Sixty-two percent of respondants in a survey conducted by United Way said shelter for victims of neglect, abuse or domestic abuse was a primary need in the county and 74 percent said abuse or domestic violence of children and adults was of major concern, Lynne Olson, director of the United Way said.

The highest ranking concern was meth and illegal drug use.

The survey, conducted in 2005, was a collaborative effort between United Way, Otter Tail County Public Health, Otter Tail County Social Services, Otter Tail County Family Services Collaborative, and the Ottertail-Wadena Community Action Council.

Jill Fazio, manager of Someplace Safe, said she was somewhat surprised by the results.

“On some level they’re not suprising because I know what a huge need it is,” Fazio said. “But it suprised me that so many other people could identify that.”

Domestic violence is far reaching across the county, Fazio said. A 1998 survey conducted by Someplace Safe found that one out of four people had domestic violence ocurring in their home.

Olson said this is the first time United Way has conducted a community assessment of this nature in a long time, but now plans to conduct one every three years.

“We want to know what the community thinks the pressing needs are,” Olson said.

United Way uses the information gleaned from the surveys to mark priority areas for funding, she said.

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