Community Survey Results Roundtable participants completed a weighted survey that asked respondents to rank an issue’s importance to them personally, as well as the threat to the community posed by the issue to women’s economic security, using a scale of 1-5. All issues on the weighted survey were pre-determined by The Women’s Fund and informed by the results of the American Community Survey data and meetings with area service providers. Two issues touched on in this report – the availability of health insurance and affordable housing – topped the chart, followed closely by wage inequality. Women also said some of the biggest threats to women’s economic security are the limited availability of child care, a need for job training programs, the lack of paid sick leave, and difficulty saving for the future.
In Roundtables, Birmingham women said some of the biggest threats to women’s economic security are the limited use of a child care subsidies, a need for job training programs, the lack of paid sick leave, and difficulty saving for the future.
IMPORTANCE TO RESPONDENT
THREAT TO WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY
TOTAL
Affordable housing availability
257
287
544
Health insurance availability
258
286
5
Wage inequality
255
285
540
252
270
522
Availability of job training programs
238
271
509
Teen pregnancy
227
277
504
Availability of paid family and sick leave
235
269
504
Child care subsidy availability
222
279
501
Predatory lending (payday loans, tax refund advance loans, car title pawn)
187
257
444
Access to loans for a small business
197
223
420
Lack of savings
Lowest possible
Lowest possible
Lowest total
score: 63
score: 63
possible: 126
Highest possible
Highest possible
Highest total
score: 315
score: 315
possible: 630
Source: The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham , 2012
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Report and appendix can be found online at womensfundbirningham.org