Hunger Free Colorado Colorado Statewide Public Opinion Tracking & Issues Survey TOPLINE RESULTS December 1, 2016 Prepared By Kupersmit Research This survey of 400 telephone interviews was conducted among registered voters in Colorado from a voter list, including 40% cell phone sample. The survey was conducted November 16-23, 2013. The margin of error is +4.9% at the 95% confidence level. The A/B in front of questions indicates a split sample, with 200 randomly designated respondents seeing A questions and 200 B questions. When possible, questions are compared to the 2010 and 2013 statewide surveys (each with an n=400). Introduction and Screener Hello, my name is and I am calling on behalf of Standage Research, a Colorado public opinion research company. We are not selling anything; I am calling to ask your opinion about some issues that may be facing voters. SCREENER: 1. Are you 18 years of age or older and registered to vote in Colorado? Yes 100% No TERMINATE INTERVIEW DK/NA/REFUSED TERMINATE INTERVIEW Mood and Priorities 2.T To begin, how would you rate your quality of life here in Colorado? Excellent 33% Very good 30 Good 30 Not so good 5 Poor 1 Not sure 0 Excellent 32% 31% Very good 36 35 Good 29 28 Not so good 3 4 Poor 1 2
3.T What would you say are the three biggest problems facing people in Colorado that you would like to see addressed by your elected leadership? OPEN ENDED, THREE MULIPLE RESPONSES 2016 Economy (generally) 30% 38% 67% Economy (generally) 7% Jobs 14 Wages 9 Traffic/roads 21 10 12 Education/schools 18 32 27 Marijuana 16 - - Health care 15 24 23 Affordable housing 14 7 - Homelessness (specifically) 11 4 3 Environment (clean air, clean water) 10 8 9 Taxes too high 8 15 18 Immigration 8 5 11 Too much growth (generally) 6 3 2 Politics 5 11 - Energy/oil and gas industry/fracking 3 9 5 Government spending too high 3 7 12 Crime/police issues 3 6 - Poverty (generally) 3 3 2 Senior s issues/care for the elderly 3 2 7 Crime/police issues 3 - - Water 1 5 3 Uncertainty about new President 1 Hunger (specifically) - 3 - Other 14 8 6 Not sure 14 8 4 IF ECONOMY (CHOICE 1) 4. What aspect of the economy do you mean? n=27 OPEN ENDED WITH PRE-CODES Too few jobs/unemployment 30% Low wages/not enough money 30 Health care expensive 4 Taxes too high 7 Government spending too high 7 Housing too expensive 7 Other 4 Not sure (DO NOT READ) 11 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 2
5.T Overall, if you had to estimate a number, about what percent of Coloradans would you say are struggling to get by and having a hard time making ends meet right now? 9% or less of all Coloradans 3% 10-19 11 20-29 17 30-39 18 40-49 9 50-59 13 60-69 7 70-79 5 80-89 2 90-100 1 Not sure 13 9% or less of all Coloradans 3% 2 10-19 12 7 20-29 16 15 30-39 16 19 40-49 13 12 50-59 13 15 60-69 10 8 70-79 5 6 80-100 8 6 Not sure 6 10 6.T What about in your local community, meaning the neighborhood or town where you live? About what percent of the people in your local community would you say are struggling to get by and make ends meet right now? 9% or less of those in local area 22% 10-19 13 20-29 15 30-39 10 40-49 4 50-59 12 60-69 6 70-79 6 80-89 3 90-100 1 Not sure 8 9% or less in local area 14% 11% 10-19 15 19 20-29 15 16 30-39 13 10 40-49 8 11 50-59 11 9 60-69 4 5 70-79 6 3 80-89 5 5 100 3 4 Not sure 9 7 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 3
Awareness, Actions and Organizations Top-of-Mind: Awareness 7.T In general, how important an issue do you think hunger is relative to all of the problems we are facing here in Colorado? Is it.. READ LIST The most important issue we need to work on 6% An extremely important issue 20 Very important 36 Somewhat important 25 Not very important 8 Not at all important 4 Not sure (VOLUNTEERED) 2 Most important 6% 4% Extremely important 25 19 Very important 39 38 Somewhat important 24 28 Not very important 4 8 Not at all important 1 2 Not sure 2 1 8.T Would you say that hunger is an issue where things are getting better, getting worse or staying about the same? (Is that much or a little better/worse?) Much better 2% A little better 10 Staying about the same 50 A little worse 17 Much worse 14 Not sure 6 Much better 2% 1% A little better 9 6 Staying about the same 43 41 A little worse 16 25 Much worse 26 23 Not sure 5 4 Message Recall 9.T Do you remember seeing or hearing any advertising or educational messages about the issue of hunger in the past year? Yes 54% No 46 Not sure 0 Yes 68% 55% No 31 39 Not sure 2 6 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 4
10.T Have you volunteered, donated or done anything else on the issue of hunger in the past 12 months? OPEN ENDED RESPONSES WITH PRE-CODES, MULTIPLE RESPONSES Have donated canned food to a drive 44% Donated money to church, non-profit, soup kitchen 32 Have worked/volunteered for a church, non-profit, soup kitchen 14 Gave money/food to a person 7 Paid my taxes 3 Purchased/donated pre-packed meals for the hungry 3 Talked to people about the issue 1 No, have not done anything 30 Not sure 1 Other (SPECIFY) 1 Have donated canned food to a drive 53% 45% Donated money to church, non-profit, soup kitchen 32 39 Have worked/volunteered for a church, 20 20 non-profit, soup kitchen Purchased/donated pre-packed meals for the hungry 3 6 Talked to people about the issue 2 2 Try to eat everything, not waste food 1 3 Gave money/food to a person 11 5 Paid my taxes 2 1 No, have not done anything 20 12 Other (SPECIFY) 2 2 Not sure 2 7 11.T Do you think hunger is an issue where government is doing too much, about the right amount or too little? (Is that way too much or a bit too much/little?) Doing way too much 3% A bit too much 7 About the right amount 23 A bit too little 29 Doing way too little 28 Not sure 11 * Doing way too much 10% 3% A bit too much 5 3 About right 15 30 A bit too little 24 29 Doing way too little 33 19 Not sure 14 17 *2010: Do you think hunger is an issue where government in Colorado and in your local community is doing too much, about the right amount or too little? Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 5
12.T If the government needed to cut programs to balance the budget, would you support or oppose cuts to programs that address hunger? Is that strongly or somewhat? Strongly support cutting hunger programs 9% Somewhat support 13 Somewhat oppose 18 Strongly oppose 48 Neither support nor oppose (VOL.) 5 Not sure 7 2013* 2010** Strongly support 9% 7% Somewhat support 12 10 Somewhat oppose 15 21 Strongly oppose 50 49 Neither (VOL.) 9 5 Not sure 5 8 * Federal government ** State or local government 13.T If a candidate for state or local office strongly favored programs to end hunger in Colorado and made it a top priority that no Coloradan goes hungry, would it make you more likely to vote for them, less likely or not affect your vote? (Is that much or somewhat more likely?) Much more likely to vote for 31% Somewhat more likely to vote for 23 Not affect my vote 32 Less likely to vote for them 8 Not sure 6 2013 results: Much more likely 34% Somewhat more 21 Not affect 32 Less likely 6 Not sure 8 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 6
Policy ROTATE THE STATEMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING: I am going to read you two statements, and ask which comes closer to your view: 14. Some say that the best approach to the issue of hunger is a combination of government and private charities, and that we should support and strengthen programs like food stamps and charities like food pantries the best we can. Some say that the best approach to the issue of hunger is to trust in private organizations like churches and food pantries, and that government tends to make things worse when it tries to help. Which of these comes closer to your view? (Is that much closer to your view, or just a bit closer?) Combination Strongly 35% Combination Somewhat 20 Neither 3 Just private Somewhat 15 Just private Strongly 23 Not sure 2 Changing topics slightly, 15.T As you might know, there have recently been cuts to the food stamp program, and there may be proposals in Congress to cut food stamps further. Which of the following best describes your view: ROTATE LIST UP/DOWN Food stamps should be increased, not cut 27% Food stamps should be left where they are today 36 Food stamps should be cut, but only by a little 15 Food stamps should be cut, by as much as possible 11 Not sure 12 2013 results: Increased, not cut 28% Left where they are 33 Cut, a little 17 Cut, as much as possible 11 Not sure 10 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 7
Food stamps currently provide one dollar and thirty eight cents per meal per person in a household, on average in Colorado. For a family of four, this translates to about thirty eight dollars a week. 16. Some research suggests that some people have heard that food stamps provide more money than this. Have you heard that food stamps provide more than a dollar thirty eight per meal, or have you never heard that? (IF MORE: Is that a lot more, or just a bit more?) Heard it is much more than $1.38 8% A bit more than $1.38 3 Never heard this/unaware of amount 86 Heard it is less (DO NOT READ) 1 Not sure 1 IF THEY HAVE HEARD IT IS A BIT MORE/A LOT MORE: For the purposes of this survey, please assume for the next question that food stamps provide one dollar and thirty eight cents per person for a meal, and then feel free to comment as we proceed. IF NEVER HEARD, HEARD IT IS LESS OR UNSURE, CONTINUE HERE: 17. In your view, is one dollar and thirty eight cents per meal way too much, a bit too much, about right, a bit too low, or much too low? Way too much 2% A bit too much 0 About right 16 A bit too low 27 Much too low 49 Not sure 6 Changing topics slightly again, Some people have said that an important priority for fighting hunger is increasing access to existing programs and aid that is tied up in red tape. They point out that many government agencies use outdated, inefficient communications and technology, and say we must do more to get rid of unnecessary bureaucracy so that help gets to the people who qualify for it. 18.A Given this, would you support or oppose using taxpayer dollars here in Colorado to invest in better technology and tracking systems for government benefit programs if they can be shown to increase efficiency, reduce red tape and find cost savings for taxpayers? Strongly support 50% Somewhat support 29 Neither (DO NOT READ) 1 Somewhat oppose 5 Strongly oppose 9 Not sure 5 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 8
B. Given this, would you support or oppose using taxpayer dollars here in Colorado that could be matched by federal dollars to invest in better technology and tracking systems for government benefit programs if they can be shown to increase efficiency, reduce red tape and find cost savings for taxpayers? Strongly support 47% Somewhat support 33 Neither (DO NOT READ) 2 Somewhat oppose 6 Strongly oppose 8 Not sure 3 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 9
Personal Experience The following final questions that are used for statistical purposes, and are not identified with you in any way: 19. First, have you or anyone you know personally been affected by the issue of hunger, and have experienced hunger in this past year? ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES You personally 5% People you know personally 31 No, I do not know someone who has gone hungry 69 Not sure/refused 0 20. Have you or anyone you know personally used SNAP or food stamps in the past few years? ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES You personally 6% People you know personally 44 No, I do not know someone who has used SNAP 53 Not sure/refused 1 21. Have you or anyone you know personally used a food pantry in the past few years? ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES You personally 7% People you know personally 40 No, I do not know someone who has used SNAP 58 Not sure/refused 1 22. If you were to experience job loss or economic stress, which of the following would you possibly turn to for help if you were forced to skip meals, or choose between food and other necessities such as housing or medicine? Please say yes for each one as I read; would you turn to READ IN SAME ORDER EACH TIME, ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSE Family and friends 84% Food pantry 65 A church or other faith based organization 63 Other non-profit organization 52 Food stamps, also known as SNAP 49 Would not turn to anyone (DO NOT READ) 2 Would not be in this position/would not apply to me (DNR) 2 Not sure 0 IF OTHER NON-PROFITS: 23. You mentioned other non-profits above; do any specific ones come to mind? OPEN ENDED Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 10
Demographics 24. Now, thinking about your political affiliation, would you say you consider yourself to be a Democrat, Republican, another party or Independent? (Is that a strong or do you just lean that way?): ROTATE UP/DOWN Strong Democrat 22% Lean Democrat 6 Lean Republican 10 Strong Republican 20 Independent (general) 32 Green party 0 Libertarian Party 1 Other party 3 Not sure/refused 4 25. Do you generally consider yourself to be liberal, moderate or conservative? Liberal 24% Moderate 34 Conservative 33 Not sure 9 26. How often do you attend church or religious services? More than once a week 8% Once a week 22 2-3 times a month 9 Once a month 7 Once every few months 7 Once or twice a year 12 Every few years 8 Never 23 Not sure/refused 4 27. Which of the following best describes your age? 18-24 3% 25-34 8 35-49 23 50-64 32 65+ 31 Not sure/refused 2 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 11
28. What is your current marital status? Single 19% Married 60 Widowed 9 Divorced 11 Not sure/refused 2 29. Do you currently have any children under the age of 18 living in your household? Yes 28% No 70 DK Not sure/refused 2 30. Are you currently: (READ LIST) Employed full time 46% Employed part-time 10 A homemaker 3 Retired 33 A student 2 Unemployed and looking for a job 2 Unemployed and not looking for a job 2 Not sure/refused 2 31. Which of the following best describes your ethnic or racial background: White, Caucasian, not including White Hispanic 78% Hispanic, including White Hispanic 7 Black, African-American 3 Asian 1 Native American 1 Multi-racial 3 Other 1 Not sure/refused 4 32. Which of the following best describes your household income for the year 2015? Less than $19,999 per year 11% $20-$29,999 8 $30-$39,999 9 $40-$49,999 5 $50-$74,999 18 $75-$99,999 12 $100-$149,999 9 $150,000 or more 10 Not sure/refused 17 Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 12
33. Which of the following best describes your gender identity? Female 52% Male 47 Transgender - Prefer not to say 1 Thank you for your time. AFTER THE CALL: 34. RECORD SURVEY DURATION IN MINUTES 35. CODE COUNTY, CD 36. CODE PARTY ID Hunger Free Colorado Statewide Tracking and Issues 2016 Survey TOPLINE RESULTS p. 13