County Executive Innamorato Releases Results of the All In Allegheny Survey
County Executive Sara Innamorato released the results of the All In Allegheny Community survey.
April 15, 2024 - Pittsburgh - Today, County Executive Sara Innamorato released the results of the All In Allegheny Community survey. Between January 2 and February 29, 2024, nearly 19,000 residents contributed 648,000 data points about what they want and need from Allegheny County government. Survey results are available on an interactive data dashboard available on the county website.
“I am proud to say that All In Allegheny is the largest, most diverse, and most inclusive community engagement initiative this county has ever seen,” said County Executive Innamorato. “Thank you to every single resident who shared their time and expertise with us. You have helped us prove that community members are eager to help shape the solutions you want from county government – and we look forward to continuing to partner with you throughout my Administration.”
The community members who responded to the All In survey reflect the diversity of Allegheny County. Respondents live in all 130 municipalities in the county, and include representation from every race, ethnicity, age, and household income level. Respondents include residents who have lived in Allegheny County for decades and residents who moved to the county within the past year. Community members shared their priorities in all ten major languages spoken in the county. Respondents include homeowners and people who are currently unhoused. County leaders also met with community members at a series of events in Carnegie, Wilkinsburg, Pittsburgh’s Northside, McKeesport, and online to discuss their priorities.
Designed by the nearly 200 esteemed and diverse leaders who joined the Innamorato Transition, the All In survey includes 20 questions that ask residents to rank the actions they would like county government to implement on nine critical policy topics:
Healthy Families and High-Quality Human Services
Housing for All
Open and Accessible Government
Reliable, Modern Transportation and Infrastructure
Robust Education, Workforce Development, and Youth Investments
Safe Communities and Justice for All
Strong and Equitable Economic and Community Development
Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and a Green Economy
Vibrant Democracy
Across all policy topics included in the survey, several actions were ranked highly by community members of all ages, races, ethnicity, household income levels, municipality of residence, and housing statuses. These include:
Making child care and care for older adults more accessible and affordable and expanding programs for youth, which community members believe will help give children the strongest start in life and better address the needs of workers
Expanding paid training opportunities and supportive services that help people get to work, such as free or low-cost transportation options
Creating additional locations to mail-in ballots to increase participation in our elections and encourage eligible citizens to cast a ballot
Incentivizing affordable housing development and home repairs to help low- and middle-income families
Protecting renters’ rights and preventing housing discrimination
Ensuring unhoused residents have access to permanent housing that includes services like healthcare and employment support
Making it easier for local small businesses to navigate county services and systems by creating a one-stop-shop connecting small businesses to all necessary information
Taking a more aggressive stance to limit pollution and removing lead, mold, radon, and other toxins from Allegheny County homes
Expanding programs that address the social determinants of health, such as poor housing quality, food insecurity, or exposure to pollutants
Making public transportation more reliable and affordable
Improving maintenance of county-owned roads and bridges
Expanding post-incarceration re-entry programs and investing in diversion programs
All In Allegheny included a robust community outreach and canvassing component to invite participation from residents in every corner of the county. The survey was distributed by members of the Innamorato Transition Committee, County Departments, and community-based organizations countywide. Community-based organizations also held their own community engagement events to gather additional feedback. To further engage historically underrepresented residents, three community-based organizations (Pennsylvania United, OnePA, and Food & Water Watch) canvassed door-to-door at public housing sites, set up survey stations at libraries, led text and phone banking campaigns, and engaged unhoused residents at shelters. The survey was also distributed at Kane Community Living Centers, the Allegheny County Jail, and each of the All In County Conversations event sites. The Innamorato Transition, which includes the All In Allegheny initiative, was funded by the Heinz Endowments, the Buhl Foundation, Pennsylvania United, the Pittsburgh Foundation, Ohio River Valley Institute, Local Progress, and the Open Society Foundations.
"After seeing the survey results, it made me proud of the effort that was made to engage so many residents that have historically been left out of the conversation of creating a future for all of us in the region,” said Monica Ruiz, MSW, Executive Director of Casa San Jose and Co-Chair of All In Allegheny. “This is what building a county for all looks like, engaging everyone, listening to those who know best, and working together to create solutions."
According to one community member who participated in an All In County Conversation in Carnegie, “This is the first time in the history of our county that so many people have been engaged in a process like this. History is being made here.”
“In addition to identifying and confirming the most critical issues for residents of Allegheny County, the All In survey and high response rate confirms that residents are eager to engage with local government and to inform the policies and processes that undoubtedly impact their health and well-being and that of their communities,” said Lauren Connelly, incoming Director of Allegheny County Economic Development and Co-Chair of All In Allegheny. “The County Executive has set a new, welcome, and higher standard for what community engagement and civic engagement can be and achieve when done more intentionally and inclusively by local government.”
“It is one thing to say that you will create a County government that works for everyone but putting that commitment into action is what really matters,” said Michelle McMurray, MSW, Vice President, Program and Community Engagement and Co-Chair of All In Allegheny. “All In Allegheny is a historic first step toward fulfillment of a promise to govern by actually listening to and prioritizing the needs and aspirations of community members. Nearly 19,000 people, representing the true diversity of the county, weighed in – many asked to do so for the first time – proving that community members are ready to actively participate in shaping the future of this region and have been eager for an opportunity to do so.”
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