environment. This alliance not only makes essential human services more accessible to people living in poverty, it also makes a significant difference in the lives of everyone who attends. Since our first Project Connect in 2009, we met the needs of approximately 10,000 Kalamazoo County residents living in poverty1. The History of Project Connect Originally named Project Homeless Connect (PHC), the first PC took place in San Francisco, CA, in October of 2004. Due to its success, the Federal Governments Interagency Council on Homelessness declared PHC a national best practice model. Today, over 200 cities in the United States, as well as Canada and Australia hold their version of PHC. The first PHC in Kalamazoo, MI took place in June of 2009. The Affordable Housing Partnership (AHP) hosted the event. Although the first PHC only served the needs of people living in homelessness, over 300 people attended. In May of 2010, KPRI joined forces with the AHP, and expanded the event to serve the needs of individuals and families living in poverty, as well as people living in homelessness in Kalamazoo County. At that time, PHC became Project Connect. Today, PC continues to meet the needs of people living in poverty in Kalamazoo County. May 2013 Project Connect Data Our May event served 723 Kalamazoo County residents. Below are highlights of participant data: 32% were homeless (including those who live with friends or family, at homeless shelters, and those who reside nowhere)

Data calculated by the Poverty Reduction Initiative.

49% currently rent a house or apartment 85% had a household income of $15,000 or less 88% percent lived within the City of Kalamazoo 74% percent were unemployed at the time of the event 68% had a female head of household 34% were over the age of fifty 53% were disabled 61% had a high school level education or less 55% were Caucasian 39% were African American

52 agencies were on-site for our May event, and provided services including: Haircuts Legal advice Medical tests (blood sugar/pressure tests, cholesterol testing, and vision and hearing screenings) Housing services Veterans services Head Start enrollment Educational services Library information A free meal, and more

Project Connect works: To educate the entire community about poverty in a collaborative way through the power of collaboration To enable agencies to reach numerous people in one day To enable service agencies to interact with individuals who may be missed in standard outreach practices To enable agencies to effectively coordinate and collaborate with other agencies

What is the Kalamazoo Poverty Reduction Initiative? Among other project and events aimed at reducing poverty in Kalamazoo County, KPRI is the lead organizer of PC. Established in 2003, KPRI is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to reduce poverty through collaboration, educational, and economic opportunity. We collaborate with neighborhood organizations, stakeholders, and private enterprises to develop programs that lead to long-term reduction in the poverty rate. We advocate for change that will strengthen our community and provide resources to community activists to help them achieve

their goals. We support local, state, and national legislative policies that improve the lives of people living in poverty. We are a source of knowledge and information analysis for the community, and we provide the information they need to succeed in their goals. Thank you to Shaghil Husain and the Lewis Walker Institute for their continued support for Project Connect and the statistical analysis that went into this report. Thanks also to our dedicated planning committee, including the following people: Pamela Burpee (Independent Consultant), Angela Anderson (Healthy Babies Healthy Start), Benjamin Moe (Catholic Charities), Cecilia Sebastiani (KRESA), Daryle Robbson (Family Health Center), Joe Schmitt (Catholic Diocese), Karen Rose (Gull Lake Community Church - Hands of God), Monica Poucher (KRESA), John Deisinger (AmeriCorps VISTA), Catrina Beeny (AmeriCorps VISTA), and Patrick Naswell (KPRI)

Survey Analysis:
The data collected from the Project Connect event on May 8, 2013 is below. We collected this data from participant intake surveys conducted by volunteers. 296 participants who attended the event served as heads of household and completed the survey. They brought 427 additional people with them bringing total attendance to 723 people (Table 13). Please see the basic data analysis in the frequency tables and pie charts. ( To be analyzed in details later)

Table 1. What is your age?

Age of the survey participant
Under 18 19 - 24 25-34 35-44 45-49 50-59 60 and up Total Cumulative Frequency 6 25 61 64 38 70 32 296 Percent 2.0 8.4 20.6 21.6 12.8 23.6 10.8 100.0 Valid Percent 2.0 8.4 20.6 21.6 12.8 23.6 10.8 100.0 Percent 2.0 10.5 31.1 52.7 65.5 89.2 100.0

Table 2. What is your residence?

Place of residence
Frequency Kalamazoo Within Kalamazoo County Outside Kalamazoo County Total 259 33 4 296 Percent 87.5 11.1 1.4 100.0 Valid Percent 87.5 11.1 1.4 100.0 Cumulative Percent 87.5 98.6 100.0

Table 3. Neighborhood respondents live in.

Neighborhood
Frequency Outside Kalamazoo Millwood Winchell West Main Hill Westnedge Hill Northside Oakwood Downtown Westwood Eastside Westside Arcadia Lakewood Southside Edison Stuart Vine Douglas Gull Road Other Total 32 12 5 3 2 43 6 21 6 34 13 1 10 8 23 2 16 4 5 50 296 Percent 10.8 4.1 1.7 1.0 .7 14.5 2.0 7.1 2.0 11.5 4.4 .3 3.4 2.7 7.8 .7 5.4 1.4 1.7 16.9 100.0 Valid Percent 10.8 4.1 1.7 1.0 .7 14.5 2.0 7.1 2.0 11.5 4.4 .3 3.4 2.7 7.8 .7 5.4 1.4 1.7 16.9 100.0 Cumulative Percent 10.8 14.9 16.6 17.6 18.2 32.8 34.8 41.9 43.9 55.4 59.8 60.1 63.5 66.2 74.0 74.7 80.1 81.4 83.1 100.0

Table 4. What is your gender identity?

Gender
Frequency Male Female Transgender Total 93 202 1 296 Percent 31.4 68.2 .3 100.0 Valid Percent 31.4 68.2 .3 100.0 Cumulative Percent 31.4 99.7 100.0

Table 5. What is your race?

Racial background
Frequency American Indian/Alaska Native Asian White Black or African American Total 13 5 163 115 296 Percent Valid Percent 4.4 1.7 55.1 38.9 100.0 4.4 1.7 55.1 38.9 100.0 Cumulative Percent 4.4 6.1 61.1 100.0

Table 6. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

Hispanic
Frequency Yes No Total 12 284 296 Percent 4.1 95.9 100.0 Valid Percent 4.1 95.9 100.0 Cumulative Percent 4.1 100.0

Table 7. Annual Income of Primary Wage earner

Annual Income of primary wage earner
$0-$10,000 $10,001-$15,000 $15.001-$20,000 $20,001-$30,000 $30,001-$40,000 $50,001 and Above Total Cumulative Frequency 205 46 24 11 8 2 296 Percent 69.3 15.5 8.1 3.7 2.7 .7 100.0 Valid Percent 69.3 15.5 8.1 3.7 2.7 .7 100.0 Percent 69.3 84.8 92.9 96.6 99.3 100.0

Table 8. Number of persons in the Household (currently living with you)

Number of persons
Frequency 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total 88 78 50 30 25 16 3 3 3 296 Percent 29.7 26.4 16.9 10.1 8.4 5.4 1.0 1.0 1.0 100.0 Valid Percent 29.7 26.4 16.9 10.1 8.4 5.4 1.0 1.0 1.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 29.7 56.1 73.0 83.1 91.6 97.0 98.0 99.0 100.0

Table 9. What is your housing situation?

Housing situation/place of residence
Rent house/Apt. Own house /Apt. Homeless Living with Family Living with Friends Homeless at Shelter Total Cumulative Frequency 144 58 15 31 9 39 296 Percent 48.6 19.6 5.1 10.5 3.0 13.2 100.0 Valid Percent 48.6 19.6 5.1 10.5 3.0 13.2 100.0 Percent 48.6 68.2 73.3 83.8 86.8 100.0

Table 10. What is your Education Level?

Educational level
Frequency Less than High School High School or GED Some College Two year College Degree 4 year College Degree Professional or Graduate Degree Total 60 121 69 26 16 4 296 Percent 20.3 40.9 23.3 8.8 5.4 1.4 100.0 Valid Percent 20.3 40.9 23.3 8.8 5.4 1.4 100.0 Cumulative Percent 20.3 61.1 84.5 93.2 98.6 100.0

Table 11. Do you have a Disability?

Disability
Frequency Yes No Total 158 138 296 Percent 53.4 46.6 100.0 Valid Percent 53.4 46.6 100.0 Cumulative Percent 53.4 100.0

Table 12. Are you Employed?

Employed
Frequency Yes No Retired Total 70 218 8 296 Percent 23.6 73.6 2.7 100.0 Valid Percent 23.6 73.6 2.7 100.0 Cumulative Percent 23.6 97.3 100.0

Table 13. How many persons from your household are here with you?
Additional persons attending with the respondents
0 One Two Three Four Six Seven Eight Nine and more Total Frequency 57 137 55 24 18 2 1 1 1 296 Percent 19.3 46.3 18.6 8.1 6.1 .7 .3 .3 .3 100.0 Valid Percent 19.3 46.3 18.6 8.1 6.1 .7 .3 .3 .3 100.0 Cumulative Percent 19.3 65.5 84.1 92.2 98.3 99.0 99.3 99.7 100.0

Total households in additions to respondents were at Project Connect: 427 Total number of persons attended Project Connect, May 8, 2013 296 + 427= 723