One Collective Elgin is dedicated to gaining a deeper understanding of the community. Our vision is for every person in Elgin to have their voice heard, access the resources they need, and contribute meaningfully to the community. To support this vision, we began by actively listening to community members. The following report highlights what we learned.

From August 2025 to May 2026, 338 conversations with unique individuals were logged, coded, and studied. Below is a simple report of what was discovered in this research about the needs in our community.

At the end of the interview, we invited participants to share their demographic information if they felt comfortable doing so. Sharing this information was completely voluntary.

*Results for Question 2 (n=338)

The people who participated in the survey identified a variety of concerns impacting the Elgin community. When asked to identify the three biggest problems facing the city, Housing and Homelessness was the most frequently cited issue, accounting for 30% of responses, followed by Infrastructure at almost 19%, and Revitalization a little over 12%. When asked to prioritize issues to address first, Housing and Homelessness ranked as the top, accounting for almost 40% of responses. Infrastructure remained the second-highest priority, followed by Community Connection. These findings suggest that residents view stable housing as the foundation for addressing many of the city's broader challenges.

Comments related to Housing and Homelessness frequently focused on the rising cost of living, limited affordable housing availability, housing instability, and concerns about homelessness. People expressed a desire for greater access to affordable housing options and additional resources to support individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity. One person shared that “the city is not giving tangible and sustainable solutions for the homeless community,” while another person expressed that “either people are not aware of resources or there are not enough resources for them.” These responses demonstrate both the need for more housing options and greater awareness of, and greater access to existing social service agencies. Housing and Homelessness has continued to remain the community's top concern across multiple needs assessments. In the 2022 Community Needs Assessment, Housing and Homelessness represented almost 60% (2022 Needs Assessment) of people’s responses, making it the most frequently identified issue. Also, in the 2020 Community Needs Assessment, Housing and Homelessness accounted for nearly 50% of responses. The continued focus on Housing and Homelessness in the 2024 Community Needs Assessment highlights that the community members in Elgin view Housing and Homelessness as one of Elgin’s most pressing challenges. 

The community’s second-biggest issue was Infrastructure, with concerns about road conditions, traffic congestion, public transportation, pedestrian safety, and the need for improvements to public spaces. Residents of Elgin discussed the importance of maintaining city infrastructure while also expanding accessibility and connectivity throughout the community. One community member expressed concern about the “lack of walkable roads; there are multiple roads without sidewalks, making it dangerous for people to get around,” while another emphasized the need for “more garbage cans, more lighting, and better sidewalks.” These comments suggest that the residents of Elgin view infrastructure improvements as essential not only for safety but also for enhancing the overall community. 

Beyond infrastructure improvements, many people expressed the need to strengthen Elgin’s economic vitality and sense of community. Revitalization and Community Connection reflected people’s desire for additional community events, increased collaboration among organizations, support for local businesses, and efforts to create a stronger sense of belonging among residents. Many members of the community shared their concerns about limited job opportunities and unemployment, while others expressed a desire for Elgin to attract more people and that “many businesses on a few of our main roads are unkempt and can impact the perception of Elgin.” These responses show residents’ interest in seeing continued investment in neighborhoods, public spaces, and initiatives that make Elgin a more connected community. 

*Results for Question 2 (n=338)

When respondents were asked what resources, skills, or assets they would be willing to contribute toward solving community problems, the results revealed a community rich in human capital and civic engagement. Professional and Speciality Skills (1), Time and Volunteering (2), and Communication, Advocacy, and Outreach accounted for nearly 75% of all responses, suggesting that residents continue to view themselves as active contributors to community solutions. Additional assets included collaboration and mobilization, mentorship, training, development, education, and tangible resources. 

These findings are consistent with previous assessments. In 2020, more than half of respondents indicated a willingness to volunteer, while many others reported specialized skills, professional services, networks, language abilities, or donations that could benefit the community. Similarly, the 2022 assessment found that volunteerism represented the largest category of responses, with 242 respondents indicating a willingness to serve and another 99 respondents expressing interest in organizing, networking, or advocacy efforts. Throughout time, the underlying message remains unchanged: Elgin residents possess significant untapped capacity to address community challenges. The prominence of professional skills, volunteer time, communication abilities, and collaboration efforts across all three assessments suggests a sustained willingness among residents to invest in the well-being of their community. These findings reinforce a key conclusion from both the 2020 and 2022 reports, that the challenge facing the community is not a lack of willing people or available talents, but rather the need to better align resources, coordinate efforts, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement.