Community Safety in Hartford Neighborhoods
Hartford, like other cities, has a 311 service to provide residents with a centralized and easy-to-remember number for non-emergency services and information. Residents can call 311 toll-free or submit a request for information on the city’s website about issues with their housing, city services, neighborhood, or street issues. In 2023, the Hartford Data Collaborative and the Hartford Youth Data Fellows analyzed City of Hartford 311 calls and requests to better understand the types of complaints filed and how those requests for service varied by city neighborhoods. Data was provided by the City of Hartford Office of Community Safety, and HDC geocoded address data to identify cases in each neighborhood. Hartford Youth Data Fellows develop data projects about systems that impact them in order to provide data insights to the Hartford community. The 311 calls are part of the Community Safety system.
Analyzing Requests in One Neighborhood: Frog Hollow
Naieem Kelly, 2023 Hartford Youth Data Fellow, reviewed overall complaints by neighborhood and reviewed the top 311 requests in Frog Hollow from 2020-2022.
The Frog Hollow neighborhood has a significant issue with bulky waste violations the illegal dumping of large household items such as furniture and appliances on city streets and sidewalks. This issue not only threatens public health and safety but also contributes to blight and detracts from the overall livability of the neighborhood. Here are some strategies that could help to reduce bulky waste violations in Frog Hollow:
Increase awareness and education: Many residents may not know the proper procedures for disposing of bulky waste or may not have access to the necessary resources. Increasing awareness through targeted outreach campaigns and educational materials can help to promote compliance and reduce violations.
Improve access to waste management services: Residents who do not have access to regular waste collection services may be more likely to resort to illegal dumping. The likelihood of violations may decrease by improving access to waste management services, such as bulky waste pickup or drop-off locations.
Increase enforcement efforts: Strict enforcement of existing laws and regulations surrounding bulky waste violations can deter illegal dumping. This can include increased patrols and fines for violators.
Implement community clean-up events: Community clean-up events can help to mobilize residents and encourage them to take ownership of their neighborhood. By working together to clean up litter and illegal dumping sites, residents can foster a sense of community pride and discourage further violations.
It is important to address bulky waste violations in Frog Hollow and other neighborhoods in Hartford because they threaten public health and safety, detract from the overall livability of the neighborhood, and can negatively impact property values. By implementing strategies to reduce violations, we can improve the quality of life for residents and promote a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant community.
Analyzing One Type of Request in Each Neighborhood
Tatiana Watson, 2023 Hartford Youth Fellow, coded 311 requests into 6 distinct categories: Street and Roadway Safety, Safety and Hazards, Waste Management, Private Property Maintenance, City Property Maintenance, Health and Hygiene.
Health and safety request data allows us to examine and identify which neighborhoods may require more assistance from the city. The neighborhoods with the most requests are Frog Hollow and Downtown's residential and frequently visited areas. The areas with the least amount of reports would be the industrial and business areas in South Meadows.
This map reflects the number of reports reported from each neighborhood. The data have limitations; not all reports have specific addresses or neighborhood assignments. It also does not monitor the trends of each neighborhood.
Hartford Youth Data Fellows create community-based data projects through a paid fellowship with the Hartford Data Collaborative. To read more about their work and see the full data projects, click here.
To review more Hartford data projects by CTData, cick here.