HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 7/28/2020 - Memorandum From Adam Molzer Re: Fort Collins Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis
Social Sustainability
222 Laporte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6757
MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 22, 2020
TO: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director
FROM: Adam Molzer, City Grants and Community Partnerships Coordinator
RE: Fort Collins Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis
Bottom Line: The Fort Collins Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis report is a comprehensive
collection of current data, trends and findings on the housing market and social issue areas
in Fort Collins. An updated version of the Gaps Analysis was completed in June 2020 and is
now available for the public, businesses, policymakers and service providers to review and
utilize.
The executive summary is attached, and the complete report can be viewed by visiting
fcgov.com/socialsustainability/documents
Areas of Focus: The Gaps Analysis addresses the following social issue areas:
• Housing
• Homelessness
• Persons Living in Poverty
• Health and Wellness
• Education, At-Risk Youth and Childcare
• Diversity and Equity
• Target Populations: Persons with Disabilities, Seniors, Victims of Domestic Violence
Process: The City’s first Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis was developed in 2014 and has
been used to inform programming, funding and policy recommendations. Recognizing that
the data was becoming dated, and that several internal and HUD-required planning efforts
would benefit from a current analysis, the Social Sustainability Department contracted with
Root Policy Research to update the report. Federal funding sourced from HUD was used to
pay for the work.
Research, stakeholder interviews and analysis began in October 2019, and the draft report
was delivered in March 2020. The report was reviewed and revised throughout the spring
months, and the final documents were completed in June 2020.
The report recognizes that the local effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are not measured or
reflected in the analysis, due to the timing lag in validated data and the flux of impacts from
the crisis in progress.
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Key Findings: The research analysis produced several notable gaps and themes, including:
• Shifting demographics and rising housing costs highlight areas of inequality.
• Disproportionate impacts on racial and ethnic minorities are cross-cutting in all subject areas.
• To stabilize the workforce and break intergenerational poverty, focus on children.
• There is inadequate funding and capacity for the well-developed network of social
service providers.
• Stabilizing households requires integrating and expanding existing services.
Next Steps:
• Details about the Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis’ will be rolled out to service
providers, internal City departments and other community stakeholders.
• A webinar will be convened in early August for the parties mentioned above to learn more
about the volume of data available for their use in the Gaps Analysis report.
• The City’s Boards & Commissions that have aligned interests with the Gaps Analysis will
receive information on how to access the material.
• The Sustainability Service Area (Social, Economic, Environmental) will further evaluate
and incorporate the report’s key findings and data trends into their service delivery,
planning (affordable housing, human service priorities, equity indicators) and desired
outcomes for the community.
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City of Fort Collins
Social Sustainability
Gaps Analysis
2020 Update
Executive Summary
Root Policy Research
6740 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220
www.rootpolicy.com
970.880.1415
PREPARED FOR:
City of Fort Collins
Social Sustainability Department
CREATED
June 2020
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Social sustainability
is the practice of
ensuring healthy
social systems so
that people in our
community can
thrive. We do this
through partnerships,
programs and policies
that provide equity
and opportunities for
all.
The following gaps
analysis is a 2020
update to the original
analysis conducted
in 2014 and was
completed prior
to the outbreak of
COVID-19.
2012 is generally used
as the benchmark
year to evaluate
changes in the
market since the last
iteration of this gaps
analysis.
The City commissioned an update to the gaps analysis, originally
conducted in 2014, as part of its initiative to build a cohesive,
coordinated approach to community sustainability across City
departments.
The Social Sustainability Gaps Analysis is intended to provide
a high level overview of current trends in the Fort Collins
community, related to various components of social sustainability,
including but not limited to housing, homelessness, poverty,
health, wellness, education, diversity, and the needs of special
populations.
The analysis will help inform the City of Fort Collins’ strategic
planning process and decision-making related to social
sustainability by providing a quantitative and qualitative
assessment of supportive service gaps in the community.
What is Social
Sustainability?
Housing
Target
Populations
Homelessness
Poverty
Health +
Wellness
At Risk Youth +
Education
Diversity +
Equity
Social Sustainability
2Executive Summary
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Shifting demographics and rising housing costs
highlight areas of inequality.
Key themes and gaps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Inadequate funding and capacity for the well-
developed network of social service providers.
Focus on children to stabilize the workforce and
break intergenerational poverty.
Disproportionate impacts on racial and ethnic
minorities are cross-cutting in all subject areas.
Stabilizing households requires integrating and
expanding existing services.
3
Fort Collins Social
Sustainability Gaps Analysis
Executive Summary
Fort Collins is changing. The City lost low income households
(in part due to rising home prices and rents), median
incomes increased, chronic homelessness increased, poverty
decreased overall but continues to disproportionately impact
minorities, and the population is aging.
Social service providers are at capacity and struggle to keep
up with demand for services in healthcare, homelessness
prevention, affordable housing, and childcare. Providers
emphasized the cohesiveness of services in the community
and expressed this as a funding and capacity issue.
Research shows programs that focus on children are
impactful in breaking intergenerational poverty, stabilizing
households through childcare, increasing economic stability
through childcare, and improving health and educational
outcomes for children in the community.
Racial and ethnic minorities in the community are more likely
to experience negative outcomes related to poverty, housing
cost burden, low median income, educational attainment, lack
of representation in leadership roles, and access to healthy
and affordable foods.
Stabilizing households involves the spectrum of social
sustainability service areas including housing, homelessness
prevention and intervention, youth supports, equitable
policies, health and wellness, poverty support, and services
that suit the unique needs of our targeted populations. While
social services in the community are cohesive, there is a need
for capacity expansion and increased duration of support
services for households.
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4Executive Summary
Affordability of
housing decreased
from 2012 to 2018.
While household
incomes increased,
the City lost a
significant portion
of the low income
population.
The need for
accessible, affordable
housing continues to
rise with the aging
population.
Manufactured
housing preservation
efforts are underway
to maintain this
naturally occurring
affordable inventory
and improve livability
in these communities.
Housing gaps
4%
7%
12%
15%
12%
23%
13%
11%
4%
2%3%
5%
4%
6%
17%
25%24%
12%
< $500 $500 to
$650
$650 to
$800
$800 to
$899
$900 to
$999
$1,000 to
$1,249
$1,250 to
$1,499
$1,500 to
$1,999
> $2,000
2012 2018
Median household income increased.
Change in Renter
Households, 2012-2018
Fort Collins renter households
earning less than $25,000
decreased by nearly 3,000
households while households
earning more than $75,000
increased by nearly 4,000
households.
Substantial loss of naturally occurring affordable units
priced under $1,250.
-24%
+105%
-2,829 households
<$25,000
+3,958 households
>$75,000
Median household income
increased by 60 percent for
renters (or $18,882) and
19 percent (or $15,026) for
owners.
Nearly 950 affordable rentals were built in the City since 2012;
however, that increase was overshadowed by a decline in market-
rate units affordable to lower income households. Overall, there
was a 40 percent drop in rental units priced below $1,250 per
month.
$31,314
$80,916
$50,196
$95,942
Median renter
income
Median owner
income
2012
2018
Low income renter households left the City.
Rental Units by Monthly Rent, 2012-2018
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The rental gap decreased but still shows a shortage of
units for low income households.
Homeownership is out of reach for many, and
affordability decreased.
The need for accessible, affordable units increased, and
will continue to increase with the aging population.
Protections for manufactured housing communities are
a priority for the City.
5Executive Summary
The City could benefit from
as many as 2,600 additional
housing subsidies, which
is an improvement from
2012 when the need was
closer to 4,000 units. Some
of this improvement reflects
the efforts of the City and
Housing Catalyst to increase
the supply of affordable
housing. However, it also
reflects the reality that some
low income households have
been displaced from the City.
There are 7,000 homeowners (21% of all owners) in Fort Collins
that cannot afford their monthly housing costs. In addition,
renters wanting to buy have very few options in the market until
they earn around $75,000 per year and can afford homes priced
at $280,000 or higher.
Nearly 4,700 residents are estimated to have an ambulatory
disability, the majority of whom are seniors. As the population
of Fort Collins ages, the need for accessible, affordable units will
continue to rise.
Manufactured housing community residents are particularly vulnerable to changes in the
housing market. Short term solutions to alleviate disputes within communities and protect
communities against redevelopment are underway. However, long term stabilizing policies have
not been implemented.
More than 60 percent
of homebuyers
who participated in
Neighbor to Neighbor’s
homebuyer education
program in Fort Collins
purchased a home
outside the City.
in 2018
11%in 201223%Renters that can
Afford the Median
Priced Home
Households with at
Least one Disabled
Resident
in 2018
17%in 201214%
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Homelessness
increased in the City
from 2012 to 2018.
The prevalence of
chronic homelessness
increased, indicating
a need for expanded
supportive services
for this population.
More than 1,000
students were
homeless throughout
the 2017 to 2018
school year in Poudre
School District.
Service providers
work well together
to meet the needs of
this population, but
additional funding
is needed to expand
services to meet
demand.
Homelessness
gaps
Homelessness increased.
The share of unsheltered, chronic, and Veteran
homelessness all increased.
Expanded services require additional funding, and
service providers are at capacity.
Homelessness captured in the point-in-time survey on a single
night increased by nearly 100 individuals from 2013 to 2019.
Emergency shelter beds increased by 45 beds during that time,
resulting in an increased gap in emergency shelter beds.
Increased case management capacity
Focus on deterrence (e.g., rent assistance)
Youth focused shelter and services
Permanent supportive housing and transitional housing
Mental and physical healthcare access
2013
Top needs identified by service providers include:
2019
6Executive Summary
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6%7%8%
19%19%
16%
21%
26%26%25%
Fort Collins, CO Boulder, CO Laramie, WY Logan, UT Las Cruces, NM
Family rate Individual rate
Poverty decreased
citywide from 2012 to
2018.
Poverty largely
decreased for
residents who are
educated, employed,
and white.
Minorities are
disproportionately
impacted by poverty
in Fort Collins.
Fort Collins has a
relatively low poverty
rate for a community
with a large university
presence.
Persons in
Poverty gaps
Poverty decreased citywide, but not all residents
experienced the same economic growth.
Poverty in Fort Collins is lower than peer communities
in surrounding states with large universities.
Minorities
People with disabilities
People with lower educational attainment
Poverty rates are
highest for:
9%
19%
10%
14%
17%
28%
23%
24%
15%
14%
6%
16%
9%
10%
16%
22%
21%
29%
27%
20%
Families
Individuals
Individuals (without students)
Children
Non-Hispanic White
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino
Less than High School
Disabled
Asian
2012
2018
The individual poverty rate is 16 percent (25,400
individuals); however, without including the 18 to 24 age
cohort (due to CSU students) the individual poverty rate
drops to nine percent (11,372 individuals).
Poverty Rate,
2012-2018
Poverty Rate,
2018
7Executive Summary
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The need for mental
health and substance
abuse services
increased in the City.
Access to healthy
food remains a
problem in the
community which
disproportionately
impacts Hispanic
households.
Several facilities
will expand mental
health and substance
abuse services, but
stakeholders indicate
that gaps in capacity
will remain.
Health +
Wellness gaps
Mental health challenges, suicide, and substance abuse
(e.g., drugs and alcohol) increased.
Access to healthy and affordable food is not equal.
Additional services are needed to meet community
needs.
Gap in 20- to 90-day short term residential programs and longer-term support for substance abuse and mental health
Lack of mental or behavioral health services for children under 10 years old
Persistent stigma around food benefits and a reduction in the utilization of food programs, not the need
Top needs identified by service providers include:
Several facilities are in the
planning and development
phase within the City to meet
these needs around mental
health and substance abuse.
2013
2019
All three Census tracts that are designated as food deserts by
the USDA have a high share of SNAP recipients. Two of the three
tracts also have a high share of Hispanic residents (greater than
10%).
NEW BEDS16 Garcia
House64Behavioral Health
Services Facility
8Executive Summary
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At-risk youth and
childcare are top
priorities for the
City to address
intergenerational
poverty, improve
outcomes for
children, and increase
workforce capacity.
Generally, the at-risk
population remains
unchanged since
2012. Economic
stability increased
while household and
educational stability
decreased.
There is a gap in
childcare capacity
in the City of 645
for children under 6
years old. This is likely
an underestimate
of need due to the
prevalence of in
commuting from
Larimer and Weld
Counties.
At-Risk Youth
+ Education
gaps
Economic stability among at-risk youth improved with
the economic expansion following the Great Recession.
Household and educational stability remained
unchanged, and in some cases increased.
Childcare provision is a top priority to target at risk
youth; however, gaps in childcare capacity persist.
In 2018, nearly 3,000 children (10%) are living in poverty and 31
percent of students in Poudre School District are eligible for free
and reduced lunch. The child poverty rate decreased from 14
percent in 2012 to 10 percent in 2018.
858
1,021 988 953
1,142
1,043
739
900
1,034
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18
1,000 homeless students in PSD
350 neglected or abused children
1,300 who have severe mental illness
1,700 who leave school because of dropping out or are suspended/expelled
As many as 5,500 who are less than proficient on standardized tests
At-Risk Youth Include:
Homeless Students in PSD
9Executive Summary
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Diversity and equity
are cross-cutting in
all elements of Social
Sustainability.
Gaps in racial
and ethnic equity
are evident in
income, poverty,
and educational
attainment in the
City.
There is an interest
in developing a
framework to
benchmark diversity
and equity indicators
in the community.
Diversity +
Equity gaps
The City has made a commitment to improve equity
in the community, and that requires the removal of
obstacles that prevent historically marginalized groups
from thriving.
Racial and ethnic disparities in income and poverty are
evident in Fort Collins.
Disparities are also apparent in educational attainment
for Hispanic and African American residents.
Stakeholders identified additional inequities in the
community that are not prevalent in quantitative data.
Disparity in public investment and access to services (geographically)
Underrepresentation of people of color in leadership roles across multiple sectors
Dominance of Christian ethos
Qualitative gaps identified by stakeholders:
The City views diversity as the full range of human difference
including ethnicity, familial status, gender identity, age,
marital status, national origin, geographic background,
race, religious and spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation,
socioeconomic status, disability, or veteran status.
10Executive Summary
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Target populations
of residents with a
disability, seniors, and
victims of domestic
violence increased.
Expanded services
are needed as these
populations are
expected to continue
to rise.
Common themes
in service needs
include affordable,
accessible housing;
emergency support
and rapid access to
services; ongoing and
enhanced services;
and a broader range
of transportation
options.
Target
Populations
gaps
The population with a disability increased, and will
continue to increase as the population ages.
Fort Collins is home to 18,000 seniors. By 2030, the
senior population in the City could approach 26,500.
Prevalence of domestic violence
increased.
Challenges finding employment and working full time
Affordable and accessible housing
Enhanced community services
Transportation options
Housing options for grandfamilies
Visitable and accessible housing
Affordable rental housing
Social service supports and transportation
Emergency health care services
Safehouses and transitional housing
Counseling and mental health support
Faster access to mental health services
Permanent, affordable housing
Top needs identified for residents with
a disability:
Top needs identified for senior residents:
Top needs identified for victims of
domestic violence:
Approximately 14,500 persons in Fort
Collins have one or more types of
disabilities. Seniors make up nearly 70
percent of these residents and have the
highest disability incidence rate.
Seniors have the highest incidence rate
of disability in the City. This, coupled with
the high proportion of seniors who live
alone—25 percent—means that home
health care support and disabilities services
needs will increase significantly in the
future.
11Executive Summary
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