|
Last year, more than 1100
survivors of domestic violence received support and
over 7600 nights of shelter were provided through services
affiliated with United Way.
More than 5,000 children
and youth in our community achieve greater self-esteem
through a variety of mentoring and development programs
supported by your gifts to United Way.
32,759 free lunches were
served through the Free Lunch Program last year --
an average of 104 per day.
Last year, 10,340 people
were fed by the Crisis Center -- 3,500 households were
served.
90% of those living at
Youth Homes are abused by parent or caretaker.
89 kids are on a waiting
list for a Big Brother or Big Sister -- 72 of them are
boys.
|
The needs of health and human services in Johnson
County are growing. There are many reasons for this increase in
requests for United Way services. Here are some of the ones we
have been able to identify:
| More people are employed in low-paying service
jobs and temporary jobs who are vital to the economy of this
community, but because of the low pay they cannot afford our
local housing costs and other basic needs, such as food and
child care. |
| Increasing numbers of Johnson County residents
are uninsured or underinsured. We are seeing more and more people
who are unable to pay for their health care – including
medications, mental health care, dental care, substance abuse
treatment, etc. Even with insurance, many cannot afford high
deductibles and co-pays. An increasing number of families are
thrown into crisis (including the loss of their housing) by
the cost of an illness or injury. |
Aging of the population. Increasing
health problems, more medically frail and more complex medical
needs for all persons receiving services (including people with
disabilities), increasing chronic illness requiring ongoing
treatment and medication, increasing stress (financial and emotional)
on families and caregivers are all having an impact on our service
levels.
Diversity - The increasing international
population (immigration, refugee populations, UI international
students, relocating families) places more individuals with
few support networks in our community. Many of these individuals
are not eligible for assistance programs and benefits and have
the additional language and cultural barriers. |
| It won’t come as any surprise to University
faculty and staff that funding issues in our state are a major
issue. In the health and human services world, fewer services
being provided by state which increases referrals and demands
on local provider agencies. Add to that inadequate reimbursement
rates that do not cover provider costs and the problem becomes
clear. |
|
The impact of these changes
in Johnson County are more families in crisis; few services
being funded by the government; and, reduced prevention and
early intervention efforts which lead to more acute/crisis needs.
|
Our most vulnerable
residents are suffering the most
– children, the elderly, and the working poor.
|
There is currently a waiting list of over 900
children with special needs for Home and Community Based Waiver
Services. [Handicare] There are 58 infants and toddlers (under
age 2) on a year-long waiting list, even though they have 72
infant and toddler slots filled.
Requests for services to Community Mental Health Center have
increased 38% in one year – from 65/month to 90/month
this year. [Community Mental Health Center]
Iowa has the second largest percentage of elderly population
in the country. The oldest old (over 85) will constitute the
fastest growing population group in the state, tripling by 2030.
[Elder Services, Inc & Pathways] |
- 1 in 4 households is providing care for an
older adult
- 80% of caregiving for frail elders is done
in the home
- 36% of all caregivers are age 65 or older
themselves
- 72% of all caregivers care for children
and parents simultaneously
|
| Medicaid reimbursement rates have
not increased in over a decade and the number of clients/patients
being served utilizing this funding stream has increased dramatically.
Agencies providing services to Medicaid clients are forced to
find ways to subsidize their care. |
- The number of people served through Medicaid
by the Arc of Johnson County has increased 100% in the past
4 years. [The Arc of Johnson County]
- Half of the persons served by Pathways Adult
Day Health Center and Elder Services are paid through Medicaid
waiver services. [Pathways & Elder Services, Inc.]
- The number of patients seen at the Free
Medical Clinic has increased 8% in the past year. [Free
Medical Clinic]
|
| There are currently 2000 eligible
households waiting for Section 8 housing assistance in Iowa
City. The wait time is 2 years. [Iowa City Housing Authority] |
- Half of those people waiting for housing assistance are
elderly and/or disabled. [Iowa City Housing Authority]
- Johnson County is the most housing cost-burdened county
in the state of Iowa; almost half of all renters in Johnson
County spend more than a third of their income on housing
costs. [Johnson Co. Housing Trust Fund 2003]
- The demand for affordable housing in Johnson County far
exceeds the supply. 12,244 households earning 50% of the
area median income ($38,000) compete for 8,504 rental units
affordable at that level. [Johnson Co. Housing Trust Fund
2003]
- Johnson County’s homeownership rate of 56.6% lags
behind the statewide rate of 72.3%.
|
| Demand for emergency shelter services
at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program has tripled in
the past 3 years. |
- The number of “turn-aways” (people the shelter
cannot serve) has grown “exponentially” over
the past 5 years. Last year, 269 women and children were
refused services because the shelter was full or had inadequate
resources. [DVIP]
- Another 400 calls were received from women needing shelter,
but who were not in a domestic violence situation.
|
|
|
|
