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Tukwila Community Input — Community Conversations <br />Pursuant to GMA, Tukwila residents were involved in the Comprehensive Plan update. Between January 10, 2014 <br />and February 21, 2014, Global to Local Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and Community Connectors' <br />representing the Latino, Somali, Eritrean, Burmese and Arabic - Speaking communities conducted a total of 194 <br />surveys of residents from these populations to gather community feedback regarding housing, business, food access <br />and service needs along the Tukwila International Blvd Corridor. The survey was also made available online. <br />On March 6" and March 8`", 2014, the city of Tukwila held Community <br />Conversation open houses to gather community feedback regarding <br />housing, business, food access, and service needs along the Tukwila <br />International Blvd Corridor. The March 6`" Conversation was held at <br />Showalter Middle School; the March 8" Conversation was held at the <br />Tukwila Community Center. <br />Common Themes and Variations Across Communities <br />The following section summarizes and compares the results of the surveys <br />collected one on one by the Community Connectors outreach effort and at <br />the open house on March 6`" and March 8" 2014. The complete survey and <br />corresponding tabulated survey responses can be found in Appendix A in the <br />Residential Neighborhoods Background Report. . <br />After reviewing the data collected, while there were some clear variances amongst different ethnic groups, and <br />between those surveyed and those attending the open houses several common themes surfaced regarding usage of <br />current services and the need for new ones. <br />Housing <br />Community Connectors Survey: The majority of the immigrant /refugee population residing within the boundaries of <br />the Tukwila city limits live in apartment buildings with 1/3 of the Latino and Somali communities either renting or <br />owning a home. Most of the populations also indicated being unhappy with their living situation indicated by the <br />responses of over 60% of Somali, Burmese and Eritreans. However, despite complaints regarding their living <br />conditions, over 50% the Latino population indicated being pleased with their current apartment or home. <br />When asked which things they would change if given the opportunity, the top two responses among all populations <br />was cost of housing and number of bedrooms. <br />2 The seven Community Connectors were current residents of Tukwila, with some of them residing in the city for over 10 years, and thus <br />possessing first -hand information on where to best conduct outreach with members of their population and ensure a balanced representation of <br />residents including youth, families, seniors as well as apartment residents and homeowners. <br />11 <br />