DRAFT
.
Richmond, CA | Community Needs Assessment
Using the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
to Meet our Highest Needs
Image Source: Balazs Gardi/The Guardian
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2
DRAFT
DRAFT
2 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment 2 | HR&A Advisors
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Impacted Populations 10
Engagement Process 23
Community Needs 33
Next Steps 49
DRAFT
3 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment 3 | HR&A Advisors
INTRODUCTION
01 3
| HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment DRAFTImage Source: Balazs Gardi/The Guardian
DRAFT
4 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment This draft Community Needs Assessment provides a summary of work completed to date to develop Richmond’s ARPA Strategic Investment Plan.
INTRODUCTION
LISTENING TOUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTAPRIL
JUNE
AUGUST
NOVEMBER
DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS
ARPA INVESTMENT PLAN
The City of Richmond hired a team including HR&A
Advisors and Contigo Partners to develop a Community
Needs Assessment to shape the City’s COVID-19 recovery
efforts. The Community Needs Assessment provides a
summary of the findings of an inclusive community
listening tour and additional needs analysis. It will inform the development of the ARPA Strategic Investment Plan.
This draft briefing book provides a visual summary of
work completed and the findings of the Community
Needs Assessment. It provides information including:
• An overview of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
• A description of the Strategic Investment Planning
process and of engagement activities undertaken in
the community listening tour
• A description of the communities in Richmond that
have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
• An overview of cross-cutting themes that emerged
from the listening tour and additional analysis and
which will underpin recommended uses of ARPA funds
• A summary of the next steps for this project.
DRAFT
5 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The Community Needs Assessment will inform the City’s use of its ARPA funds to support recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.
INTRODUCTION
Through the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the federal government provided state, tribal and local governments with much needed assistance to help offset the negative impacts of COVID-19. As part of the $1.9 trillion ARPA relief package, the City of Richmond received an allocation of $27.7 million.
The City of Richmond would like to understand how COVID-19 has impacted Richmond businesses and residents and work with the community to identify priorities for the allocation of its ARPA funds. HR&A Advisors and Contigo Partners conducted a Community Needs Assessment, including a community listening tour, to help the City better understand the impacts of COVID-19 and remaining recovery needs. The goal for the community listening tour was to assess community needs and priorities for the use of ARPA funds by facilitating an inclusive and equitable process, reaching a representative range of Richmond residents, businesses, and other stakeholders, including new voices, and empowering community members by providing opportunities for them to share their experiences and perspectives about community needs.
The Community Needs Assessment will inform the development of a plan for the strategic investment of ARPA funds in Richmond, in accordance with ARPA requirements.
SUITABLE USES OF
ARPA FUNDS
COMMUNITY NEEDS
AND PRIORITIES
Identify
alignment
DRAFT
6 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The American Rescue Plan Act provides federal funding to cities and counties to support COVID-19 recovery efforts.
INTRODUCTION
The American Rescue Plan Act, which was passed in March 2021, provides Federal funding for cities and states address COVID-19 recovery needs, with a focus on supporting the development of strong and equitable communities.
ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and must be expended by December 31, 2026.
While not an explicit requirement of the program, ARPA is a one-time source of funding, and therefore the most suitable uses of ARPA funds will be investment in projects or programs that do not require ongoing funding.
ARPA legislation outlines four broad categories of eligible uses for ARPA funds:
REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE
RESPONDING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19
PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS
MAKING INVESTMENTS IN WATER, SEWER, AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE DRAFT
7 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment ARPA legislation outlines four broad categories of eligible uses for ARPA funds.
INTRODUCTION
Responding to public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 | This can be a program or service related to identified impacts and designed to benefit impacted groups. Subcategories include:
• Public health, including COVID-19 mitigation and prevention, assistance with medical expenses, behavioral and mental health treatment, and preventing or responding to violence.
• Assistance to households, including food assistance, emergency housing, internet access or digital literacy, burials, home repair or weatherization, paid leave, workforce development services, financial services, affordable housing development, education, childcare, and direct cash assistance.
• Assistance to small businesses, including loans, grants, and technical assistance and other services. • Assistance to nonprofits, including loans, grants, or technical assistance and other services. • Aid to impacted industries, including financial support for payroll, and support for the maintenance and operations of existing facilities, technical assistance or other services, and COVID-19 mitigation or prevention. • Public sector capacity, including increased capacity for public safety, public health, and human services staff; rehiring of public sector staff or providing other staff retention; and effective service delivery including program evaluation, community outreach, investments in technology, and costs related to COVID-19 response. • Assistance to disproportionately impacted households, businesses, and communities, such as services to address health disparities, vouchers to help households relocate to neighborhoods with higher economic opportunity, investments in neighborhoods to promote improved health outcomes, remediation and removal of hazardous materials, improvements to vacant and abandoned properties, services or investments to address educational disparities, support for start-ups or expanding small businesses, and funding for rehabilitation or improvements to commercial properties.
Please visit the Department of the Treasury’s page for more information on Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds DRAFT
8 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The Final Rule from the Department of the Treasury outlines four broad categories of eligible uses for ARPA funds.
INTRODUCTION
Replacing lost public sector revenue | To assist cities, the federal government allowed cities to take a maximum allowance of up to $10 million, allowing recipients to select between a standard amount of revenue loss or calculate revenue loss using the Treasury’s formula, which compares actual revenue to a counterfactual trend. Funds can be used for any typical government services, including general administrative staff, services, and facilities, public safety services, road maintenance, infrastructure, and environmental remediation. The City of Richmond elected to calculate its revenue loss based on the Treasury formula and saw a 12.4% reduction in revenue, or $34.9K, which is otherwise greater than the City’s allocation.
Premium pay for eligible workers | Cities can provide premium pay up to $13 per hour for eligible workers performing essential work, including:
• Health care, public health, mental health, social services, family or childcare, emergency response providers, medical testing, pharmacy, and other health and social services
• Grocery stores, restaurants, food production, and delivery • Sanitation, maintenance, laundry, elections, and other critical services • Biomedical research
• Transportation and warehousing
• Hotel and commercial lodging facilities used for COVID-19 mitigation and containment Investments in Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure | Cities can make investments to improve specific categories of infrastructure, including broadband, drinking water systems, and wastewater and sewer systems. This helps address the consequences of deferred maintenance in drinking water systems, treatment of sewage and stormwater, and some resiliency-focused projects such as green infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, and water conservation. Broadband infrastructure investments are intended to address areas without access to reliable, affordable broadband, add enrolment in a low-income subsidy program, and modernize cybersecutiry.
Please visit the Department of the Treasury’s page for more information on Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds DRAFT
9 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Richmond received an allocation of $27.7M in ARPA funds and has already allocated approximately $10.5M, leaving $17.2M in uncommitted funds.
INTRODUCTION
Use of Funds
ARPA is a one-time source of funding, and therefore the most suitable use of ARPA funds is investment in projects or programs that do not require ongoing funding. Examples of suitable projects include:
• Temporary programs that address short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
• One-time capital investments in property or infrastructure • Spending to conduct studies or pilot programs
• Seed funding for loan funds
• Other projects that do not require hiring new permanent staff or ongoing commitment of funds
ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and
expended by December 31, 2026. Therefore, Richmond should consider both:
• Short-term recovery, including providing immediate relief to disproportionately impacted individuals
• Long-term stability, including any long-term community needs Richmond can address now based on funding
availability
$27.7M
Richmond’s local ARPA funding award
$17.2M
To be allocated based on identified community needs
$10.5M
Already committed funds
DRAFT
10 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment 10 | HR&A Advisors
IMPACTED
POPULATIONS
02 10
| HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs
Assessment
DRAFTImage Source: The Richmond Standard
DRAFT
11 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
Nationally, data and news stories indicate that particular populations were likely to be disproportionately impacted during the pandemic. As such, ARPA includes specific provisions to provide assistance to those households, businesses, and communities.
US Treasury Definition of Disproportionate Impacts
Disproportionately impacted households are those that
experienced a disproportionate, or meaningfully more
severe, impact from the pandemic. Pre-existing disparities in health and economic outcomes magnified the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on certain households and communities. Many different geographic, income-based, or poverty-based presumptions could be used to designate disproportionately impacted populations. For example, if a household qualifies for programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Section 8 Vouchers, and Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs, the household is also recognized as
disproportionately impacted.
The interim final rule for ARPA funds provided significant flexibility for recipients to determine which households, populations, communities, or small businesses have been impacted and/or disproportionately impacted by the
pandemic and to identify appropriate responses.
Community Demographics
Based on national data trends, key demographic components that were likely to impact an individual or household’s experience during the pandemic include:
• Neighborhood: dense, urban areas saw higher transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
• Race and ethnicity: ongoing and historic systemic barriers for specific populations, including redlining, restrictions from job opportunities, reduced opportunities to build generational wealth, and more, meant that some populations were more likely to be physically and economically impacted by the pandemic.
• Language and immigration status: this community often was unable to access key resources, including stimulus checks.
• Poverty and housing status: without stable resources, it became more difficult for many to afford basic necessities, including rent payments. • Age: both younger and older adults particularly struggled with the social isolation of the pandemic.
• Education level: individuals without a high school diploma, including those in service industries, were more likely to be laid off during the initial lockdown, and had less transferrable skills so continue to struggle to find new work.
DRAFT
12 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
Demographic analysis was conducted to identify potential populations that faced disproportionate impacts in Richmond for focused outreach and conversations.
Richmond Focus Populations
Based on this data, and in collaboration with the City and other stakeholders, we identified organizations serving the following populations/stakeholder groups to meet with during focused conversations and share additional outreach with:
• Latinx/Spanish speaking residents
• Black residents
• Asian and Pacific Islander residents
• Disabled residents
• Immigrants
• Community service providers (services range in type, but include health and educational organizations)
• Homeless individuals
• Renters and housing advocacy organizations
• Youth
• Seniors
• Local businesses, particularly in retail and hospitality • Local workforce, including reentry population
Community Demographics
To identify the same demographic components in Richmond, demographic research questions included:
• Neighborhood: Which areas of Richmond may have been more dangerous for residents, due to density proximity to one another? • Race and ethnicity: Which racial and ethnic communities faced additional barriers during the pandemic, and how did those barriers impact them? • Language and immigration status: Which people had a harder time accessing resources during the pandemic due to communication barriers or disconnect from government? What resources were they able to use, and what should be done to help them now?
• Poverty and housing status: How did income and housing insecurity impact Richmond residents during the pandemic? What do they need to have more housing security?
• Age: How did the pandemic impact different age groups in Richmond, from students to older adults?
• Education level: As Richmond residents continue their work or find new work, how does their education level impact their ability to earn a living? What do business owners need support with?
DRAFT
13 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Denser, more urban areas of Richmond had higher rates of COVID-19 positivity, though contraction did not vary significantly from other cities throughout Contra Costa County.
CURRENT COVID-19
CASES INCONTRA-
COSTA COUNTY
Current testing positivity rate
and cases in the last 7 days
(September 7-14, 2022).
Census tracts in darker colors
have higher testing positivity
rates.
Source: Contra Costa Health Services
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
14 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Populations that face structural racism are nationally overrepresented among populations that contracted COVID-19, more likely to work in essential services with increased exposure, and may have language barriers that limit access to services and information.
RICHMOND POPULATIONS FACING STRUCTURAL RACISM
Concentration of
Black or African
American Residents
Concentration of
Asian Residents
Concentration of
Hispanic Residents
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
20K residents (18% of the
population of Richmond)
48K residents (44% of the
population of Richmond)
17K residents (15% of the
population of Richmond)
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
15 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Language Spoken At Home in Richmond
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
Speak Only English (46%) Speak a Language Other Than English (54%) 30%
12%
4%
2%
Spanish
Asian And Pacific Island Languages
Other Indo-European Languages
Other Languages
Household Language of Households with Limited
English Speaking Status in Richmond
Over half of Richmond residents speak a language other than English at home, which can increase barriers to accessing information and services during the pandemic, impacting residents’ health, safety, and economic recovery.
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
16 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
Nativity by Citizenship Status in Richmond
34%
15%
11%
7%
6%
6%
4%
4%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
0%
0%
Mexico
El Salvador
South Eastern Asia
South Central Asia
China
Other Central America (1)
Africa
Nicaragua
Brazil
Other South America (2)
Hong Kong
Europe
Other Eastern Asia (3)
Taiwan
Western Asia
Oceania
Northern America
Caribbean
Place of Birth for Foreign-Born Population in Richmond
Aggregation excludes country-specific populations with statistical significance over 2%:
(1) Aggregation excludes Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua (2) Aggregation excludes Brazil
(3) Aggregation excludes China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
For the 35% of Richmond residents born in another country, many may have struggled while disconnected from their family and international support networks. The 19% of Richmond residents that do not hold citizenship status faced additional insecurities during the pandemic, including being blocked from financial support like stimulus checks.
Native Born Population (65.5%) Foreign Born Population (34.5%)
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
17 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment People living in poverty, concentrated in
the middle of Richmond, were more
vulnerable to food insecurity, digital
inequities, and housing insecurity and
potential evictions.
Ratio of Income to Poverty Level, where families
under 1.00 are considered in poverty, 1.00 to
1.99 are considered struggling, and over 2.00
are not at risk of poverty*
PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
15K residents, or 14% of the
population of Richmond
21K residents, or 19% of the
population of Richmond
72K residents, or 67% of the
population of Richmond
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
*For more information on how the US Census Bureau measures poverty, please visit the guidance data for poverty data users website.
DRAFT
18 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
CONCENTRATION OF RENTERS
Renters during the pandemic may have also been
experiencing un- or under-employment, thus placing
them at risk of missing monthly payments in an
already insecure housing environment. In Richmond,
renters are far more likely to be Black or Hispanic.
Total Renters: 18K units, or 47% of all
occupied housing units in Richmond
71%
60%
44% 41%
29%
40%
56% 59%
Asian White Hispanic Black or
African
American
Owner Renter
HOUSING TENURE BY RACE
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
19 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The impact to youth, including remote learning, social isolation, and familial deaths, created dozens of stressors that their developing brains have a harder time adapting to. Meanwhile, older adult populations were cut off from family and social networks and may have had a harder time accessing online resources due to digital illiteracy.
Concentration of
Residents Under 18
Concentration of
Residents Over 65
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
YOUTH POPULATIONS OLDER ADULT POPULATIONS
24K residents, or 22% of the
population of Richmond
15K residents, or 14% of the
population of Richmond
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
20 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Individuals with disabilities may have had a more difficult time maintaining their health throughout the pandemic, as existing conditions require support that may have been reduced or eliminated due to social distancing. Nationally, systemic racism and historical inequities in health care access mean that Black residents are far more likely to have a disability today, a trend seen clearly in Richmond.
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
8%
20%
12%
11% 11%
10%
5% 4%
Hispanic or
Latino
Black or
African
American
White Native
Hawaiian
And Other
Pacific
Islander
Two or
More
Races
Asian Other Race American
Indian And
Alaska
Native
Disability Status by Race and Ethnicity in Richmond
46%
40%
39%
11%
3%
2%
With An Independent Living Difficulty
With An Ambulatory Difficulty
With A Cognitive Difficulty
With A Self-Care Difficulty
With A Hearing Difficulty
With A Vision Difficulty
Share of Population with Disabilities in
Richmond
DRAFT
21 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A HIGH
SCHOOL DIPLOMA
Many individuals without a high
school diploma were employed in
industries like restaurants, retail, and
hospitality, or working in the gig
economy. These industries were most
impacted by the pandemic, whether
facing job loss or increased exposure.
17K residents, or 22% of the
population 25 and over in Richmond
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
DRAFT
22 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment
IMPACTED POPULATIONS
Through the demographic analysis, the consulting team was able to better define the populations to engage with during the listening tour in targeted conversations.
Latinx/Spanish speaking residents: 44% of Richmond’s population is Hispanic, with over 11,000 households primarily speaking Spanish in the home.
This community may have faced increased difficulty accessing resources through local, state, or federal resources, and focus groups should seek to understand what support is needed to reduce these barriers. Additionally, through the engagement process, it is essential to provide both English and Spanish options for discussion, surveys, and feedback opportunities.
Black residents: Richmond includes roughly 20,000 Black residents, or 18% of the population. Focus groups should reach out to these communities to understand how their lived experiences mirror national systemic inequities, including preexisting health conditions, job opportunities, housing insecurity, and other barriers that are blocking their paths to an equitable recovery.
Asian and Pacific Islander residents: The 15% of Richmond residents that are Asian may have had difficulty overcoming language and cultural barriers to access resources during the pandemic. The listening tour should aim to understand what resources these communities felt blocked from and what they need to stabilize and recover socially and economically.
Disabled residents: Richmond has a large share of residents that have difficulty with independent living, ambulatory difficulty, and cognitive difficulty, which relates to mental health needs. Focus groups should seek to understand what services these populations could not use during the pandemic, and what they need to recover moving forward. In particular, outreach should focus on Black residents, who are disproportionately likely to have a disability in Richmond.
Renters and housing advocacy organizations: Richmond has a relatively high concentration of renters as compared to surrounding cities. Renters had less housing security and more cost burden during the pandemic, and in Richmond, this disproportionately impacted Black and Hispanic residents. Focus groups should include residents from these communities to hear about particular stressors, including evictions or trouble accessing rent relief.
Youth and seniors: Youth and senior populations frequently felt the impact of social isolation most acutely during the pandemic. Focus groups should include individuals from both of these demographics across racial and ethnic groups to hear about their support networks, thus better understanding social resilience across Richmond and the success of outreach efforts through schools and other organizations.
DRAFT
23 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment 23 | HR&A Advisors
ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS
03 23
| HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Image Source: Evelio Contreras/CNN
DRAFT
24 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment HR&A and Contigo led a community listening tour to provide insight for City leadership to the impacts of the pandemic and priorities for ARPA investments.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
What have been the impacts of COVID-19 on
Richmond, its residents, and its businesses?
• How has the city been impacted? Its
households, businesses?
• How has it impacted participants
personally (immediate and long-term
impacts)?
• Which households and businesses were
most impacted?
• How and where were impacts felt most
strongly?
• What have the lasting impacts to the
economy been?
• Who was or is most vulnerable to
impacts?
What is the status of recovery?
• What is the perception or understanding
of the City’s recovery efforts to date?
• What should the City be continuing to do
to address COVID-19 impacts?
• Where have people gone for information
or assistance with COVID-19 impacts?
What types of assistance have they
received?
• What services or recovery assistance is
needed but not available?
How should the City prioritize and allocate ARPA
funds?
• What types of expenditures (revenue
replacement, economic recovery, public
health, water and broadband
infrastructure, premium pay for essential
workers) should the City prioritize, and
how?
• Within those types of expenditures, what
projects or investments are the greatest
priority or address the greatest need?
• What can private industry and
households do to help to Richmond
recover?
DRAFT
25 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The consultant team connected with a broad and inclusive range of stakeholders through a robust outreach and engagement process described in the following pages.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
COMMUNITY
SCAN
The team assessed the
existing landscape to find
partners and paths to
connection.
PUBLIC
SURVEY
A bilingual online
questionnaire gathered
broad input from the diverse
Richmond community.
FOCUS
GROUPS
Focus groups
allowed targeted
engagement with impacted
residents, who were
compensated for their time.
PUBLIC
MEETINGS
Public meetings connect with
a broad range of community
members and help share
information.
LISTENING TOUR
Throughout the engagement process, outreach focused
on reaching diverse residents, businesses,
community serving organizations and other key
stakeholder groups to gather broad meaningful input to
inform the City’s COVID-19 recovery efforts and
investments. In particular, efforts focused on reaching community members that may not participate in
traditional engagement, including attending large format public meetings, but have been most impacted by the
economic and health impacts of the pandemic.
The key goals of the outreach program were to:
1. Empower community members by providing
opportunities for them to share their “voices” and
perspectives about community needs
2. Create working partnerships with community
groups, community-serving organizations and
stakeholders that engender trust and collaboration
3. Maintain transparent and productive two-way
communications program that exceeds minimum
public participation requirements
DRAFT
26 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The community scan enabled the consulting team to collaborate with community organizations to identify and reach target populations.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
COMMUNITY
SCAN
Based on these studies, and bolstered by other experts in engagement, a successful and inclusive engagement process includes:
• A diverse sample of residents, including a diverse range of incomes, ages, and racial and ethnic backgrounds, with a focus on identifying and reaching those most impacted by COVID-19. • Vulnerable or hard-to-reach populations, including veterans, disabled individuals, the unhoused, and undocumented, or organizations that provide services to these populations. • Individuals or organizations that have not previously been engaged in efforts related to ARPA or other community needs. • Business owners and property owners in Richmond, as well as residents and community service providers. • Residents from throughout the city.
Community-based organizations have conducted many important previous outreach efforts both prior to and following the pandemic. The consulting team began by gathering data and existing documentation from earlier outreach efforts to understand local best practices for successful engagement and avoid duplication of research, which can become tiring for residents. This community scan created goals for what engagement should look like for this project.
DRAFT
27 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The focus groups and public community meetings brought a diverse group of community members together to discuss their individual and collective experience during the pandemic, in addition to their vision for equitably spending ARPA dollars.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
Discussion Focus Discussion Questions
INDIVIDUAL
Understanding
Personal
Priorities
• Prior to March 2020, what were three meaningful personal concerns/challenges you felt needed to be addressed in your life?
• Over the past two years a lot has shifted for people personally and for our community, if you think about your personal concerns and challenges during the pandemic, did they change from those prior to the pandemic? • Looking ahead to 2022 and 2023, what personal concerns and challenges do you anticipate?
COLLECTIVE
Understanding
Community
Connections
• Describe how you and/or people you know in your community accessed information to address personal or business concerns and challenges during the pandemic? • Describe how you and/or people you know in your community accessed resources to address personal or business concerns and challenges during the pandemic. • Was there a specific pain point that you consistently wished could be addressed by the City of Richmond?
RESOURCES
Understanding
Access
• Was there a specific success or helpful resources that you believe should be celebrated and/or continued by the City of Richmond.
• As you think about all of your interactions connected to the City of Richmond (people and systems) during the pandemic, what descriptive words come to mind? Share an example that helps us understand why you chose those words.
VISION
Understanding
Unique and
Shared Priorities
• When we are successful equitably investing ARPA funds in the Richmond community what does that look like and feel like?
• COVID recovery funds can be used to assist people and the community in a variety of ways, What are your top three needs as you and your community continue to recover from impacts of the pandemic?
Outreach
The project used many outreach strategies to reach the
widest group of people and encourage them to
participate in the project in whatever ways possible
(through the survey, in public meetings, and in targeted focus groups).
Public outreach included promoting meetings on KCRT
Television, going door to door to local businesses on
23rd street, sending email blasts to community-based
organizations and government departments, Facebook
and Instagram advertising, promotion at community
events, and website with updates and survey
participation. In addition, a group of students at
Richmond High School conducted survey and business
outreach through the Youth Plan, Learn, Act Now (Y-
PLAN) program.
In addition, the consultant team used targeted outreach to bring together focus groups of various organizations that serve impacted organizations, described in further detail on the following page.
Facilitation Agenda
DRAFT
28 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The public survey was designed to understand how Richmond residents and businesses were impacted by COVID, as well as how they would like to allocate ARPA funding.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
Target: Receive at least 500 total survey
responses, aiming for a near representative
sample of Richmond residents in terms of
age, race/ethnicity, income, and geography.
Result: 210 survey responses
PUBLIC
SURVEY
LISTENING TOUR
7%
7%
12%
49%
24%
0.01%
14%
17%
18%
41%
Native American or Alaskan Native
AAPI
Black American
White
Hispanic/Latinx
PUBLIC SURVEY DEMOGRAPHICS
Share of Population (2020 Census) Share of Survey Respondents The survey results were analyzed with the understanding that respondents do not mirror the diversity of the Richmond community in terms of race/ethnicity, income, and age. Thus, the data collected through the public survey is used to characterize and pull additional insight into the Community Needs Assessment, but not determine most findings. Additional survey results can be found in the appendix.
DRAFT
29 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Survey participants prioritized nearly equal support for investment in neighborhoods and infrastructure, local businesses, and families.
BUSINESSES: Help local
businesses and
entrepreneurs recover
from COVID impacts, 32%
PEOPLE: Help residents with personal and family
because of COVID impacts, 36%
INFRASTRUCTURE: Help rebuild
local streets and parks, and
improve broadband and sewer
systems, 32%
If you had $1,000 to invest in the City of Richmond, how would you divide up the spending among the areas below?
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
DRAFT
30 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment When asked about the economic impacts of the pandemic, most survey respondents indicated that direct cash assistance to businesses would best provide the support their industry needs for long-term sustainability.
42 25
21 13
9 12
19 30
27 24
12 12
16 19
29 19
23 20
Direct cash assistance to
businesses
Reimbursement of COVID
related expenses
Technical assistance to
businesses and impacted
industries
Improved access to
broadband internet
Improvements to water and
sewer infrastructure
Improvements to the area
where my business is located
What support would most help the long-term vitality and resilience of your industry? Please choose and rank your top three options.
# 1 # 2 # 3
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
DRAFT
31 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Target: Speak with at least 100
community members from target
populations.
Result: 126 community members from
a range of target populations engaged
through focus groups
The consulting team directly engaged underrepresented voices through small facilitated focus groups hosted in partnership with community organizations.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
Target Population Attendees
Black residents and Youth 16
Community service providers 16
Latinx/Spanish speaking residents, and Immigrant Community 11 Local workforce, including reentry population 12
Black residents and Youth 8
Community service providers, Youth 5
Disabled Residents 18
Youth, Seniors, Asian Residents, Immigrants 17
Local Business/Retail and Hospitality 7
Seniors; Asian American and Pacific Islander Community 12 Total Number of Participants 126
FOCUS
GROUPS
LISTENING TOUR The consulting team reached out to community-based organizations that served the individuals noted in the “Impacted Populations” section of this report in order to directly reach those who had been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. After an organization was contacted, organizational leaders helped coordinate scheduling, invitations, and any special accommodations (e.g., technology, translation) to ensure a large and representative group of participants could join and participate fully. Nationally, members of these community groups may also be unlikely to attend traditional, public community meetings due to barriers or perceived barriers with participating or having their voices heard; thus, focus groups helped individuals to share their thoughts and center the conversation on that community’s unique and shared lived experiences.
DRAFT
32 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Two open community meetings were hosted for community members to share ideas and priorities for ARPA spending.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
Target: Host 3 virtual community
meetings in both English and Spanish
Result: 2 community meetings hosted to-
date with over 150 attendees to-date. A
third will be held to discuss the findings of
the Community Needs Assessment and
initial Strategic Investment Plan
PUBLIC
MEETINGS
LISTENING TOUR
Public meetings created opportunities to hear from individuals throughout the community, highlighting experiences both specific to population groups and shared throughout Richmond. Participants were able to ask questions about the community engagement process and overall community needs assessment methodology. Then, transitioning to discussion, all participants were invited to answer the questions previously listed and engage in a dialogue by speaking up during the meetings and/or adding thoughts live in the virtual chat box. The dialogue during both meetings was robust, with representative participants from community-based organizations, residents, workers and business owners, racial and ethnic communities, and other communities. Spanish translation services were available during the meeting, with an additional survey shared following the meeting for participants to add any thoughts that did not fit within the 60 to 90 minute meetings.
DRAFT
33 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment 33 | HR&A Advisors
COMMUNITY
NEEDS
04 33
| HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment DRAFTImage Source: Balazs Gardi/The Guardian
DRAFT
34 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The community listening tour and additional analysis identified five cross-cutting themes of community need with implications for Richmond’s recovery priorities.
COMMUNITY NEEDS
OUR JOBS AND BUSINESSES
Economic insecurity is at the root of Richmond resident’s struggles, as without sufficient and sustainable income, people struggle to pay rent, afford medical care, and more. To make it through the pandemic, local small businesses needed a range of technical, economic, and social support that many felt unable to access, including difficulties accessing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
OUR HEALTH
More people than ever sought mental health services as a result of the pandemic, including disconnected youth, overburdened parents, and isolated older adults. For some, this was their first time seeking mental health services, and they found a lack of culturally-competent and accessible mental health service providers.
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
Rent burden has been high in Richmond since even before the pandemic and was made worse as the pandemic disrupted workers’ ability to earn income. Housing insecurity is more pressing than ever, and many community members prioritized tenant assistance and rental assistance programs as their highest need.
OUR FAMILIES
Communities that struggle with accessing information often cannot overcome the barriers necessary to understand public announcements and connect with services. Access to broadband internet, technology and computer literacy further compounded issues of service access, particularly for youth and older adults.
OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
Richmond residents rely on their churches, neighborhoods, and community organizations to stay socially and economically connected, and need events to return safely and quickly. To do so, the City can increase support for nonprofit organizations already leading this work locally.
DRAFT
35 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Small business owners shared difficulties accessing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, particularly businesses without relationships with banks.
OUR JOBS AND BUSINESSES
Businesses in Richmond received nearly $240M in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between April 2020 and May 2021. Of the roughly 3,000 loans distributed in Richmond, 75% were for amounts smaller than $30K. However, Retail, Health Care, Arts and Recreation, and other hard-hit industries received relatively low volume of PPP loans as compared to their pandemic employment losses. Of the Richmond
businesses that did receive PPP loans, the loan amount per job was relatively consistent regardless of the business size.
A San Francisco Chronicle analysis of census tracts throughout the Bay Area found that businesses located in lower income and communities of color were less likely to receive PPP loans than more affluent areas. During the listening tour, Black- and Brown-led businesses shared that having
relationships with banks was a top factor in securing PPP loans. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Construction
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
All Other Industries
Profes. and Tech. Svcs.
Admin. and Support Svcs.
Other Services
Health Care and Social Asst.
Wholesale Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Hospitality
Arts and Recreation
Pandemic Job Losses in Richmond and PPP Loan Volume by
Industry in Richmond
PPP Loan Amount Pandemic Job Losses
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, San Francisco Chronicle; Sources: BLS LAUS, BLS CES, EMSI Industry Tables Members of the API community shared that first-generation children are used as interpreters and advocates for accessing government information and services, but small businesses who rely on their children were not able to access government loans because their child interpreters do not have the skills and financial competency needed to submit loan applications.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
DRAFT
36 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Richmond residents that lost work during the pandemic have faced challenges in finding new job opportunities; those with barriers to employment have particularly struggled.
OUR JOBS AND BUSINESSES
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large share of Richmond residents worked in sectors such as restaurants and
hospitality, which faced extreme disruption due to
mandatory stay-at-home regulations and social distancing. As a result, many workers either saw their hours reduced, were let go, or saw their businesses close entirely.
Though the Citywide unemployment rate has returned to
pre-pandemic levels, populations with barriers to
employment struggle to find new work – for example,
communities with limited English proficiency have struggled to find employment, while individuals with a criminal record have a harder time finding work opportunities that welcome them. For other communities, social distancing regulations cut them off from their networks and they couldn’t find new work. For example, Hispanic residents shared that they find many jobs through informal conversations with their family and
community; once this communication channel was closed, they struggled connecting to work opportunities. During a focus group with Black and Latinx youth connected to the Office of Neighborhood Safety, attendees discussed their lack of job security both currently and into the future. They shared that workforce training and other opportunities are important to lead to more stable employment, which is critical for overall long-term stability. One participant said this could look like a transition from hourly to salaried employment.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
4%
18%
3.7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
2020 2021 2022
City of Richmond Unemployment Rate Since March 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DRAFT
37 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment To make it through the pandemic, local small businesses needed a range of technical, economic, and social support that many felt unable to access.
OUR JOBS AND BUSINESSES
Small business owners shared that they loved having their businesses in the City of Richmond, but encountered many challenges doing business here. There was a shared sentiment across participants that the City was not sufficiently supportive of small businesses. However, Richmond has a strong
ecosystem of nonprofit organizations that provide
important services to the small business community
particularly during the pandemic. Nonprofits were able to provide services like business owner outreach, sharing materials and information, and shop local campaigns, including CoBiz, Richmond Main Street Initiative and the Renaissance Center.
Many perceived these organizations, not the City, as the most effective and supportive institutions during the pandemic.
Business owners shared a strong call for more accountability and access to information from the City. Businesses during the pandemic noted their need for a range of technical
assistance to access PPP loans, formalize their structure and bookkeeping, and also to transition businesses to online business platforms.
The City’s Short-Term Local Business Recovery Action Plan (STLBRAP) included a deeper analysis of the near-term impacts of COVID-19 on Richmond’s economy and made recommendations to support business recovery. Access to capital and regulatory challenges were among the major challenges identified in the STLBRAP , particularly because many businesses were hesitant or unable to take on new debt in an uncertain business environment. In response to these findings the STLBRAP recommended that small business assistance should focus on grants and technical assistance to access needed resources, as well as other changes to increase the accessibility of business services.
The City has already committed $1 million of its ARPA allocation to the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R2F) to provide direct financial assistance to residents, businesses, and community-based organizations to meet a range of recovery needs.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
Small business owners shared that during the pandemic, they needed a range of technical assistance to formalize their structure and bookkeeping and to transition businesses into online business platforms. Heading into the pandemic, many small businesses and entrepreneurs did not have their business formalized and did not have their financial statements organized in Quickbooks, which made it difficult to navigate PPP loans.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
DRAFT
38 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment More people than ever sought mental health services as a result of the pandemic, including disconnected youth, overburdened parents, and isolated older adults.
OUR HEALTH
According to community providers, the demand for mental health services has risen exponentially during the
pandemic. Isolation, stress, and other issues have contributed to a growing need for mental health services. Many parents spoke about their children’s mental health challenges, and noted that they needed to advocate for their children to receive adequate care. Populations with cultural or other barriers, including the disabled, seniors, limited English speaking residents, and the immigrant and Asian Pacific Islander refugee community, reported an increased sense of isolation due to an inability to connect to community or access services.
In response to these challenges, some residents accessed mental health services for the first time during the pandemic.
However, some reported a lack of culturally-competent and accessible mental health service providers. For instance, those seeking care for the first time might find it challenging to connect with providers that do not understand their unique beliefs and behaviors in their treatment.
During a focus group, one parent shared that during the pandemic, his high- school aged son “is doing okay, but he is missing his friends. He is pretty lonely. And no sports, and he liked to play sports. So basically he just does school, and it’s been pretty stressful for him all year… during the pandemic it’s been really hard to handle for us as parents because we don’t know how to help him. We are not psychologists, and he can only handle it in the school with his friends.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
One focus group participant
recounted that “I was a parent at
home, and it was really hard to
work from home when everyone
is interrupting you and freaked
out. I had my kids and an elder
living with me. We couldn’t have
anyone over because [my mom]
was so nervous about someone
bringing COVID inside. It really
affected my kids mentally, and
they’re still really shook up
about it.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
Listening tour participants noted RYSE Youth
Center’s Community Health program, which
creates support networks for youth to find safe,
welcoming, and loving spaces, in addition to case
management and individual counseling services.
Image: RYSE Center
DRAFT
39 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Residents are still struggling to find affordable, accessible food due to the rising price of household goods; some are still facing medical bills lingering from the pandemic.
OUR HEALTH
Basic health needs, including food access and the ability to see a doctor, became even more important during the pandemic.
While food banks have seen a slight dip since the peak of the pandemic, local pantry workers indicated they are still seeing demand far above pre-pandemic levels. At the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, demand for services has picked up again since April 2022. Schools also served as an important distribution hub for food: since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reimbursed districts for providing free meals to all students, and California will expand access to free school meals during the 2022-23 school year.
Even though the impacts of the pandemic have lessened,
residents are still struggling to afford basic health care, including nutritious food and lingering medical bills, while the nation struggles with inflation. As of July 2022, inflation on consumer prices in the Bay Area, at 6.8 percent, representing a
4.4 percent increase compared with last June. This trend is repeated throughout the country, with the national average on consumer prices up to 9.1 percent inflation.
Source: Fox News Digital; NBC Bay Area; EdSource
Many groups recognized food distribution programs and the role of schools and libraries as trusted entities to provide much needed food and nutritional support to community members. Members of the API community noted that the foods offered are not always culturally inclusive, as food distribution did not include necessities like rice. Community-based organizations like APEN helped fill this gap in services.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
6.8%
3.0%
4.4%
June
2019
Aug Oct Dec Feb
2020
April June Aug Oct Dec Feb
2021
April June Aug Oct Dec Feb
2022
April June
Consumer Price Index in Bay Area
June 2019 – June 2022
All Items All Items less food and energy
DRAFT
40 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
29.3%
25.3%
22.0%
25.3% 24.6%
21.8%
City of Richmond Contra Costa County Metro Area
Renter Cost Burden (2020)
Cost Burdened Extremely Cost Burdened
Even before the pandemic, residents in Richmond needed
to spend more of their income on housing than surrounding communities. 54% of Richmond renters are housing cost
burdened, which means they spend over one-third of their income on rent, compared to 50% in Contra Costa County and 44% in the Metro Area*. This trend is mirrored among
homeowners; 58% of Richmond homeowners pay over one-
third of their monthly income on mortgage costs, compared to 50% in both Contra Costa County and the Metro Area.
Over the course of the pandemic, as residents couldn’t work and lost income, many faced new struggles with rent. Some fell behind on rent while out-of-work sick with COVID-19, or due to un-/under-employment, and have not been able to recover from past-due rent and bills.
Rent burden had been high in Richmond in advance of the pandemic and was made worse as the pandemic disrupted workers’ ability to earn income.
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
One focus group participant explained that “my husband, our only family worker, did not work for one month when he was sick and the rent doesn’t wait, the food doesn’t wait. We don’t have family here, but neighbors helped.” Another shared that “My husband got sick and he also had high fever. No one helped us with high rent.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
*”Metro Area” refers to the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Spend over 30% of income on housing Spend over 50% of income on housing DRAFT
41 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Rental assistance programs supported some families, but many found these programs inaccessible and ineffective.
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
To keep renters in their homes, California operated an
Emergency Rental Assistance Program which provided funding for households who fell behind on rental payments due to the economic impacts of COVID. The program ended in June 2022.
Over 2,800 households in Richmond received assistance (7.5% of all households), the majority of which identified as Black or Hispanic. However, Hispanic renters were relatively
unrepresented among recipients, and may have faced
barriers to accessing assistance.
During the pandemic, the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F) partnered with related organizations to provide one-time funds to households unable to pay rent due to a COVID-19 related job loss or loss of income. Additionally, the City shared rental resources on its webpage, including links to the California rent relief program application and contact information for local organizations providing rent assistance.
California Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Richmond Data as of August 2022
2,850
Total Households Served
$12,590
Average Assistance Received
Source: State of California COVID-19 Rent Relief Dashboard Many focus groups expressed the need to make rental
assistance programs more accessible. One participant
shared that after applying for rental relief, “we had to take out a loan because it took 8 months [to receive funding from the State]. We couldn’t access services even if they existed.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
14%
24%
31%
8% 6%
17%
20%
44%
27%
16%
4% 2%
White Black Hispanic Asian 2+ Races Other
Access to Rental Assistance by Race in Richmond
Renter Households Rental Assistance Recipients
DRAFT
42 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Housing insecurity is more pressing than ever, as some communities faced evictions and others experiencing homelessness became disconnected from services.
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
Richmond residents may be particularly vulnerable to
eviction due to a perceived lack of legal protections, despite the City temporary ordinance and State tenant relief act. Contra Costa County has one of the highest rates of pandemic evictions in the Bay Area, second only to Solano County. Eviction rates are 2 to 3 times higher for Black households in the County.
During the pandemic, the homeless population in Contra Costa County grew by 35%. According to the 2021 Continuum of Care Annual Report, of those who reported losing their housing, 30% of households reported losing it in West County, where
Richmond has the largest population. That share is slightly higher than the population that reported sleeping in West County before enrolling into crisis response, suggesting that people who experience homelessness in West County
cannot locally access supportive services. At the household level, 1,320 households reported losing their housing in Richmond, roughly 1.5 times more than the next closest city.
Source: State of California COVID-19 Rent Relief Dashboard; SF Chronical; Contra Costa County Health Services “Our landlord is asking for a large deposit of $6,000 to get into a new place. I had to get it somewhere only to end up on the street with 3 adolescent daughters. I was up to date with rent payments and would always pay on time.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
Members of the housing justice community recognized that this has been a major challenge for Richmond since far before the pandemic: “Our community is historically disinvested. The people that bore the brunt of it have already been pushed out. Some folks never rebounded from the foreclosure crisis, and never came back into ownership/stability with housing. Some became serial renters, others got pushed out, others became homeless.” This was compounded by a “pre-pandemic [Not in My Backyard or “NIMBY”] perspective on homelessness. Everyone knows homelessness is a problem, but if people are given the chance to be part of the solution, they send it somewhere else.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
30%
23%
30%
17%
26% 30% 30%
14%
West County Central County East County Out of County
Location of Where Households Lost their Housing and Where Households Slept Before Enrollment in Crisis Response, 2021 Where a Household Lost Housing Where a Household Slept Before Enrolling in Crisis Response DRAFT
43 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The State has dedicated significant recovery resources to increasing housing affordability throughout California.
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
Source: League of California Cities, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Department of Housing and Community Development California has dedicated ARPA funds and other funding to create and expand programs to increase the supply of housing and address housing security and affordability statewide. These include:
• Multifamily Housing Program: Provides low-interest deferred-payment loans for new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of permanent and transitional housing that serves lower-income households • California Housing Accelerator Fund: Provides funding for shovel-ready development projects that have received awards of funding from the department of Housing and Community Development but have funding gaps • HOME-ARP Program: Funding for the Department of Housing and Community Development to assist individuals or households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by providing rental assistance, supportive services, shelters, and other support • State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program:Provides tax credits to support the development of rental housing for low-income households • Adaptive Reuse Program and Homekey Program: Provides funding to convert commercial buildings, hotels, and motels into affordable housing • Infill Infrastructure Grant Program: Provides funding to accelerate the development of infill projects in brownfields and downtowns • Preservation Fund: Funding to preserve existing affordable housing • Legal Aid: Provides funding for legal services to prevent evictions
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
DRAFT
44 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment With children and youth suddenly confined to stay at home, families needed affordable accessible childcare and programs for youth struggling to stay connected and motivated.
OUR FAMILIES
California offers subsidies childcare, but they are capped by income: a family of three can earn no more than $78K to qualify.
There is a high demand for childcare, but due to the rising costs of living, families who might make slightly more than the household maximum are left with few affordable options, often waiting months, or even years to find a slot that works for them.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines childcare as “affordable” if the copay costs 7 percent or less of a family’s income. Based on the statewide average cost of childcare, a family in California would need to make at least $341K to pay for both an infant and preschooler. Childcare – and not housing – is now the largest expense for households in California.
Many youth, parents and formerly incarcerated residents in particular spoke to the need for youth programming and
positive outlets for youth. West Contra Costa Unified School District noted that programming for middle schoolers in particular is lacking, and that better family engagement is needed at all levels. Residents shared that they see Richmond as lacking spaces for youth socialization, especially with parks closed during the pandemic. Particularly during the beginning of the pandemic, when social engagements were most restricted and youth had to stay home from school, community members
wanted more services that support the youth’s mental health.
In a conversation with Building Blocks for Kids, Latina Center, and Family Justice, families voiced the need for education and program support for older children 6-19 years of age. While speaking with the Reentry Success Center, participants stressed interest in support for people coming out of high school, who “need more direction or help, instead of being dumped on the street. Young people could use help, education, and housing assistance.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
Source: East Bay Times; Image: Ali Tadayon/EdSource
Dorcas Sims leads her fifth-grade
class at Nystrom Elementary as
schools return to in-person learning.
Attendance data showed that about
3,400 students left West Contra Costa
Unified during the pandemic. One
resident shared that “The youth got
forgotten. Doing school from home was
really hard. The school district lost a lot
of students because teachers couldn’t
connect with them. A lot of kids got
lost, a lot of education got lost.” Another
noted that some students “had to stop
school in order to work, because if
they didn’t work, they couldn’t make
ends meet. We saw 16-year-olds
entering the workforce full-time.”
DRAFT
45 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Access to broadband internet, technology, and computer literacy further compounded issues of service access, particularly for youth and older adults.
OUR FAMILIES
While 90 percent of households in the city of Richmond
have internet access, statewide data shows that this access is likely not equitably distributed across income levels.
During the listening tour, residents shared that the need for internet service and technology added a new expense and source of stress at a time when household incomes were
declining for non-salaried and laid-off workers. Many shared that the transition to online learning and workshop offerings was challenging and did not provide the same benefits of being in person.
Many services, such as vaccination and testing appointments, required online scheduling further compounding access to care.
For others, not being literate in digital programs like Zoom limited their ability to connect with others or participate in remote work.
31%
8%
3%
Less than $20K $20-40K $40K+
California Households without Internet Access, by Income Without an Internet Subscription
California’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) was established during the pandemic to help families and households struggling to afford internet service. The program provided a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and a one-time discount to purchase computers or tablets. Since then, congress has created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new long-term, $14 billion program, to replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program In total, roughly 4,500 Richmond residents accessed EBB services in 2021, or 4.1% of the City’s population, despite 13% of residents that report that their cell phone service is the only way they access the internet. Many Richmond residents reported being unaware of the services and programs that are available to them at the local, state, and federal level, including help accessing the internet.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
Source: Universal Service Administrative Co.; U.S. Census (2020); USC and the California Emerging Technology Fund One focus group participant shared their experience saying, “I had online school since the start of the pandemic from
sophomore to senior year of high school. At the very start, all my parents and sisters had to work from home, and we
had a lot of internet issues. One day, my teacher’s internet was so bad that we just had to cancel school that day.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
DRAFT
46 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Communities that struggle with accessing information often cannot overcome the barriers necessary to understand public announcements and connect with services.
OUR FAMILIES
The lack of available interpreters in languages like Laotian dialects, Hmong and Vietnamese, as well as other Asian Pacific Islander (API) languages, means that these communities do not have equitable access to resources.
However, this results in a lot of community cohesion in the API community and a strong shared commitment to sharing information through their networks of family, friends and religious/spiritual organizations.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
Latinx families spoke to the need to have access to information for the Latinx community and non- and limited-English speaking Richmond residents.
Multiple participants discussed the challenge with access to information, the lack of cultural competency in service delivery, and the lack of accountability amongst services providers, nonprofits and City departments alike for not serving community members equitably and with respect.
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
Small businesses, residents and service providers alike emphasized the need for access to information. Language is a major barrier for the 54% of Richmond residents that speak a language other than English at home. People reported not knowing where to go to get accurate COVID-19 guidance or information about available programs. Some were able to get information through schools or connections to doctors and nurses, but most did not know where to go for credible and accurate information, and many relied on social media.
Focus group participants suggested many ways to improve access to information, including a City of Richmond app, a centralized phone number that provides access to live
assistance in multiple languages, more flyers, door-to-door canvassing in multiple languages, and more. Others suggested providing resources to existing service providers in the community who are already delivering information to the community so that these organizations could increase their capacity. For example, LEAP supported students by providing access to the internet and sharing information about available resources in the City of Richmond. County Supervisor John Gioia was also highlighted for his office’s efforts to share information about how to accessing COVID-19 tests and masks, and getting these resources to community service providers who could distribute them to residents.
Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020)
DRAFT
47 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Nonprofit organizations played critical, central roles for many types of communities during the pandemic, but still face tight resourcing and some competition for funding.
OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
Out of the roughly 2,300 PPP loans dispersed in Richmond, only 81 went to organizations that identified as a nonprofit.
Amongst nonprofit organizations, focus group participants shared that there seems to be a fair bit of competition for resources and some duplication of services. Many suggested greater efficiency and improved outcomes could be gained by establishing a nonprofit convening or forum to encourage collaboration and learning from each other. Community
members added that holding a community service fair could be another way to get information out about available
resources to community members, particularly those who are not active online.
Many nonprofit organizations had to shift internal resources during the pandemic while still providing services to their constituents. One participant in the public survey shared that “nonprofits that have shifted to hybrid workforces still need spaces to meet in person from time to time. It would be great if the city's community centers could offer this space a low or no cost.” Another noted that the City should prioritize “support for the nonprofits who have been particularly hit, which makes it hard [for nonprofit organizations to provide services]. Help for the nonprofits is an investment that will pay back dividends.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
During a focus group
with NIAD (Nurturing
Independence
Through Artistic
Development), which
serves people with
disabilities, organizers
shared that they
struggled to transition
their in-person studio
space to online
opportunities that
adequately serve
their artists, including
supply distribution.
Nonprofits, already connected closely within their networks, were able to distribute funds to meet their cultural and constituent needs with more discretion during the pandemic.
One focus group’s participants noted that “when you give money to nonprofits it is really going out into their
community. For example, [an organization the participant is part of], they have meetings with the community and go out and ask how they want to spend it.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
DRAFT
48 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Richmond residents rely on their faith-based organizations, neighborhoods, and community organizations to stay socially and economically connected.
OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
During the pandemic, there were significantly fewer places to connect. City facilities closed for a few months, reopened for virtual programming, and moved to hybrid models. The closure of day programs for the disabled, churches and community centers, the cancellation of large cultural celebrations and community festivals, and the closure of ethnic restaurants or the shift to take-out only service all impacted the social and economic health of Richmond residents.
“In the past, Laotian New Year was celebrated in the
Richmond auditorium. We have a big gathering and people come from around the Bay Area. We haven’t been able to
celebrate since 2020. Not being able to have this
celebration is another loss of the pandemic and it
affects our sense of community.”
LISTENING TOUR FINDING
| HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Source: Trust for Public Land ParkServe (2022)
Community Center
Wat Lao New Year 2019
Parks and Community Centers Throughout Richmond
DRAFT
49 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment 49 | HR&A Advisors
NEXT STEPS
05 49
| HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment DRAFTImage Source: Trails for Richmond Action Committee DRAFT
50 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment Richmond’s ARPA Strategic Investment Plan will make recommendations for how the City should allocate its ARPA funds to address community needs.
NEXT STEPS
LISTENING TOUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTAPRIL
JUNE
AUGUST
NOVEMBER
DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS
ARPA INVESTMENT PLAN
This draft community needs assessment will be finalized following input from City Council as well as a third
community meeting in October 2022.
The Community Needs Assessment will serve as the
basis for the ARPA Strategic Investment Plan. Drawing
on the findings of the Community Needs Assessment,
HR&A will work with the City to identify potential uses for the City’s ARPA funds, including how they align with both community needs and ARPA requirements. HR&A will
also make recommendations for the distribution of the
City’s ARPA funds across the five areas of need identified.
DRAFT
51 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The strategic investment plan will identify potential uses of ARPA funds, with a focus on identifying projects that meet ARPA requirements and address community needs.
NEXT STEPS
REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE
RESPONDING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19
PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL
WORKERS
MAKING INVESTMENTS IN WATER, SEWER,
AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE
SUITABLE USES OF
ARPA FUNDS
COMMUNITY NEEDS
AND PRIORITIES
OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
OUR FAMILIES
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
OUR HEALTH
OUR JOBS AND BUSINESSES
Identify
alignment
DRAFT
52 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The community has already provided a range of ideas for the City to fund using ARPA, with other ideas for investment still to come. Suggestions from the community include:
• Provide technical assistance in a variety
of languages
• Increase broadband access citywide
• Establish a community bank
• Add English as a second language classes
• Expand programs to help small local
businesses, such as marketing support
and streetscape improvements
OUR JOBS AND BUSINESSES
• Expand mental health services in schools
• Expand culturally-specific mental health
services to reduce health disparities
• Add transportation to grocery stores to
eliminate food deserts
• Support for equitable access to
healthcare, including help covering
medical costs and more transportation
OUR HEALTH
• Reduce barriers to homeownership
• Provide emergency rental assistance to
prevent eviction and homelessness
• Develop an affordable housing plan
• Invest in stormwater infrastructure and
green streets
• Fund streetscape improvements,
including trash cleanup
OUR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
• Support for preschool and childcare
entrepreneurship
• Provide youth programming, including
programs that employs Richmond
residents and support the community
• Improve literacy through family-level
interventions
OUR FAMILIES
• Increase amenities at city parks,
including bathrooms and drinking water
• Add free programs in the city’s parks
• Increase public art throughout Richmond
• Reopen and enhance community centers
citywide
• Support capital investment in the public
library system
OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
• Hire grant writers to help access funding
• Pursue federal and state funding for
equitable broadband access
• Pilot Restorative Justice programs
• Create jobs for residents to serve as
interpreters to other residents in their
community in a service language
assistance program
OTHER AREAS
NEXT STEPS
DRAFT
53 | HR&A AdvisorsRichmond ARPA Community Needs Assessment The City should allocate available ARPA funds across the five areas of need based on the level of need, likely cost of potential projects, and other factors.
NEXT STEPS
OUR JOBS AND
BUSINESSES
30%
OUR HEALTH
15%
OUR HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
30%
OUR FAMILIES
10%
OUR CULTURE AND
COMMUNITY
15%
Potential allocation of ARPA funds by category of need
DRAFT
.
Richmond, CA | Community Needs Assessment
Using the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
to Meet our Highest Needs
Image Source: Balazs Gardi/The Guardian
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2
DRAFT