A new human services survey shows that hygiene centers for the homeless, a teen center and low cost daycare are among the concerns of people in Ballard.

The Northwest Senior Activity Center, working on a $15,000 grant from the City of Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods, conducted the Ballard Needs Assessment Survey.

Over 143 questionnaires were sent out to churches, hospitals, social service agencies, food banks, daycare centers and other groups in Ballard, Crown Hill, Greenwood, Phinney, Blue Ridge and other areas bordering in the Northwest sector of the city.

A total of 53 surveys were returned at a rate of 37-percent. Churches decided not to participate. Without them on the mailing list, the return rate would have been 57-percent.

"Everyone wanted a human services directory," said Anne Riley, project manager and assistant director of the Northwest Senior Activity Center.

Fifty-one of the respondents said a directory would be useful. The Northwest Senior Activity Center may look for a grant to fund the printing of a directory that gives basic information on services available in the area.

Riley said agencies have already used some of the data collected. "Two groups have used facts and figures for grants," said Riley.

A consultant was hired to pull together all the facts from the responses.

Seven respondents indicated they serve over 100 homeless people each month. Another seven said that figure was 11 to 50 homeless and 18 said they served up to ten people.

Twenty-four percent said the homelessness is a very significant problem.

A percentage of respondents felt there were insufficient shelters in Ballard for women (38-percent), families (38-percent), men (33-percent) and domestic violence victims (33-percent).

Fifty-percent of those surveyed said Ballard needs a hygiene station for those living on the street and 75-percent said public restrooms were lacking.

A series of open-ended questions was asked. One of them was "If you could add ONE human service to Ballard, what would it be?"

The responses varied and included: mental health services, free animal clinic, homeless shelter, family advocate, employment agency, teen center, low-cost housing, mental health clubhouse, personalized senior-disabled transportation and infant/toddler childcare.

The idea of a hygiene station received the support of 50-percent of the respondents. Seventy five-percent liked the idea of public restrooms.

There were a number of recommendations from the survey, once the data was evaluated.

Starting conversations to engage and inform Ballard residents of the services already available in their area is one of them.

These conversations could be conducted by Ballard High School students, service organizations and other groups.

Ice cream socials, street parties and other activities could encourage people to mingle and talk to one another.

Another option, the survey results suggest is that the neighborhood newspaper provide regular profiles of organizations and the services they offer.

Riley put together a number of focus groups of volunteers, seniors, and people working with hunger programs, children and families. Each group had at least ten people who joined in a discussion.

On the topic of what "livable Ballard" means, the overwhelming response was "safety." Next was economic vitality in the form of jobs, affordable housing and access to affordable health care.

There was no clear answer to the question of where to put a hygiene station. The suggestions included near churches, high schools, the Ballard Food Bank, community centers, public restrooms and medical facilities.

In one focus group, members said a hygiene facility was not needed.

As far as a teen center is concerned, the majority felt it was a positive idea. It gives them a safe place of their own is the conclusion.

A hypothetical question was asked. If the focus groups were in charge of a human services budget, and some areas must face cutbacks, which areas would they not want to lose?

Respondents voted to keep the Ballard Food Bank even in the face of budget cuts. This was followed by senior services and transitional housing shelters.

How could Ballard be a more livable neighborhood?

The answers were more public/free parking, improved transportation (a Shilshole/Green Lake trolley, one-way streets and traffic circles) and making transportation affordable for all socioeconomic levels.

Focus groups were asked about the negative aspects of Ballard changing from a predominantly older Nordic community to a younger, more diverse one.

The most frequent answer was the loss of community identity/culture being a negative. The next was increased traffic. One group said Ballard was not catering to the more affluent.

Riley is planning to give a report on the survey at a future Ballard District Council meeting and at a Ballard Food Bank Board meeting. She can also do presentations for other groups on request.

The information gathered from the survey is for people to use. "We did it for the community and would like to see them use it. There's a lot of good information there," said Riley.

Contact Anne Riley at the Northwest Senior Activity Center if you are interested in seeing the survey or would like a presentation to your community group.

The telephone number is 297-0403. Visit ww.nwseniorcenter.org.