Connecticut’s Latino communities will soon be heard about how to better their quality of life through a pilot program. Conducted by the Hispanic Federation, it is a month-long online survey meant to run through July that’ll tackle health care, housing, jobs, education and more. 

The findings, the federation hopes, will lead to greater change amongst the Latino communities across the greater Hartford area. The survey is open to Latinos 18 and older living in the city of Hartford or 29 surrounding towns.

“This survey was crafted specifically taking in consideration how the Latino community in the Hartford area has grown throughout the years and the continued barriers and challenges that they are facing,” said Yanidsi Velez, Hispanic Federation New England Regional Director. “When we crafted the survey, we really wanted to hone in on the details, really have a clear perspective: what are the challenges— daily challenges— for our community?”

NBC Connecticut spoke to one Latino who’d already answered the survey’s 46 questions.

“It's a quick survey. It only takes about 30 minutes, maybe 15. Take your time with it,” he said. “I pray that a lot of people can take the survey, because we can have an impact on the future.”

He first learned about the survey after receiving a pamphlet at his Hartford church and is now one of 300 people to take the online Survey on the Quality of Life of the Latino Community in the Greater Hartford Area.

“Being able to take the survey was great, because I was able to give feedback at the end,” he said. “I'm willing to help anybody and everybody in Harford to move forward.”

The results will be analyzed by several focus groups and will be put into a report set for release this fall. The Hispanic Federation is working on this with its partners the Latino Endowment Fund and the Hartford Foundation.

The Hispanic Federation will also use the findings to then push for bills and funding during next year’s legislative session. 

“Sometimes we say there is no way for me to talk with legislators, there is no way for me to discuss my concerns,” Velez said. “This is exactly the venue, the opportunity for the Latino communities. Anyone who wants to hop in and really share their concerns, their opinion, their voice, this is the time.”

The Hispanic Federation will also share the results with their local member organizations such as the Center for Latino Progress in Hartford.

“This is a wonderful tool to learn more about the community,” said Arleen Cohen, Center for Latino Progress Executive Director. “It will help organizations like ours to determine, looking to the existing programs that we are offering, and see what else can we offer to the community and how can we help them based on the needs that they have.”

The Hispanic Federation is looking for about 1,000 people to take the survey before it closes at the end of the month. Those who take the survey also enter sweepstakes to win $250. The survey is available online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JGNRGC