Strong & Vibrant Neighborhoods
Significance
Neighborhoods that support all communities and individuals through strong social networks, trust among neighbors, and the ability to work together to achieve common goals that improve the quality of life for everyone in the neighborhood.
Neighborhoods provide insight into resident’s daily life. Understanding neighborhood factors allows Washington an opportunity to develop area-specific plans to improve quality of life.
Strong Social Networks
Residential Mobility
Neighborhoods that have higher rates of turnover may experience decreased social cohesion and trust among neighbors. Residential instability may also indicate displacement, which can occur for a variety of reasons including cost of living and job relocation.
Social Support
Social support indicates the extent to which people feel supported by their networks and have someone who can care for them mentally/emotionally/physically if needed. Social support refers to the physical and emotional comfort and practical resources that we receive from family, friends, co-workers, and others. Strong social support can mediate the effects of stress and improve positive psychological strengths.
Neighborhood Cohesion
Social Cohesion
The measure of social cohesion is an indicator of neighbor trust. This measure includes questions about the degree to which respondents feel “people in this neighborhood can be trusted” and the likelihood that neighbors would intervene if children were skipping school, or spray-painting graffiti, as well as other questions related to information social control. Neighborhoods with high social cohesion have lower rates of violence and greater connectivity. Neighborhood social cohesion also influences participation in physical activity and is positively correlated with better physical and mental health.
Quality of Life
Resident satisfaction with quality of life provides insight into perception of the State as a good place to live, work, and play. Understanding how residents perceive their quality of life may provide insight into how well the State is doing in providing services. Differences in satisfaction with quality of life between residents may provide insight into how the State can work to better serve residents and improve neighborhood conditions.
Civic Vitality
Voter Registration
Participation in elections is a cornerstone to a strong democracy. In a country where access to voting has a long and tumultuous history of exclusion, it is important to monitor access to voting in the State. Voter registration provides insights into who is participating in local decision-making. This information will allow for more strategic outreach to underrepresented communities to help ensure they have a voice in the civic process.
Voter Turnout
Understanding differences in voter turnout can inform strategies to engage registered voters and inform the general public about voting participation. This measure may also indicate differences in turnout between election cycles and provide insight into how turnout relates to the issues on the ballot. Further, this measure may also help the State inform strategies for understanding barriers to voting.
Strong Social Networks
Neighborhood Cohesion
Civic Vitality