Item 2- Economic Snapshot Presentation — original pdf

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Austin/Travis County 2025 Community Health Assessment Executive Summary • • • • • Region of 1.3+ million residents with rapid growth and increasing diversity Health inequities follow lines of race, income, and geography—reflecting systemic barriers Key challenges: housing instability, mental health crisis, healthcare access gaps Nearly 1/4 of households are ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) Community resilience and grassroots leadership offer pathways forward Population Characteristics 1.3+ Million Travis County residents (2023) Demographic Profile • • • • Hispanic/Latine residents: ~1/3 of population Nearly 30% speak language other than English at home Population aging: growing share of older adults (65+) Need for culturally responsive & age-friendly services critical Economic Stability: The ALICE Challenge ~24% Households classified as ALICE • ALICE = Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (working but unable to afford basics) Key Economic Barriers • • • Stagnant wages while housing & living costs rise rapidly Renters: nearly 50% spend >30% of income on housing Food insecurity, especially among children, remains challenge Healthcare Access Disparities 1 in 7 Travis County residents under 65 uninsured Access Barriers • • • • Coverage gaps disproportionately affect Black, Latino, and immigrant communities Cost, transportation, and language barriers prevent timely preventive care Primary care & behavioral health services limited in under-resourced neighborhoods Delays in diagnosis and treatment from access gaps Mental Health: Widespread Community Concern Rising Distress Across Groups • Youth and young adults: academic stress, social isolation, trauma • Working mothers: caregiving burden, financial strain, burnout • Communities experiencing poverty and trauma: compounded stress System Barriers • Fragmented, often inaccessible system of care • Workforce shortages, stigma, and cultural disconnects limit service use Chronic Disease: Disproportionate Impact Prevalent Conditions • • Diabetes, hypertension, asthma remain widespread, especially in low-income communities Risk factors tied to environmental conditions: poor nutrition, limited physical activity Root Causes • • Neighborhoods lack: sidewalks, transit, grocery stores, healthcare facilities, green space Environmental hazards (extreme heat, flooding) disproportionately affect vulnerable areas Housing Instability: A Core Health Driver The Crisis • • Renters: ~50% spend more than 30% of income on housing Rising displacement, overcrowding, unaffordable rents undermine health Health Consequences • • • Difficulty managing chronic conditions with unstable housing Limited access to basic services (utilities, healthcare) when displaced Gentrification and exclusion from economic opportunity perpetuate inequity Place-Based Inequities: East & Southeast Austin Persistent Geographic Disparities • • Black and Latine residents in East/Southeast Travis County face compounded disadvantages Higher rates of: chronic disease, violence exposure, housing instability, limited healthcare access Root Causes • • Historical racial segregation, economic exclusion, neighborhood disinvestment Long-standing structural racism continues to shape opportunity and health outcomes Education Gains, Yet Economic Equity Lags Progress & Persistent Gaps • • High school completion and college enrollment rising among historically excluded communities Educational attainment remains strong predictor of health The Disconnect • • Resource disparities persist across schools; economic equity has not kept pace Students of color underrepresented in higher-paying fields, experience wage gaps Built Environment: Limiting Health & Safety Neighborhood Infrastructure Deficits • • Limited sidewalks & public transit reduce physical activity, increase injury risk Lack of green spaces contributes to isolation and physical inactivity Environmental Health Hazards • • Extreme heat, flooding, and pollution disproportionately affect low-income areas Historical land use decisions and climate change compound health impacts Preventive Care: Underutilization & Access Gaps Screening & Vaccination Challenges • Many residents forgo screenings and vaccinations due to cost • • Lack of access and mistrust of healthcare system limit preventive service use Preventive care utilization remains uneven across populations Equity Imperative • Addressing systemic barriers critical to reducing chronic disease burden Child Care Costs & Food Insecurity Strain Economic Pressures on Families • • • Lack of affordable child care forces difficult family tradeoffs Families choose between utilities, childcare, transportation, and food Food insecurity highest among children in low-income households Disproportionate Impact • Single-parent households, immigrants, and communities of color most affected Key Cross-Cutting Themes • Structural racism and economic inequality drive health disparities • Mental health: systemic failures limit accessible, equitable, culturally-responsive care • • • Housing instability undermines ability to manage health and access services Healthcare systems hard to navigate; lack cultural alignment with communities Community resilience and grassroots innovation demonstrate potential for change Community Strengths: Assets & Resilience Existing Foundations for Change • • • Strong nonprofit infrastructure and community-based organizations Grassroots leaders building systems of care rooted in cultural knowledge and lived experience Community-led innovation often outpaces institutional responses • Mutual aid and community support networks demonstrate resilience Pathways to Equitable Health Coordinated Action Needed • • • • • Address root causes: housing, income, education, transportation, environment Shift power and resources toward those most impacted by inequities Invest in grassroots leadership and community-driven solutions Build systems that are not only more accessible, but more just Integrate findings into Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Health is Shaped Before Clinical Care Health is determined by housing, income, safety, and dignity. Advancing health equity requires systems change—not just more clinical care. Next Steps: Integrate CHA findings into Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Prioritize populations most affected by inequities Build partnerships across housing, education, transportation, health, and social services Amplify community voice in systems change and policy decisions