A UH survey finds inflation, safety, and disaster risks top concerns in Greater Houston, launching a long-term panel to track changing community views.
HOUSTON — A new survey from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs reveals that inflation, economic instability, disaster preparedness and public safety are top concerns for residents in the Greater Houston area.
The Houston Metro Community Survey, conducted from March 7 to May 7, collected responses from more than 9,600 people across the region. Participants reflected Houston’s diversity in ethnicity, age, education, and household types, according to researchers at the Hobby School’s Center for Public Policy (CPP).
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Economy: Over one-third (36%) of respondents said they are barely meeting basic expenses or falling short financially. About 70% expressed concern about inflation and the cost of living.
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Disaster preparedness: More than 40% of millennials and Gen X reported lacking sufficient savings to recover from a natural disaster. Black and Hispanic respondents were the most concerned, with roughly 45% very worried about post-disaster costs.
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Climate change: A sharp political divide emerged, with 62.5% of Democrats viewing climate change as a major concern, compared to 18.3% of Republicans.
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Crime and safety: Women and residents within the city limits of Houston reported feeling less safe during the day compared to suburban residents and men.
“People don’t necessarily find their own community unsafe, but they think crime is generally an issue,” said Gail Buttorff, associate director of the CPP and associate research professor at the Hobby School.
The survey also served as the launchpad for a new long-term research initiative, the Survey on Public Attitudes and Community Engagement City Panel, or SPACE City Panel. The research initiative will track the views of around 5,000 Houston-area residents with quarterly surveys.
“The longitudinal design allows researchers to capture shifts in household conditions and attitudes over time instead of comparing disconnected ‘snapshots’ of different respondents,” said Pablo Pinto, CPP director and Hobby School professor.
The panel’s scope spans nine counties across the Greater Houston region and is designed to elevate voices from underrepresented communities. The project is being conducted in partnership with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC).
The SPACE City Panel will focus on views in four key areas: politics, economics, resiliency and sustainability. It can also respond quickly to current events such as economic downturns, natural disasters or election cycles.
The goal, according to the release, is to provide policymakers and civic leaders with real-time, community-driven insights.
“Quarterly trend lines will let city, county and state officials see whether programs are reaching the communities that need them — and recalibrate within months, not years,” Pinto said.
The inaugural SPACE City Panel results are expected to be released this fall.
For more information about the Hobby School of Public Affairs and ongoing research initiatives, visit uh.edu/hobby.