How was the assessment compiled?

The 2009 Community Assessment, "Greater Nashua Measures Up," was compiled using several techniques.

• Regional Household Survey: An extensive set of questions was posed to 500 area residents over the telephone in December 2007. Survey respondents came from a randomly selected sample representative of households from the 11 towns in the region.

• Human Services Provider Survey: Area health and human service agencies were asked to complete the community issues portion of the household survey. Sixty-one questionnaires were returned and analyzed separately from the household responders.

• Focus Groups: Five focus groups including two groups of service recipients, two groups of new immigrants, and area clergy contributed their thoughts and ideas to the assessment.

• Analysis of Data Developed by Others: Statistics collected from many sources were studied to help document local health and social trends. These include the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, the Bureau of the Census’ 2006 American Community Survey, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority’s Annual Residential Rental Cost Survey,and Greater Nashua Continuum of Care’s point-in-time count of the area’s homeless, as well as state and local government data on education, employment, crime, and health status.
  
  A 21-member Community Assessment Committee guided the assessment process from its inception. The committee would like to extend its appreciation to St. Joseph Hospital, Southern NH Medical Center, and United Way of Greater Nashua for supporting the assessment process. In addition, the committee would like to thank BAE Systems for printing assistance. The assessment could not have been completed without the support of all these organizations.

What is a healthy community?

A healthy community:

• Values growth and diversity of its population.
• Ensures that the basic human/physiologic needs are met.
• Fosters respect for oneself, each other and the community as a whole.
• Provides a safe, secure and stable environment for its residents.
• Cares for one another and the community as a whole.
• Supports education and personal growth along the entire spectrum of life.

Community Issues

(Note: percentages listed in all surveys reflect respondents' rating of an issue as a "major problem.")
Top 10 Issues Identified by Household Survey:

51% Affordable medical insurance
46% Affordable housing
45% Affordable medical care
42% Affordable medications
40% Affordable dental care
39% Affordable dental insurance
28% Affordable child care
28% Having enough money to meet everyday expenses
25% Illegal drug use by youth
23% Public transportation

Top 10 Issues Identified by Providers' Survey:

92% Affordable housing
89% Affordable medical insurance
84% Affordable dental insurance
82% Affordable dental care
79% Affordable medications
74% Affordable medical care
74% Affordable child care
61% Finding a job with medical benefits
56% Poverty
51% High levels of stress at home
51% Affordable legal services

Personal/Family Issues

Top 10 Issues Identified by Household Survey:

20% Affordable medical insurance
18% Affordable medical care
18% Affordable dental insurance
16% Affordable medications
16% Affordable dental care
13% Household budgeting
11% Affordable housing
11% Having enough money to meet everyday expenses
11% Finding a job with medical benefits
11% Job security

Summary of Findings

As also reported in the three assessments immediately preceding this one, providers ranked affordable housing as the Number One community issue. Household survey respondents ranked affordable housing as the second-greatest community concern. Health related issues-- affordable medical and dental insurance, and affordable medications, medical care, and dental care are also among the top concerns. Unemployment and basic needs issues are rising due to the faltering economy. Here are some highlights:

• Affordable housing. Despite lower housing prices ($256,000 median price in 2008, down from $279,900 in mid-2005), rents remain high. The median rental cost for a two-bedroom unit in Nashua during 2008 was $1,085 per month.
• Economy/basic needs. Data from 2-1-1 NH reveals that during the period of July through December 2008, 39% of Greater Nashua callers sought information about financial supports, including temporary financial assistance, help with utility payments, government programs, and emergency food.
• Health. Affordable medical insurance ranked as the top community and family concern in the household survey. Affordable dental insurance and dental care also ranked high in the household and provider surveys. Cancer and heart disease are leading causes of death..
• Population trends. In Hillsborough County, the 65+ age group is expected to grow at five times the rate of the general population over the next 20 years..

For more info, contact Ray Peterson with any questions at: 882-4011 or send email to:
ray@unitedwaynashua.org