Our Community
In 1995, United Way of Douglas County partnered with the City of Baldwin, City of Eudora, City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Ethel & Raymond Rice Foundation, Perry-Lecompton USD No. 343, Baldwin USD No. 348, Eudora USD No. 491, Lawrence USD No. 497 and Kansas University to produce a comprehensive community needs assessment. This examination of health and human service needs in Douglas County identified 7 areas in which the community needed improvement. Here is where it stands today:
Douglas County, KS
Population: 114, 748
White persons: 87.0%
Black persons: 4.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons: 2.3%
Asian persons: 3.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
Persons reporting two or more races: 2.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher (% of persons 25 and older): 42.7%
Homeownership rate: 51.9%
Households: 38.486
Median household income: $44, 580
Persons below poverty: 15.4%
Land area: 456.87
Source: quickfacts.census.gov, July 2009 |
Agency Coordination
1995 Problems: lack of knowledge of services, duplication of services, heavy reliance on volunteers, difficulty identifying funding sources
Today's statistics
- Increased coordination by Douglas County agencies through collaborations like United Way's Prosperity Partners community impact program (involves 12 community partners)
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Child care
1995 Problems: all 10 SRS-certified facilities were full, shortage of child care
Today's statistics
- Population under 5 years: 5.5% (U.S. avg 6.9%)
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Health care
1995 Problems: low-income groups need help paying health bills and obtaining insurance, near absence of minority service providers, lack of education about health services, difficulty accessing services in rural areas, no central information source, problems exacerbated by lack of public transportation, unemployment and lack of health insurance
Today's statistics
- The Douglas County Community Health Improvement Project (CHIP) was created in 1997 to direct health improvements in the community
- Health Care Access Clinic will serve almost 1800 patients this year, provide $1 million in free medication, and coordinate over $2 million in donated hospital services
- over 80% of Health Care Access Clinic clients are employed, but uninsured
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Future planning
1995 Problems: minimal coordination between agencies, no mechanism for requiring action on recommendations, turnover and variation in terms for elected officials make routine dissemination of data difficult, greatest need is often represented by the minority when decisions are made
Today's statistics
- Individuals 65 years and older below poverty level: 6.3%
- Individuals 65 years and older with a disability: 40.5%
- United Way now requires audits as part of the funding application process
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Transportation
1995 Problems: lack of access for those requiring special accomodations, no comprehensive public transportation system, limits access to health and human services, greater difficulty outside Lawrence
Today's statistics
- Lawrence Transit System began in 2000, also providing transportation to those with disabilities through the T Lift Paratransit system
- Commuting to work, drove alone: 77.0%
- Commuting to work, carpooled: 9.1%
- Commuting to work, public transportation: 1.7%
- Commuting to work, walked: 6.4%
- Occupied housing units , no vehicles available: 5.4%
- Occupied housing units, one vehicle available: 34.0%
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Access to Services
1995 Problems: difficulty mainting contact with several agencies, especially for families with special needs, cost limitations |
Housing
1995 Problems: lack of affordable housing, unemployment, overcrowded housing, need for a voluntary certification program for landlords, lack of access to transportation
Today's statistics
- Families below poverty level: 8.0% (U.S. avg. 9.8%)
- Vacant housing units: 6.5% (U.S. avg. 11.6%)
- Families with food stamp benefits in past 12 months: 3.6%
- Housing, renter-occupied: 43.0%
- Average household size, owner-occupied unit: 2.54
- Average household size, renter-occupied unit: 2.25
- Rent as percentage of household income, 35% or more: 45.4%
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Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2007 American Community Survey
Douglas County Human Services Needs Assessment. Published in Lawrence Journal-World May 3, 1995.
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