Vital Signs survey asks people for input on issues, priorities

With many people staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers hope participation in this year’s Vital Signs survey will be better than ever.

The annual survey — done in communities across Canada and around the globe — is meant to gauge how people in the Windsor-essex community are feeling about more than 10 issues, from housing to health to education and working life.

The eighth annual survey has about 60 questions and takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Results are presented in October. Getting lots of people to participate helps make the final report more valid, said Ghasan Bassiso, co-ordinator of the Vital Signs program for the Windsoressex Community Foundation.

“We had more than a few thousand last year and it’s increasing year by year, and this year we’re hoping to get much more engagement on the survey,” he said, because more people have extra time on their hands due to the COVID shutdown.

The results are meant to give decision makers and community agencies a glimpse into people’s priorities and concerns, he said.

Last year, for example, the big concern was housing. It was the only issue that received failing marks by respondents, who were worried about the high cost of housing.

Other categories include: arts and culture; belonging and leadership; environment; food security; getting around; getting started in life; health, wellness and activity; learning; and safety. A new category for 2020 is “Reaching out to the community in a COVID world,” with a focus on how COVID is affecting people’s mental health.

“We feel it’s a super-important issue to be highlighting,” Bassiso said.

The survey, which launched on Wednesday, can be found at wecf.ca. People who complete it will be entered in a draw for $100.