A. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Housing is a social determinant of health that also impacts safety. Housing instability encompasses a number of challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, staying with relatives, or spending the bulk of household income on housing. Housing Instability is a key issue in a community’s economic stability.

The Challenge of Housing - Matt Huerta, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership

With a median household income of just $54,864,2 increasing rent and lack of affordable housing forces Salinas families to live in overcrowded and substandard conditions. Marginalized residents live in the shadows of our community, weakening the social fabric of neighborhoods and leaving residents without a collective voice to promote safety and protect against victimization. To strengthen neighborhoods, some CHISPA developments offer art and other activities to help residents get to know their neighbors and build a sense of community.

The State has intervened with renter protections afforded by AB 1482 to help prevent no-cause evictions and deter price gouging. 3 Affordable housing developers in Salinas and across the state are eligible for funding from voter approved Proposition 1 which helps to create housing for veterans and farmworkers, affordable multifamily housing, infrastructure and homeownership programs. 4

Median sales price of a HOME IN SALINAS 2021

$615,00 1

Among 600 Salinas youth, family connectedness remained CONSISTENTLY HIGH from 8th to 10th grade

52%

Goal I: All residents have the ability and opportunity to earn a living wage; obtain appropriate housing and have access to necessary social and work support systems, in order to provide for their families

• Increase percentage of families able to provide children with basic needs such as housing, food and clothing.

• Increase the level of adult literacy and the percentage of adults earning GEDs or other educational equivalents.

• Faith communities are available to support families spiritually in time of need.

• Increase access to trauma informed physical, behavioral health and crisis intervention services for those in need.

• Increase participation in job skills training to prepare workers for a living wage.

Percentage of Salinas Households who spend 30% or more of Income on Rent

66%

Percentage of Hispanics in Salinas without Health Insurance

8 In 10 Youth

B. ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Strong families protect communities from violence. Youth who feel connected to their families are more likely to do well in school. Communities can promote strong families through education, economic policies, housing and equity, as suggested in the Social Ecological Model.

25%

First 5 Monterey County: Closing the Equity Gap

- Sonja Koehler

Bright Beginnings is a collective impact initiative to transform systems to support all young children, prenatal to 8 years, and their parents.  A collaborative, county-wide early childhood development strategic framework, “Together, Preparing Every Child for Life and School,” defines two objectives to meet by 2025: 1. Double the number of children who are well prepared for kindergarten; and 2. Reduce the gaps in kindergarten readiness between children in low- income and non-lowincome households. The key drivers to meeting these objectives are: A comprehensive, equita- ble system that supports all children’s holistic development; Empowered and resilient parents; Families surrounded by concrete and social supports; and Caregivers that support children’s growth and learning.

Goal II: Families and the entire community promote positive youth development

• Increase percentage of children and youth engaged in youth leadership and enrichment activities.

• Increase the percentage of youth with healthy relationship skills.

• Increase and enhance more positive services supporting gang-impacted youth.

• Increase percentage of parents and caregivers who feel supported and demonstrate discipline, caring and nurturing practices with children.

9th Graders

Salinas has 1.8 acres of park per 1,000 residents, compared to the State standard of more than 3 acres per 1,000 residents

In 2018 -19, 54% of SUHSD 9th graders reported feeling safe or very safe in their neighborhood parks and playgrounds, compared to 46% in 2012-13

C. HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES

Strong communities are made up of people who form relationships and build trust. This social fabric can resist negative influences, such as crime. Social cohesion is supported by places to gather, a shared sense of culture and connections to the local government. Studies show that access to green space is associated with lower crime.

Building Healthy Communities

The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Collaborative continues to invest in residents and youth, by engaging with government to achieve a thriving community. Through the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, begun in 20??, the City and BHC are making efforts to ensure resident engagement and ownership of public planning that affects land use, safety and quality of life.

In 2018-19, 73% of SUHSD 9th graders reported feeling safe or very safe in their neighborhood, up from 63% in 2012-13

Domestic Violence Calls For Assistance

Ciclovía Salinas has been held annually, opening opportunities for youth to move to other BHC projects such as CPTED and La Cosecha. These projects give youth a space where they can be heard and sharpens their leadership. Padres Unidos has transformed the way residents engage with schools by ensuring that input from participating parents was included in the school’s Local Control and Accountability Plan budget. The BHC Collaborative seeks racially equitable solutions across government, community, philanthropic sectors, with key partners Center for Community Advocacy, MILPA, the Labor Council, COPA, Baktun 12, and CHISPA.

Goal III: Residents have pride in all neighborhoods; and all neighborhoods support peaceful community life and positive community engagement

• Increase opportunities for residents to exercise, gather and play outdoors.

• Increase area of open and maintained green space.

• Support the faith communities’ connection to neighborhoods and residents.

• Promote safe and sober family activities.

• Decrease vandalism and blight.

• Decrease children’s exposure to all forms of violence, including domestic violence.

• Increase community engagement, participation and support leadership.

D. LAW ENFORCEMENT

An integrated strategy to violence reduction incorporates prevention, intervention, enforcement and re-entry (PIER). The role of enforcement is to protect people from those who have become a threat a to the community. Building trust with residents and business owners is the most effective way of securing neighborhoods, making them safer for all.

Salinas Police Department - Chief Adele Fresé

The Mission Statement of the Salinas Police Department is, “To work in partnership with the people of Salinas to enhance the quality of life through the delivery of professional, superior and compassionate police services to the community.”

The Department’s approach to crime fighting is two-fold: First, we customize our Community Policing and problem solving to meet the needs of our community, where we are today. This means officers are encouraged to seek creative solutions in partnership with residents and business owners to address issues of crime and quality of life. The second component involves the management team. In our quest to provide relative, transparent, and timely responses to safety concerns in our community, the Department has coined the strategy StIER - Strategic Information Exchange and Response - which stresses the purposeful sharing of criminal intelligence and other viable information between command level personnel, emphasizing accountability through action plans and follow-up.

SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSION:

To work in partnership with the people of Salinas to enhance the quality of life through the delivery of professional, superior and compassionate police services to the community

Firearms

were used in 68% of murders in California in 2019. 67% of those firearms were handguns

Goal IV: The community and law enforcement partner to create safe and thriving neighborhoods

• Law enforcement continues to engage positively with the community to build trust and relationships.

• Decrease illegal access to firearms and ammuntions.

• Change gang dynamics by shifting to prevention, in addition to suppression, of any and all gang involvement.

• Enhance law enforcement by using data driven approaches to reduce crime.

65% Percentage decline in violent assaults of youth, in Salinas, 2007 to 2019

80% Percentage decline in homicides from 2015 to 2019 in Salinas