Town of Normal Illinois

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Consolidated Housing and Community

Produced for Development U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Plan Produced by Department of Community Development of the Town of Normal and Applied Social Research Unit of Illinois State University January 2000 Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

TABLES AND FIGURES 4

SUBPART B—CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND CONSULTATION 6

§91.105 Citizen Participation Plan: local governments 6 (a) Applicability and adoption of the Citizen Participation Plan 6 (b) Development of the Consolidated Plan 10 (c) Amendments 11 (d) Performance reports 12 (e) Public hearings 12 (f) Reasonable accommodations and timely access to local meetings 12 (g) Availability of Consolidated Plan, substantial amendments, and performance reports to the public 13 (h) Access to records 13 (i) Technical assistance to groups representative of persons of low- and moderate-income to develop proposals for funding assistance 13 (j) Appropriate and practicable procedures to handle complaints re: Consolidated Plan, amendments, and performance reports 13 (k) Use of Citizen Participation Plan 13 (l) Jurisdiction responsibility 13

§91.200 General 14 (a) Submission of information required in §91.205—§91.230 14 (b) Description of lead agency and significant aspects of the Consolidated Plan development process 14

§91.205 Housing and homeless needs assessment 15 (a) General: estimated housing needs projected for the next five years 15 (b) Categories of persons affected 15 (c) Homeless needs 16 (d) Other special needs 17 (e) Lead-based paint hazards 22

§91.210 Housing Market Analysis 24 (a) General characteristics 24 (b) Public and Assisted Housing 28 (c) Homeless facilities 31 (d) Special needs facilities and services 33 (e) Barriers to affordable housing 33

§91.215 Strategic Plan 42 (a) General 42 (b) Affordable housing 45 (c) Homelessness 46 (d) Other special needs: priority service needs of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing 50 (e) Non-housing community development 52 (f) Barriers to affordable housing 56 (g) Lead-based paint hazards 56 (h) Anti-poverty strategy 56

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 1 (i) Institutional structure 58 (j) Coordination 60 (k) Public housing resident initiatives 62

§91.230 Monitoring 63

APPENDIX INTRODUCTION: CONSOLIDATED PLAN DEVELOPMENT 64

APPENDIX 1A: HOUSEHOLD SURVEY METHODS 66

Survey development 66

Survey sampling 66

Survey administration 67

Response rate and representativeness 67

Data entry and analysis 69

APPENDIX 1B: NORMAL RESIDENTS’ HOUSEHOLD SURVEY RESPONSES 70

APPENDIX 1C: NORMAL RESIDENTS’ HOUSEHOLD SURVEY COMMENTS ABOUT HOUSING IN MCLEAN COUNTY, (QUESTION19) 71

APPENDIX 1D: NORMAL RESIDENTS’ HOUSEHOLD SURVEY COMMENTS ABOUT GREATEST CONCERNS IN MCLEAN COUNTY, (QUESTION 57) 75

APPENDIX 1E: NORMAL RESIDENTS’ HOUSEHOLD SURVEY COMMENTS ABOUT MOST LIKED ATTRIBUTES OF MCLEAN COUNTY, (QUESTION 58) 88

APPENDIX 2: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS’ SURVEY METHODS 98

Survey development 98

Mail list 98

Survey administration 99

Response rate 100

Data entry and analysis 100

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 2 APPENDIX 3: FOCUS GROUP METHODS 101

Focus group development 101

Focus group administration 103

Focus group summary and analysis 104

APPENDIX 4: KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW METHODS 105

Key Informant Development, Scheduling, and Interviewing 105

Key informant summary and analysis 106

APPENDIX 5: ASSESSMENT 2000 AND CONSOLIDATED PLAN PARTICIPANTS 107

APPENDIX 6: ASSESSMENT 2000: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN MCLEAN COUNTY: SUMMARY REPORT 111

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 3 Tables and Figures

Table 1: Projected Housing Demand, 1990 to 2005 15 Table 2: Number and Types of Families in Need of Assistance in the Town of Normal 15 Table 3: Number and Percent of Homeless (Sheltered, Unsheltered Who Contacted PATH) Heads of Household by Race, June 1998 to May 1999 16 Table 4: Number and Percent of Sheltered Homeless Population by Race and Gender, June 1998 to May 1999 17 Table 5: Priority Needs of Non-Homeless Persons Who Require Supportive Services: Estimated Priority Units and Estimated Dollars to Address Needs in Bloomington-Normal, 1999 17 Table 6: Number of Children with Elevated Lead-Blood Levels in McLean County (Micrograms per Deciliter), 1996 to 1997 23 Table 7: Number and Percent of Children with Lead-Blood Levels > 15 Micrograms per Deciliter in McLean County, 1990, 1992 to 1996 23 Table 8: Number and Percent of Children with Lead-Blood Levels > 25 Micrograms per Deciliter in McLean County, 1990, 1992 to 1996 24 Table 9: Number of Residential Building Permits in Normal by Type, 1997 to 1999 24 Table 10: Number and Average Price of A Home Sold in Bloomington-Normal, 1995 to 1999 25 Table 11: Number and Percent of Homes Sold by Price and Number of Bedrooms 26 Figure 1: Minority Households in the Town of Normal 27 Figure 2: Estimated Median Income in the Town of Normal 28 Table 12: Number, Type of Units, Capacity, and Population Served of Subsidized Housing in Normal, 1999 30 Table 13: Inventory of Permanent Supportive Housing by Housing Type, Type of Client, and Number of Clients Served 31 Table 14: Transitional Housing in Bloomington-Normal by Size of Unit 31 Table 15: Transitional Housing in Bloomington-Normal: Location, Size, and Sponsor 32 Table 16: Shelter Facilities in Bloomington-Normal 33 Table 17: Shelter Facility, Case Management, and Restrictions 33 Table 18: Selected Factors About the Sale of Houses, Condominiums, and Duplexes in Bloomington-Normal, 1990 to 1999 34 Table 19: Average Housing Costs as a Percent of Household Income in Bloomington-Normal, 1990 to 1998 35 Table 20: Total Household Income by Income Range for the Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area, 1999 35 Table 21: Total Household Income by Income Range and Affordable Housing Costs Established at 30% of Income 36

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 4 Table 22: Average Monthly Rent of Apartments in Bloomington-Normal by Region, November 1998 36 Table 23: Income and Percent of Income Needed to Afford Fair Market Rents (FMR) in Bloomington-Normal, 1999 38 Table 24: Wages Needed to Afford Fair Market Rents (FMR) in Bloomington Normal, 1999 38 Table 25: Maximum Affordable Housing Costs by Percent of Family Annual Median Income (AMI) Earned, Bloomington-Normal, 1999 39 Table 26: Number of Families or Individuals Served by Income Group and Type of Assistance Through the Town of Normal Housing Assistance Programs, 1999 44 Table 27: Priority Housing Needs Table by Household Type and Size 45 Table 28: Number of Families or Individuals Who Will Be Served by Income Group and Type of Assistance Through the Town of Normal Housing Assistance Programs 46 Table 29: Social Services Offered in Bloomington-Normal by Type of Service 48 Table 30: Social Service Organizations Offering Food Referrals in Bloomington-Normal 49 Table 31: Priority Needs of Non-Homeless Persons Who Require Supportive Services, Estimated Priority Units, and Estimated Dollars to Address Needs in Bloomington-Normal, 1999 50 Table 32: Priority Community Development Needs for the Town of Normal 53 Table 32: Priority Community Development Needs for the Town of Normal (continued) 54

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 5 Subpart B—Citizen Participation and Consultation

§91.105 Citizen Participation Plan: local governments

(a) Applicability and adoption of the Citizen Participation Plan

(1) Policies and procedures for citizen participation The data collection procedures for the Consolidated Plan were part of the broader data collection efforts for the Assessment 2000 project. Data for both Assessment 2000 and the Consolidated Plan were collected by the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University. The Assessment 2000 project was funded by the United Way of McLean County, City of Bloomington, Town of Normal and other agencies and organizations The project collected data to assess the health and human service needs in McLean County. The housing needs were a critical component of the data collection effort. The data collection effort consisted of five main areas of activity: · Survey of McLean County households, including residents of Bloomington and Normal; · Survey of social service providers (broadly defined) regarding their organization's client base, programs and services, and challenges; · Public and local data collection, including government reports as well as agency and organization reports collected for their own purposes; · Focus groups, including clients, service providers, and other important community organizations and constituencies; and · Key informant interviews with County and organizational leaders in Bloomington and Normal.

A brief summary of each data collection method is presented below. The various data collection methods provided citizens with many different ways to provide input to the Consolidated Plan.

Household Survey The eight-page household survey of adult representatives (18 years of age and over) of McLean County households was conducted by mail with telephone follow-up to persons from rural areas who did not return a survey by mail. The survey included questions concerning: · respondents’ experiences with housing (e.g., affordability, condition, accessibility); · health care (e.g., cost, utilization, insurance coverage); · employment (e.g., benefits available though job, travel to work, need for job training); · child care (usage, affordability, availability); and · family support services and needs.

The first section of the survey asked for information about the respondent and his or her household members. The last section of the survey asked respondents for their perceptions about potential problems in McLean County and their household’s experience with particular situations. In addition, the survey asked respondents about their volunteer activities, their most often utilized sources of information, greatest concerns in McLean County, and what they like most about McLean County.

See Appendices 1a and 1b for a detailed description of Household Survey Methods and Town of Normal residents’ responses to the Household Survey.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 6 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey A survey was mailed to 418 health and human service providers who offer their services to McLean County residents. The eight-page survey requested information about the organization’s: · needs for maintenance, enhancement, and expansion; · staffing and training; · accessibility; · resource sharing; · communication; and · major services or programs.

The survey also asked about challenges and strengths, and gaps and duplications in health and human services provision in McLean County. For this project, health and human service providers surveyed included: · social service agencies; · churches; · support groups; · nursing homes; · outreach health services; · child care facilities (non-profit); · townships which do not contract out services to the Town of the City of Bloomington Township; · Town of the City of Bloomington Township; · food banks; · special education programs in primary and secondary school systems; · libraries that offered distinct outreach programs; · external outreach services or programs of post-secondary education institutions; and · health, child care, counseling, and disability services provided by Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan Universities.

(See Appendix 2: Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey Methods for a detailed description.)

Focus groups The Assessment 2000 project utilized focus groups—facilitated small group discussions on a particular topic—to collect information from a broad range of community members, health and human service providers and consumers, and other professionals involved with community planning and development. The Applied Social Research Unit conducted 19 focus groups with a total of 215 participants. The focus groups utilized for this study were: #1: People Experiencing Homelessness #2: Public Housing Residents #3: Advocates for Diversity and Human Rights #5: Persons with Disabilities #6: Faith-Based Community #7: Urban High School Youth #8: Rural High School Youth #9: Family Members Discussing Child Welfare and Family Issues #10: Youth Advocates #11: Senior Advocates #12: Social Service Providers #13: Health Care Providers #14: Domestic Violence Survivors #15: Early Childhood Advocates

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 7 #16: Educators #17: Rural Service Providers #18: Employers #19: Criminal Justice Providers/Advocates #20: Persons with Mental Health Problems and Their Family Members

(See Appendix 3: Focus Group Methods for a more detailed description.)

Key informant interviews The Applied Social Research Unit conducted 74 structured key informant interviews for the Plan and Assessment 2000. For the purposes of Assessment 2000, a key informant is: · A person in a position of leadership in the County, a community, an agency, or other organization; · an informal leader or service provider within a community; · an expert in a particular field or a persons who has had a particular experience in the County; or · a long-time resident of the County.

Key informants included persons representing various community, service, and business sectors, including · churches; · community and economic planning and development; · government (City, Town, Township, County, State, and Federal); · health care; · housing, public housing, and homelessness issues; · media; · neighborhood associations; · social services; · education; · trades and labor; · other selected community leaders and residents.

The interviewers used the following questions as an interview guide: · What is the meaning of “health and human services” in McLean County? · Overall, how well does McLean County's health and human service delivery system work? · What are the strengths of McLean County's health and human service delivery system? Why? · What are the weaknesses of McLean County's health and human service delivery system? Why? · How has provision of health and human services in McLean County changed during the past 5 years? · What trends do you observe in provision of health and human services in McLean County? · Can you identify gaps or duplications in health and human service provision in McLean County? · Can you identify barriers to access and/or utilization of health and human services in McLean County? · Can you identify under-used or unrecognized resources for health and human service provision in McLean County? · How could health and human service delivery in McLean County be improved?

Interview notes were used to help interpret information coming from other project research and inform conclusions and recommendations in project reporting for Assessment 2000 and the Plan.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 8 Individual key informant interview summaries or names of specific informants are not reported to ensure confidentiality of responses.

(See Appendix 4: Key Informant Methods for a detailed description.)

Review of public data, reports, and secondary literature The Applied Social Research Unit reviewed public data to profile McLean County’s population, economic and employment situation, health status (e.g., mortality, morbidity, vital statistics), and other demographic information. Data for the Town of Normal and the City of Bloomington were reviewed where available. Applied Social Research Unit staff obtained and analyzed public data from a variety of sources including Federal, State, and local agencies and organizations. Local agencies and organizations were also consulted for previously released reports, to identify priority issues, and to identify current capacity information.

In addition, Applied Social Research Unit staff reviewed the secondary literature for information, models, and best practices associated with communication, collaboration, and resource sharing within and among service networks. Secondary literature on coordinated community-based health and human services planning, administration, and delivery was also examined.

The Applied Social Research Unit staff obtained secondary literature through attending the Transforming Communities: Improving Health and Quality of Life conference; library research; review of United Way of America practice/models; and visiting Federal agency Internet sites to obtain reports on social services issues, statistics, and practices.

(2) Encouragement of citizen participation

(i) Provision for and encouragement of citizen participation The law requires that our Citizen Participation Plan both provide for and encourage public participation. The Citizen Participation Plan emphasizes involvement by people with low and moderate incomes, particularly those living in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. In addition the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expects the Town to take whatever actions are appropriate to encourage participation of minorities, people who do not speak English, and people with disabilities.

The citizen participation element was an important part of the Assessment 2000 and Consolidated Plan data collection effort. As noted above, citizens were encouraged to participate by filling out either the Household Survey or the Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey. In addition, participants were encouraged to participate as either a focus group member or an interviewee.

(ii) Encouraging participation by low-income persons, minorities, non-English-speaking persons, and persons with disabilities The primary purpose of the programs covered by the Consolidated Plan is to improve communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and growing economic opportunities principally for low- and moderate-income people. Involvement by low-income people must take place at all stages of the process. This includes: · identifying needs; · setting priorities among those needs; · deciding how much money should be allocated to each priority need; · suggesting the types of programs to meet high priority needs; and · overseeing the program implementation.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 9 Several focus groups were composed of client groups identified by HUD as an important focus of Plan activities. The focus groups in this category included: · Public housing residents; · Persons with disabilities; · Persons with mental health problems and their family members; · Persons experiencing homelessness; · Low-income families discussing child welfare and family issues; and · Hispanic community members.

These focus groups consisted of 5-20 persons each. They provided valuable information on housing issues from the viewpoint of low-income and special populations.

(iii) Provisions for participation of residents of public and assisted housing developments Several efforts were made to involve public housing residents in the construction of the Plan. The first attempt to include public housing residents in a focus group was unsuccessful. Approval to solicit participation of Sunnyside Court residents was granted by the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington and the Sunnyside Court Residents Council. Approximately 100 fliers were distributed at the Sunnyside Court public housing complex in Bloomington. Potential participants were informed of the date as well as a small incentive and refreshments in order to encourage maximum participation. While two residents did express an interest by calling to confirm their participation, no one attended the focus group session.

The second attempt to convene a focus group of public housing residents was successful. An incentive was provided. Five residents of Wood Hill Towers participated in a focus group in December 1999. They provided valuable insights into the needs of public housing residents.

(3) Citizen comment on the Citizen Participation Plan and amendments The Town will take any citizen comments on the Citizen Participation Plan and amendments into account. Changes in the Citizen Participation Plan will only be made after the public has been notified of an intent to modify it and has had a reasonable chance to review and comment on proposed substantial changes.

(b) Development of the Consolidated Plan Citizens, public agencies and other interested parties will be given information regarding: · amount of assistance available; · range of activities that may be undertaken; and · minimum displacement of persons plan.

(1) Availability of proposed Consolidated Plan As required by law, the Town will provide the public with reasonable and timely access to information and records relating to the data or content of the Plan. The Town will also provide information to the public regarding the proposed, actual and past use of funds provided by this Plan. The law also requires reasonable public access to records about any use of these funds during the previous five years.

The Town will provide the public with reasonable and timely access to local meetings relating to proposed or actual use of funds as required by law.

The Town plans to minimize the extent to which low- and moderate-income persons will be displaced as a result of the use of Federal funds. The minimum displacement of persons plan will be made

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 10 available at least 45 days before the Annual Action Plan is published. The minimum displacement of persons plan will also describe how the Town will compensate people who are displaced as a result of the use of these funds.

(2) Publication of proposed Consolidated Plan A summary of the draft Plan will be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation. Copies of the proposed plan will be made available at the Community Development office (611 S. Linden, Normal) and the Office of the City Clerk (100 E. Phoenix Ave., Normal). These documents shall be made available to persons with disabilities in an appropriate form and location.

(3) Public hearing during the development of the Consolidated Plan Public hearings are required by law in order to obtain the public’s view and to provide the public with the City’s responses to public questions and proposals. The law requires hearings at all stages of the process, including: · a hearing about community needs; · a public hearing to review proposed uses of funds; and · a public hearing to assess how funds were spent during the previous program year.

(4) 30-day public comment period The Plan will provide a minimum 30-day public comment period. A summary of public comments will be prepared and attached to the final plan. The summary of public comments will include a written explanation of comments not accepted and the reasons for non-acceptance. Written answers to written complaints will be completed within 15 days if possible. Citizens will be provided notice of, and opportunity to comment on, proposed amendments prior to the submission of any substantial change in the proposed use of funds.

(5) Consideration of comments and views of citizens received in writing or in the public hearing No written or verbal comments were received at the public hearings held on October 21st and November 25th.

(c) Amendments

(1) Criteria for amendments to the Consolidated Plan The Consolidated Plan will be amended anytime there is: 1. A change in one of the priorities presented on the HUD-required Priority Table; or 2. A change in the use of money to an activity not mentioned in the Action Plan; or 3. A change in the purpose, location, scope or beneficiaries of an activity.

The public will be notified anytime there is an amendment.

Substantial amendments to the Plan are those where there is: 1. A change in the use of Community Development Block Grant (hereafter CDBG) money from one activity to another; or 2. A change in the scope of an activity, such that there is a 20% increase or decrease in the amount of money allocated to an activity.

(2) Reasonable notice to citizens and opportunity to comment on substantial amendments There must be reasonable notice of a proposed Substantial Amendment so residents will have an opportunity to review and comment on it.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 11 Citizens will be given 30 days notice to comment on any substantial amendments to the Plan. In addition, a detailed written description of the proposed substantial amendment will be made available to the public at no cost within two working days of the request. Copies will also be made available at the Office of Community Development, 611 S. Linden, Normal.

(3) Consideration of public comments or views of citizens in preparing the substantial amendments of the Consolidated Plan In preparing the Final Substantial Amendment, careful consideration will be given to all comments and views expressed by the public, whether given as verbal testimony at the public hearing or submitted in writing during the review and comment period. The Final Substantial Amendment will have a section that presents all comments and explanations, if any, for non-acceptance of those comments.

(d) Performance reports

(1) Reasonable notice to citizens and opportunity to comment on performance reports Citizens are given 30 days notice to respond to performance reports. Public notices will be published in the Normalite newspaper as display advertisements in a non-legal section of the newspaper. In addition, press releases will be sent to all local media. Notice will also be sent to any person or organization requesting placement on our mailing list.

(2) Consideration of any comments or views of citizens in preparing the performance reports Any public comments and views of citizens will be incorporated into the Plan.

(e) Public hearings

(1) Provision for at least two public hearings to obtain the views of citizens on housing and community developments As noted previously, two joint hearings were held for the citizens of Bloomington and the Town of Normal. Citizens were given the opportunity to express their views at those hearings.

A public hearing on the proposed Plan will be held no later than the 2nd Monday in February. This is the last City Council meeting prior to submission of the Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on February 15, 2000. The public hearing and Council approval of the Plan are held simultaneously.

(2) Adequate advance notice to citizens of each public hearing Citizens are given 30 days advance notice of each public hearing.

(3) Provisions for holding hearings at a time and locations convenient to potential and actual beneficiaries and with accommodations for persons with disabilities As noted above, the two public hearings were held in the evening at two municipal offices, one in Bloomington at noon and one in Normal at five p.m. Both buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities.

(4) Meeting needs of non-English speaking residents Accommodations are provided for non-English speaking residents upon request.

(f) Reasonable accommodations and timely access to local meetings Reasonable accommodations and timely access are made available at local meetings.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 12 (g) Availability of Consolidated Plan, substantial amendments, and performance reports to the public Copies of the Plan and a summary of the Plan will be made available to the public for free within two days of a request. In addition, copies will be made available at the Community Development Office (611 S. Linden, Normal) and the Office of the City Clerk (100 E. Phoenix Ave., Normal).

Copies of the proposed Plan will be made available to the public for free and without delay.

(h) Access to records Access to records is made available upon citizen request.

(i) Technical assistance to groups representative of persons of low- and moderate-income to develop proposals for funding assistance Town staff will work with organizations and individuals representative of low- and moderate-income persons interested in submitting a proposal to obtain funding for an activity. All potential applicants for funding are encouraged to contact Town staff for technical assistance before completing a proposal form.

(j) Appropriate and practicable procedures to handle complaints re: Consolidated Plan, amendments, and performance reports Written complaints from the public will receive a meaningful, written reply within 15 working days of receipt.

(k) Use of Citizen Participation Plan The jurisdiction makes every effort to comply with the Citizen Participation Plan.

(l) Jurisdiction responsibility The jurisdiction maintains its responsibility for development and execution of the Consolidated Plan.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 13 Subpart C—Local Governments: Contents of Consolidated Plan

§91.200 General

(a) Submission of information required in §91.205—§91.230 The information required under §91.205—§91.230 is submitted in this Plan.

(b) Description of lead agency and significant aspects of the Consolidated Plan development process The lead agency in the development of the Consolidated Plan is the Department of Community Development, the Town of Normal. The report was prepared under contract by the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University. The data collection efforts for the Consolidated Plan were part of a larger effort to gather information on health and human services needs in McLean County. This larger project was entitled Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County.

In 1999, McLean County organizations including the Town of Normal, the City of Bloomington, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly, BroMenn Healthcare, Heartland Community College, Illinois State University, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, and the United Way of McLean County commissioned the Applied Social Research Unit of Illinois State University to conduct research assessing resources and needs for health and human services in the County. This research entitled Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County has been designed and implemented with broad and ongoing participation from County leaders, service providers and residents. Extending and enhancing information collected for the first county-wide needs assessment, Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs (1995), the Assessment 2000 project employs a holistic approach that recognizes a wide range of factors contributing to the health and well being of McLean County residents and their communities.

The general goal of the Assessment 2000 project is to support planning of health and human services for County residents in the near future (5-10 years).

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 14 §91.205 Housing and homeless needs assessment

(a) General: estimated housing needs projected for the next five years As Table 1 shows, the number of housing units is projected to grow from 14,564 in 2000 to 15,696 in 2005. There is a projected minor increase in the vacancy rate, from 3.8% in 2000 to 3.9% in 2005. The number of owners is projected to increase from 8,091 in 2000 to 8,878 in 2005. The number of renters is projected to increase from 5,920 in 2000 to 6,210 in 2005.

Table 1: Projected Housing Demand, 1990 to 2005 Year 1990 2000 2005 Total Units 12300 14564 15696 Vacancy Rates (%) 3.6% 3.8% 3.9% Occupied Units 11856 14011 15088 Population/Unit 2.7 2.6 3 Owner 6516 8091 8878 Owner Population/Unit 2.7 2.6 3 Renter 5340 5920 6210 Renter Population/Unit 2.5 2.4 2 Source: 2005 projections based on 1990 and 2000 data from McLean County Regional Planning Commission, Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan, (Illinois, 1995), 55.

(b) Categories of persons affected

(1) Number and types of families in need of housing assistance

Table 2: Number and Types of Families in Need of Assistance in the Town of Normal

Income group >30% income >50% income % overcrowded Extremely Low Income (Renters) 90% 69% not available Extremely Low Income (Owners) 77% 44% not available Very Low Income (Renters) 60% 35% not available Very Low Income (Owners) 35% 15% not available Low Income (Renters) 29% 7% not available Low Income (Owners) 22% 1% not available Middle Income (Renters) 50% not available not available Key: ELI=Extemely Low Income=0 to 30% Median Family Income VLI=Very Low Income=31 to 50% Median Family Income LI=Low Income=51 to 80% Median Family Income MI=Moderate Income=81 to 95% Median Family Income Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape 3A, [Database], (1990).

The housing burden on extremely low-income persons is moderate to severe for most families in Normal (see Table 2 above). The data is 1990 Census data. This is the most recent data available. The Department of Housing and Urban Development defines housing affordability as a situation where a family is spending no more than 30% of their income on housing. If a household spends more than 50% of their income on housing, that is considered a severe affordability problem. Nearly all of the extremely low-income renters (90%) are paying more than 30% and the vast majority (69%) is paying more than 50%. Extremely low-income owners also face a housing burden. The vast

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 15 majority (77%) pays more than 30% of their income for housing and a near majority (44%) pays more than 50% of their income for housing.

Most very low-income families in Normal also face a moderate to severe housing burden, though it appears to be less of a burden than that of extremely low-income families. Most very low-income renters (60%) pay more than 30% of their income for housing. Slightly more than one-third pay more than 50%. Very low-income owners do not, by in large, face as severe a housing burden as renters. While roughly one third pay more than 30% of their income for housing, only 15% pay more than 50% of their income for housing.

In the low-income category, 29% of renters and 20% of owners are paying more than 30% of their income in housing. Few in this income category are facing a severe housing burden.

In the middle-income category, only the elderly are facing a housing burden. Fifty percent of the elderly are paying more than 30% of their income for housing.

(2) Disproportionate need for housing of racial/ethnic minority groups, if any There is no current reliable data to indicate disproportionate housing needs, if any, of racial and ethnic minorities.

(c) Homeless needs The McLean County Continuum of Care has used the Regional Online Service Information System (ROSIE) to collect demographic information on the homeless since June 1998. These data are based on a census of the sheltered homeless and unsheltered homeless who contacted PATH. The data collected include sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families in Bloomington-Normal during the period June 1, 1998 through May 31, 1999. Since there are no shelter facilities in Normal, there is no data available on homeless families or individuals in Normal. Table 3 shows the number and racial breakdown of heads of household sheltered and unsheltered population for the period noted above.

Table 3: Number and Percent of Homeless (Sheltered, Unsheltered Who Contacted PATH) Heads of Household by Race, June 1998 to May 1999 Percent homeless Race Number homeless persons population Caucasian 89 60.1% African-American 55 37.2% Other 4 2.7% TOTAL 148 Source: McLean County Continuum of Care, Regional Online Service Information System (ROSIE), (1999).

As Table 3 shows, the majority of homeless persons from June 1998 to May 1999 in Bloomington- Normal were white. However, a disproportionate number of homeless persons were African- American, given that the percent of African-Americans in McLean County is 3.9.1

1 Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997).

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 16 Table 4: Number and Percent of Sheltered Homeless Population by Race and Gender, June 1998 to May 1999 Female Male Race Number Percent Number Percent Caucasian 31 34.8% 58 65.2% African-American 27 49.1% 28 50.9% Other 2 50.0% 2 50.0% TOTAL 60 40.5% 88 59.5% Source: McLean County Continuum of Care, Regional Online Service Information System (ROSIE), (1999).

A breakdown by gender and race shows that a nearly 60% of homeless persons in Bloomington- Normal on May 31, 1999 were male. Among homeless African-Americans, there were an equal number of male and female homeless persons. Among Caucasians, most homeless persons were male (65%).

(d) Other special needs

(1) Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing

Table 5: Priority Needs of Non-Homeless Persons Who Require Supportive Services: Estimated Priority Units and Estimated Dollars to Address Needs in Bloomington- Normal, 19992 Sub-Populations Priority Need Est. Priority Units Est. Dollars to Address Elderly Low not determined not available Frail Elderly Low not determined not available Severe Mental Illness Low not determined not available Developmentally Disabled Low 8 not available Physically Disabled Medium 14 not available Persons with Alcohol/Other Drug Addictions Medium 10 not available Persons with HIV/AIDs Low 0 0 Other (specify) not available not available not available TOTAL 32

In the case of the elderly and frail elderly, a key informant noted that such services, paid for with Federal funds, do not permit the establishment of waiting lists. As a result, there is no way to calculate unmet needs. In the case of severe mental illness, there are no current reliable figures on the need for services for that population. The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units.3

No figures are included because no reliable figures are available. This is due in part to current reliable data on the number in the unserved population in each subgroup. In addition, the estimated dollars needed to address the problems of each member in need of services is impossible to determine because needs and concomitant costs vary for each individual case. The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units.4

2 This is Table 1B Special Needs of the Non-homeless that is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 3 The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units. See the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Draft Guidelines for Preparing a Consolidated Plan Submission for Local Jurisdictions, [Internet], http://www.hud.gove/cpd/cp99/cp1.html, (1999), 21. 4 The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units. See the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Draft Guidelines for Preparing a Consolidated Plan Submission for Local Jurisdictions, [Internet], http://www.hud.gove/cpd/cp99/cp1.html, (1999), 22.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 17 2) Housing needs of the elderly and frail elderly

Town of Normal CDBG priorities The housing needs of the elderly are a low priority area for expenditure of CDBG funds. As noted below, there is an excess capacity in housing for seniors in the Bloomington-Normal area.

Community priorities Advocates for the elderly in the community perceive unmet housing and social service needs for the elderly and frail elderly. One key informant identified grandparents raising grandchildren as an emerging housing and supportive service issue. Because of various restrictions, grandparents raising grandchildren are not eligible to live in public housing designated for the elderly. They are only eligible to living in public housing designated for families. There is a surplus of public housing for the elderly. Specifically, there are 83 vacancies in the Wood Hill Towers unit designated for the elderly.5 However, there is a shortage of public housing for families. There is a total of 22 families on the waiting list for public housing. On average, families on the waiting list must wait 7 months to receive housing. The waiting list for Section 8 vouchers is even longer (10 months). There are 387 people on the Section 8 waiting list.6

A key informant also raised the issue of the need for additional home support for the frail elderly. There are two developments in Bloomington-Normal which provide housing with some form of assistance to the elderly. Blair House is an independent living facility that provides some support. Westminster Village is an assisted living facility with a higher level of support services. Both of these facilities cater to moderate- and upper-income residents of McLean County. One key informant stated that there are no affordable independent living or assisted living facilities for low- and moderate-income frail elderly in Bloomington-Normal.

A key informant reported on the difficulty in providing in-home care to the elderly. To encourage the elderly to remain independent and in their homes as long as possible, the elderly need various forms of in-home care, both skilled and unskilled, including chore services and assistance with tasks of daily living. Currently in-home services in McLean County, authorized under a Medicaid waiver, provide care only for low-income elderly with assets under $10,000. Further, eligible clients are limited to two hours of care per day. For those elderly above the income ceiling, there is a co-pay requirement. This effectively discourages use by some potential elderly clients. Thus, these services are only utilized by low-income elderly. In addition, staff turnover is a continual problem because home care staff are paid only slightly more than minimum wage. It is difficult to attract and retain employees for these care positions.

3) Severe mental illness

Town of Normal CDBG priorities As indicated above on Table 5, this is a low priority for expenditure of CDBG funds for the Town of Normal. There are no current reliable data on the number of persons with severe mental illness who are not receiving services. Therefore, it is impossible to estimate the unmet need, if any.

5 City of Bloomington, Agency Plan of the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, “Executive Summary,” (Bloomington, Illinois, 1999), 2. 6 City of Bloomington, Agency Plan of the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, “Needs Analysis,” (Bloomington, Illinois, 1999), 1-2.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 18 Community priorities Many Normal residents believe that emotional problems/mental illness are a very serious or serious problem in the County (22%, n=93). (See Appendix 1b for Household Survey results.)

Mental health services are offered to Normal residents by the Center for Human Services, Chestnut Health Systems, and a number of private providers. The Center for Human Services is the County Mental Health Agency, providing services on a sliding fee scale to people with serious diagnosed mental illnesses. Its only waiting list is for child and adolescent services. Chestnut Health Systems provides a range of counseling services. Local physicians, counselors, and psychiatrists offer care that is available, in particular, to people with good insurance coverage. Focus group participants and key informants have identified several areas of unmet mental health needs. They have identified the following priorities: · Need for a local mental health provider offering services for people suffering from both substance abuse and mental illness; · Need for psychiatric services for children and adolescents; · Need for a psychiatrist who will accept Medicaid assignment; · Need for case management services and home-hospital-nursing home mental health care for seniors suffering from severe mental illnesses; · Need for respite and residential treatment facilities for mental illness sufferers; and · Need for improved mental health services for persons who are incarcerated, including administration of prescription medication.

4) Developmentally disabled

Town of Normal CDBG priorities As noted above in Table 5, this has been identified as a low priority for expenditure of CDBG for the Town of Normal. A key informant has identified eight developmentally disabled persons who are in need of Section 8 housing certificates in Bloomington-Normal.

Community priorities As noted above, a key informant identified one priority as Section 8 housing. There are eight developmentally disabled persons in need of Section 8 housing.

An estimated 2.3 million adults living in U.S. communities have severe disabilities and require help from another person with everyday activities. According to one authority, “Different forms of disability can pose different challenges. For example, individuals with physical disabilities often require significant help with daily activities or self-care. In contrast, individuals with Alzheimer's disease or chronic mental illness may be able to perform everyday tasks and may need supervision more than hands-on assistance.” People with severe disabilities are less likely to work, have less education, and have lower incomes than the general population.7 Yet, their needs for expensive support services are far greater than needs of members of the general population. Nine percent of all McLean County respondents to the Assessment 2000 Household Survey report having a disability. Eight percent of survey respondents (n=19) who needed child care in the last year, have children with disabilities or special needs.8

McLean County offers support services for the disabled ranging from accessible public housing and transportation to employment assistance and personal care services. Seventy-five organizations listed

7 U.S. General Accounting Office, Adults with Severe Disabilities: Federal and State Approaches for Personal Care and Other Services, GAO/HEHS-99-101, (1999), 4, 7. 8 Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Summary Report, (Bloomington, IL, 2000), 87.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 19 in the PATH Directory provide one or more services to disabled adults or children.9 The local Office of Rehabilitation Services currently serves 664 area residents, of whom just over one-quarter are developmentally disabled. Twelve other organizations responding to the Assessment 2000 Service Providers’ Survey either exclusively serve people with disabilities or identify the disabled among the categories of clients they serve.

Providers identified challenges to service provision including insufficient operating funds, transportation for clients, too much paperwork, lack of volunteers, not enough staff, and lack of community awareness of services. Social service providers noted several priorities for improvements in the County's health and human service delivery system, including: · Transportation, including volunteer drivers, transportation for rural clients, evening and Sunday transportation, and door-to-door and through-the-door transportation for non-emergency medical appointments; · Housing, including affordable accessible housing for people with disabilities, housing with training and support for independent living, and affordable housing for low-paid human service employees; · Personal assistance and training, including orientation and mobility coaching and cane training for low-vision and blind people; · Employment for people with disabilities, which one provider linked to negative employer attitudes; and · Categorically funded, narrowly focused programs that make it difficult for some people with disabilities (cross-categorically labeled people or people not fitting neatly into a category) to obtain services.

Focus group participants recognize that there are many local resources for disabled people, but say it is hard to get accurate information about services and how to access them; they called for better communication and coordination among agencies. They also identified the following priorities: · Child care, developmental preschool, and occupational therapy for children with disabilities; and · Improvement in public knowledge about and integration of people with disabilities.

5) Physically disabled

Town of Normal CDBG priorities This has been identified as a medium priority for the Town of Normal. The priority is affordable and accessible housing. A key informant stated that there are 14 persons with physical disabilities who are in need of affordable and accessible housing in Bloomington-Normal who are on a waiting list.

Community priorities As noted above, one key informant stated that there are 14 physically disabled persons who are on a waiting list for accessible and affordable housing in the Bloomington-Normal area. This key informant estimated that 10-15 physically disabled person in Bloomington-Normal either use a Personal Assistant or are in need of a Personal Assistant. The key priorities are: · A larger number of accessible and affordable housing units for people with disabilities; and · An increase in the number of Personal Assistants who are available to assist people with disabilities with the tasks of daily living.

An estimated 2.3 million adults living in U.S. communities have sever disabilities and require help from another person with everyday activities. According to one authority, “Different forms of

9 PATH, Directory 2000, (McLean County, IL, 1999), 237-239.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 20 disability can pose different challenges. For example, individuals with physical disabilities often require significant help with daily activities or self-care. In contrast, individuals with Alzheimer's disease or chronic mental illness may be able to perform everyday tasks and may need supervision more than hands-on assistance.” People with severe disabilities are less likely to work, have less education, and have lower incomes than the general population.10 Yet, their needs for expensive support services are far greater than needs of members of the general population. Nine percent of all McLean County respondents to the Assessment 2000 Household Survey report having a disability. Eight percent of survey respondents (n=19) who needed child care in the last year, have children with disabilities or special needs.11

McLean County offers support services for the disabled ranging from accessible public housing and transportation to employment assistance and personal care services. Seventy-five organizations listed in the PATH Directory provide one or more services to disabled adults or children.12 The local Office of Rehabilitation Services currently serves 664 area residents, of whom approximately one-third are physically disabled. Twelve other organizations responding to the Assessment 2000 Service Providers’ Survey either exclusively serve people with disabilities or identify the disabled among the categories of clients they serve.

Providers identified challenges to service provision including insufficient operating funds, transportation for clients, too much paperwork, lack of volunteers, not enough staff, and lack of community awareness of services. Social service providers identified the following priorities for the County's health and human service delivery system: · Transportation, including volunteer drivers, transportation for rural clients, evening and Sunday transportation, and door-to-door and through-the-door transportation for non-emergency medical appointments; · Housing, including affordable accessible housing for people with disabilities, housing with training and support for independent living, and affordable housing for low-paid human service employees; · Personal assistance and training, including orientation and mobility coaching and cane training for low-vision and blind people; · Employment for people with disabilities, which one provider linked to negative employer attitudes; and · Categorically funded, narrowly focused programs that make it difficult for some people with disabilities (cross-categorically labeled people or people not fitting neatly into a category) to obtain services.

Focus group participants recognize that there are many local resources for disabled people, but say it is hard to get accurate information about services and how to access them; they called for better communication and coordination among agencies. They also identified the following priorities for improvements in service provision: · Repair services for adaptive equipment (e.g., wheelchairs, lifts, etc.); · Child care, developmental preschool, occupational therapy, and physical therapy for children with disabilities; and · Improvement in public knowledge about and integration of people with disabilities into the community.

10 U.S. General Accounting Office, Adults with Severe Disabilities: Federal and State Approaches for Personal Care and Other Services, GAO/HEHS-99-101 (1999), 4, 7. 11 Assessment 2000, 87. 12 PATH, Directory 2000, (McLean County, IL, 1999), 237-239.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 21 6) Persons with alcohol and other drug addictions

Town of Normal CDBG priorities The Town of Normal has designated this problem as a medium priority for expenditure of CDBG funds for persons with addictions who are housed. Drug rehabilitation programs are a high priority issue for homeless persons with addictions. The social service agencies that deal with this population do perceive an unmet need. One key informant suggested that substance abuse and mental illness are the primary causes of homelessness, locally and nationally.

Community priorities According to focus group participants and key informants, alcohol and drug abuse contribute to many local problems including child abuse and neglect, family violence, homelessness, crime, and inability to retain employment. Prevention services are offered by the D.A.R.E. program and health education curricula in public schools. Chestnut Health Systems provides services to combat alcohol and drug addiction. A variety of private providers and support groups also support sufferers and their families. Focus group participants and key informants identified two priorities: · Combined mental health and substance abuse treatment services; and · A need for medical detoxification services for uninsured patients.

7) Persons with HIV/AIDS

Town of Normal CDBG priorities As noted above in Table 5, no persons with HIV/AIDS have been identified in the Town of Normal. Therefore, this is a low priority with no expenditure of funds.

Community priorities According to the 1999 McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN), HIV incidence rates in McLean County for 1990 to 1996 (range=7.2 to 7.6/100,000) were well below the Illinois rates (19.5 to 25.5).13 In 1997, there was one death from HIV infection in the County.14

Several key informants have stated that there are no unmet housing or supportive service needs for persons with HIV/AIDS or their family members.

8) Others (specify) There are no other identifiable groups in the Town of Normal who are not homeless but require supportive housing.

(e) Lead-based paint hazards

Extent of lead-based hazards There is no current reliable data on the extent of lead-based hazards in the Town of Normal. However, one key informant estimated that up to 60% of housing in Normal has the “potential” to contain lead-based paint hazards.

13 McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Community Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 8. 14 Illinois Department of Public Health, HIV Deaths by County of Residence: Illinois, 1996-1998, [Internet], http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/aids/aidsdeathscnty96-98.htm, (1999).

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 22 Lead-based poisonings The Consolidated Plan requires the jurisdiction to consult with State and local health departments and child welfare agencies and examine existing data on lead-based paint hazards and poisonings. The requirement includes health department data on the addresses of housing units in which children have been identified as lead poisoned (§91.100 (2)). The Applied Social Research Unit requested this information from the Illinois Department of Public Health because that State agency resumed responsibility for investigating environments of children with an elevated lead-blood level in July 1997. The Illinois Department of Public Health refused to release this information, citing confidentiality and privacy considerations. They supplied county-level data on this issue. Therefore, we can only report data for McLean County and not specifically for the Town of Normal.

As Table 6 below shows, there were very few children with elevated lead-blood levels in McLean County in 1996 and 1997. Approximately 2% of children had lead-blood levels in the 15-19 micrograms per deciliter range. Even fewer, 1% to 1.5%, had levels in the 20-44 micrograms per deciliter range. Less than 1% had levels in the 45 or greater micrograms per deciliter range.

Table 6: Number of Children with Elevated Lead-Blood Levels in McLean County (Micrograms per Deciliter), 1996 to 1997 Year No. tested 15-19 mcg/dll Percent 20-44 mcg/dll Percent 45 mcg/dll Percent 1996 2061 43 2.1% 21 1.0% 1 0.0% 1997 1991 37 1.9% 32 1.6% 1 0.1% Source: Illinois Department of Public Health, “Childhood Lead Poisoning Surveillance Report—1996/1997,” [Internet], http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/clpsr.clps9697.htm, (November 1999).

As Table 7 shows, there has been a dramatic reduction in the both the number and percentage of children in McLean County with lead-blood levels greater than 15 mcg/dl. Lead-blood levels at or above 15 mcg/dl have declined by more than 60% during this period.

Table 7: Number and Percent of Children with Lead-Blood Levels > 15 Micrograms per Deciliter in McLean County, 1990, 1992 to 1996 Year Population < No. of children with lead- Percent of children with lead- age 18 blood levels > 15 mcg/dll blood levels > 15 mcg/dll 1990 129,180 197 0.153% 1992 133,200 29 0.022% 1993 135,600 38 0.028% 1994 136,800 11 0.008% 1995 138,900 70 0.050% 1996 139,400 65 0.047% Source: McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Community Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 14.

As Table 8 shows, there has been an even greater decline in the number and percent of children with lead-blood levels greater than 25mcg/dl. While the number of children ever infected at this level was small, the numbers and percent of children infected had fallen by more than 85% in the period from 1990 to 1996.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 23 Table 8: Number and Percent of Children with Lead-Blood Levels > 25 Micrograms per Deciliter in McLean County, 1990, 1992 to 1996 Year Population < No. of children with lead- Percent of children with lead- age 18 blood levels > 25 mcg/dll blood levels > 25 mcg/dll 1990 129,180 58 0.045% 1992 133,200 11 0.008% 1993 135,600 10 0.007% 1994 136,800 2 0.001% 1995 138,900 17 0.012% 1996 139,400 8 0.006% Source: McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Community Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 14.

§91.210 Housing Market Analysis

(a) General characteristics

Supply of housing

1. Housing production The market conditions in Bloomington-Normal continue to remain conducive to the production of new housing. Existing zoning practices encourage and provide the opportunity for development.

There continues to be an increase in the number of building permits issued in the Town of Normal (see below). In 1998, there were dramatic increases (over 100%) in new building permits for single- family attached dwellings and for apartment buildings in comparison with 1997. In contrast, in 1999, the increase in building permits (by comparison with 1998) was for single-family homes, rather than for single-family attached houses or apartments. One may conclude that there is strong demand for housing in Normal, though that demand appears to have shifted towards single-family houses. Fewer single-family attached housing units, duplexes, and apartment buildings are being built today than in past years.

Table 9: Number of Residential Building Permits in Normal by Type, 1997 to 1999 Type 1997 1998 % Increase 1999 % Increase Single family 116 139 19.8% 272 95.7% Single family-attached 33 84 154.5% 59 -29.8% Apartment 13 30 130.8% 15 -50.0% Duplex 5 3 -40.0% 0 -100.0% The 15 building permits for apartments in 1999 represents 202 units. Source: Department of Community Development, Town of Normal, (309) 454-9557, (1999).

New housing appears to be geared toward middle- and upper-income families. In 1998, the average new house built in Bloomington-Normal was priced at $162,747. The average price for a new house built in 1999 in Bloomington-Normal was $172, 983.15 This is an average cost increase of 6.3% from 1999.

2. Demand for housing

15 The Pantagraph Online, “1998-1999 New Construction Costs,” [Internet], http://www.pantagraph.com/cityguide/homecost.html.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 24 As noted in Table 9 there has been a continual increase in the number of single-family homes since 1998. There has been a continuous increase in the number of single-family houses built during the period 1997 to 1999. In terms of actual number of housing units built, it seems clear that demand is strongest for single-family houses in Normal. Demand for single-family attached houses appears to be declining. Demand for such units was strongest in 1998 (84 units), but declined in 1999 (59 units). Demand for duplexes appears to have collapsed in 1999 with no units built.

Another key indicator of demand for housing is the price of housing. Price increases indicate the strength of demand for houses. There have been continued increases in housing prices in Bloomington-Normal since 1995 (see Table 10). Most price increases from year to year during the period 1995 to 1999 were approximately 3%. The year 1998 saw the strongest demand for housing as compared to the previous year. Housing prices rose approximately 5% that year.

Table 10: Number and Average Price of A Home Sold in Bloomington-Normal, 1995 to 1999 Year Sales Average Price % Increase 1995 2319 $113,439 1996 2144 $116,744 2.9% 1997 2170 $120,645 3.3% 1998 2769 $126,927 5.2% 1999 2621 $131,768 3.8% Source: Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area, Bloomington-Normal and McLean County 1999 Demographic Profile, (Bloomington, IL), (309) 829-6344.

3. Conditions of housing While there are pockets of substandard housing in Normal, they are scattered and do not constitute a definable area. Further, the area generally surrounding the Illinois State University campus contains numerous rooming houses. Most of these rooming houses were originally built as single-family residences and have since been altered to provide multiple student occupancy.

The Town of Normal is one of the few cities in the nation that inspects, on an annual basis, all rental housing except single-family rentals. Due to this regular inspection, conditions of rental units in the Town are good.

Some substandard, owner-occupied and single-family rental housing units exist in the Town. The Town has used CDBG funds since 1978 to provide rehabilitation grants and low-interest loans to owner-occupants of single-family units.

As a result of the inspections and financial assistance noted above, rental and owner-occupied housing in Normal are in good condition.

4. Cost of housing As noted previously, the cost of new housing in Bloomington-Normal increased 13.5% from 1998 to 1999.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 25 Table 11: Number and Percent of Homes Sold by Price and Number of Bedrooms

2 br. or Total Percent of Total Cumulative Low Value High Value less 3 br. 4 br. 5 br. Properties Properties Percent $0 $19,999 5 2 2 1 10 0.4% $20,000 $39,999 29 11 1 1 42 1.7% 2.2% $40,000 $59,999 83 49 12 1 145 6.0% 8.2% $60,000 $79,999 84 152 43 3 282 11.7% 19.9% $80,000 $99,999 40 259 81 2 382 15.9% 35.8% $100,000 $119,999 10 220 128 11 369 15.4% 51.2% $120,000 $139,999 10 171 130 14 325 13.5% 64.7% $140,000 $159,999 4 57 199 5 265 11.0% 75.8% $160,000 $179,999 1 32 136 6 175 7.3% 83.1% $180,000 $199,999 1 17 74 8 100 4.2% 87.2% $200,000 $219,999 0 14 53 4 71 3.0% 90.2% $220,000 $249,999 0 17 68 9 94 3.9% 94.1% $250,000 $299,999 0 5 57 10 72 3.0% 97.1% $300,000 $499,999 1 8 41 12 62 2.6% 99.7% $500,000 $99,999,999 0 0 3 5 8 0.3% 100.0% TOTAL 2402 Note: This table includes homes sold from 01/01/98-12/31/98. Source: Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors, Residential Type Home Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1999).

Table 11 shows that approximately 35% of houses were sold in 1998 at a price of $99,999 or below. The majority of homes (64.8%) were sold at or above $100,000. Thus, while there appears to be an adequate supply of housing available, most of that housing is affordable to middle- and upper-middle- income families.

5. Housing stock available to serve people with disabilities There are no current reliable studies on the housing stock available to people with disabilities. One key informant reported that people with disabilities have difficulties in obtaining housing which is both affordable and accessible. As noted previously, fourteen people with disabilities are on one waiting list for affordable and accessible housing.

6. Housing stock available to serve persons with HIV/AIDs and their families There are no current reliable studies on the housing stock available to persons with HIV/AIDS or their families.

According to several key informants and some focus group participants, there is no demand by persons with HIV/AIDS or their families for housing.

7. Description of concentration of racial/ethnic minorities

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 26 Figure 1: Minority Households in the Town of Normal

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community 2020, [Internet software program] http://www.hud.gov/cpd/c2020/intro.html, (1999).

The number and percent of racial and ethnic minorities in the Town of Normal includes Illinois State University students. The presence of these students and their concentration can be misleading in establishing any housing and community development needs that might be met with CDBG funds. Housing and social service needs of traditional college-age students are generally provided by the University or their families.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 27 8. Description of concentrations of low-income families

Figure 2: Estimated Median Income in the Town of Normal

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community 2020.

As noted above, the presence of Illinois State University students tends to present a confusing picture of the Town of Normal. This is particularly true in examining the issue of poverty. As the above map shows, the high poverty areas are those in the University area and the areas immediately enjoining it. Insofar as CDBG funds are not used to meet the housing and social service needs of traditional college-age students, the concentration of poverty in the Illinois State University area is irrelevant to the Consolidated Plan.

(b) Public and Assisted Housing

(1) Number of public and assisted housing units in the jurisdiction There are no public housing developments in the Town of Normal.

There are 1,066 units of assisted housing in the Town of Normal.

Restoration and revitalization needs of public housing As noted above, there are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

Results from the Section 504 needs assessment of public housing As noted above, there are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

Public Housing Authority strategy for improving the management and operation of public housing As noted above, there are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

Public Housing Authority strategy for improving the living environment of low- and moderate- income families residing in public housing

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 28 As noted above, there are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

Identification of public housing developments in the jurisdiction that are being coordinated or jointly funded with the public housing Comprehensive Grant program As noted above, there are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

Identification of projects funded under the Comprehensive Grant program noted above As noted above, there are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

(2) Description of the number and targeting of units currently assisted by local, State, or Federally funded programs

Table 12 contains a complete list of assisted housing units in the Town of Normal. It includes a description of the type and number of apartments. It also identifies handicapped accessible units.

There are a total of eight assisted housing developments in the Town of Normal. There are two Section 8 developments, four Section 42 developments, and two Program 236 developments. Two developments serve low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled. Five developments serve moderate-income families and the elderly. One Section 42 development is described as a private, for- profit development.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 29 Table 12: Number, Type of Units, Capacity, and Population Served of Subsidized Housing in Normal, 1999

Number and type of Name of sponsor Type Populations unit/capacity Low income families, Amanda Brooke Section 8 elderly & disabled 6-handicapped accessible 56-1 bedroom 40-2 bedroom 24-3 bedroom Total Units-120 Briarwood Apartments Section 42 & elderly 32-1 bedroom 56-2 bedroom 32-3 bedroom Total Units-120 Crestwood Apartments Section 42 Private-for profit 3-1 bedroom 9-2 bedroom Total Units-12 Apartments Section 42 & elderly 58-2 bedroom IHDA Rent to 60% AMI 54-3 bedroom- Medium income 64-2 bedroom- Rent to 50% AMI 18-3 bedroom- Medium income Lancaster Heights Program 236 & elderly 32-1 bedroom 112-2 bedroom 54-3 bedroom Total Units-198 Lincoln Square Program 236 & elderly 34-1 bedroom 74-2 bedroom townhouses 12-2 bedroom apt. flats 28-3 bedroom Total Units-148 Estates Section 8 elderly Family units-116 & disabled Elderly units-32 Total Units-148 Vista at Northbrook Section 42 & elderly 72-2 bedroom 96-3 bedroom Total Units-168 Source: Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, (1999), (309) 434-2244.

Number of units expected to be lost from any local, State, or Federally funded program No units are expected to be lost from any local, State, or Federally funded program.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 30 (c) Homeless facilities

Permanent supportive housing Permanent supportive housing is available from three organizations in Bloomington-Normal. These organizations are the: · Center for Human Services (CHS) which serves persons with mental illness (PMI); · MARC Center (MARC) which serves persons with developmental disabilities (PDD); and · Homes of Hope, Inc. which operates two homes, one in Normal and one in Bloomington, providing quality Christian homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

The Center for Human Services provides a variety of support services, including day treatment, medication monitoring, living skills assistance, and case management services. The MARC Center provides a variety of services through its Children’s Residential Programs and its Adult Residential Programs.

The following list is an inventory of the number of clients housed by each respective organization.

Table 13: Inventory of Permanent Supportive Housing by Housing Type, Type of Client, and Number of Clients Served Organization Housing type Clients No. of clients housed Center for Human Services Section 8 certificate PMI 28 Center for Human Services Rooming house PMI 9 Center for Human Services Apartments PMI 11 MARC Center Apartments PDD (A) 40 MARC Center 3 bedroom Group Homes (2) PDD (YA) 6 MARC Center 4 bedroom Group Homes PDD (YA) 4 MARC Center 5 bedroom Group Homes PDD (YA) 5 MARC Center 3 bedroom Group Home PDD (A) 4 MARC Center 4 bedroom Group Homes (8) PDD (A) 32 MARC Center 5 bedroom Group Home PDD (A) 5 MARC Center Foster Care Family Homes PDD (A) 4 MARC Center Apartments PDD (A) 4 Homes of Hope, Inc. Home PDD (A) 6 Homes of Hope, Inc. Home PDD (A) 6 Key: PMI=Person with Mental Illness PDD(A)=Person with Developmental Disability-Adult PDD(YA)=Person with Developmental Disability-Young Adult Source: Division of Economic Development, City of Bloomington, (1999), (309) 434-2244.

Transitional housing There is a variety of transitional housing in the Bloomington-Normal area. This housing includes a variety of housing of various sizes, from efficiency units to one five-bedroom dwelling, as shown in the following table.

Table 14: Transitional Housing in Bloomington-Normal by Size of Unit Efficiency 2-bedroom 3-bedroom 4-bedroom 5-bedroom 6 11 14 4 1 + 1 dwelling unit reserved for persons with mental illness Source: Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, (1999), (309) 434-2244.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 31 As noted in the following tables, there are a variety of transitional housings units, administered by Home Sweet Home mission and Community Action, the Bloomington Housing Authority, and the Salvation Army. In most cases, case management services are offered to clients residing in transitional housing. Almost all transitional housing is offered to families. Transitional housing in Normal is highlighted in bold.

Table 15: Transitional Housing in Bloomington-Normal: Location, Size, and Sponsor Location Number of units Sponsor 706 E. Oakland, Bloomington 3 br, sf, du Home Sweet Home mission 815-817 E. Bell, Bloomington 2-2 br, du, duplex Home Sweet Home mission 609/609 ½ W. Monroe, 2-4 br, du duplex Home Sweet Home mission Bloomington 405 S. Allin, Bloomington 2-3 br, du duplex Community Action 1105 S. East, Bloomington 5 br, sf du Community Action 802 W. Oakland, Bloomington 4 br, sf, du Community Action 901-901 1/3 S. Allin, Bloomington 2-3 br, du, duplex Community Action 808 S. Cottage, Normal 2-3 br, du Community Action/Town of 808 ½ S. Cottage, Normal Normal 1010 S. Adelaide, Normal 1-2 br Community Action/Town of 1010 ½ S. Adelaide, Normal 1-3 br, du Normal 712 W. Mulberry, Bloomington 1 du for person with Center for Human Services mental illness 205 N. Mason, Bloomington (date 4 br, du (singles or Salvation Army of completion, 5/2000) families) 104 E. Wood, Bloomington 3-2 br, du BHA/Home Sweet Home mission 104 E. Wood, Bloomington 2-3 br, du BHA/Home Sweet Home mission 104 E. Wood, Bloomington 1 efficiency unit, 6 du (55 BHA/Home Sweet Home or older only) mission W. Illinois, Bloomington 5-2 br, du BHA/Home Sweet Home mission W. Illinois, Bloomington 3-3 br, du BHA/Home Sweet Home mission 1017 W. Monroe, Bloomington 3 br, du, duplex City of Bloomington (doc=5/2000) 403 N. Morris, Bloomington (date 2-3 br, du City of Bloomington of completion, 5/2001) Key: br=bedroom sf=single-family du=dwelling unit Transitional housing located in Normal is in bold. Source: Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, (1999).

Emergency shelter facilities for the homeless There are six organizations in Bloomington-Normal which offer emergency shelter facilities. There are a total of 173 beds in all emergency shelters. This does not include beds for homeless youth offered by Project Oz. While all are located in Bloomington, they serve all homeless people in McLean County and other areas. Two of the four shelters offer limited stays. Only the Home Sweet Home mission limits the stay because the homeless person is not a County resident. Home Sweet Home also has the most restrictive admissions policy, excluding persons currently using drugs or alcohol and those perceived as a danger to themselves and others.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 32 Two of the shelter facilities are open 24 hours per day. One is open 12 hours per day. Most shelters offer some form of case management services. Most serve food to clients as well as shelter. They serve a variety of clients including men, women, and children (2 facilities), women (2 facilities), and children (1 facility).

Table 16: Shelter Facilities in Bloomington-Normal Organization Facility Capacity Hours Clients Clare House Clare House 10 24 Transient women, others Community Action Neville House 112 24 Women, children Home Sweet Home Home Sweet Home 110 24 Men, women, children Project OZ varies varies 24 runaway/homeless youth Salvation Army Safe Harbor 50 12 Men, women, children Source: Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, (1999), (309) 434-2244.

Table 17: Shelter Facility, Case Management, and Restrictions Organization Facilities With case Restrictions management Clare House Clare House Yes No adult males or teenagers; 2 week limit Community Action Neville House Yes No adult males or teenagers Home Sweet Home Home Sweet Home Yes 3 day max. for non-county residents; drug/alcohol free; not a danger to self and others Project OZ varies Yes Information not available Salvation Army Safe Harbor Yes None Source: Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, (1999), (309) 434-2244.

Permanent housing There is no public housing in Normal. There are 1,006 assisted housing units in Normal. This includes Section 8, Section 42, Program 236 Housing, and Program 236/Section 8 housing. There are a small number of houses built by Habitat for Humanity in Bloomington-Normal. Habitat builds three to five houses per year in Bloomington-Normal. There are three Habitat for Humanity houses in Normal. The City of Bloomington recently approved a new 30-lot Habitat for Humanity subdivision. In addition, there are down-payment assistance and homebuyer assistance programs available from the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal.

(d) Special needs facilities and services For persons who are not homeless, but require supportive housing, there is a variety of services offered in Bloomington-Normal. While there are no facilities in Normal, Normal residents are served by transitional housing programs and services as well as permanent supportive housing. These programs are discussed above in §91.210 (c), “Homeless Facilities,” in this report.

(e) Barriers to affordable housing

1. Housing production · The market conditions in Normal continue to remain conducive to the production of new housing. Existing zoning practices encourage and provide the opportunity for new development. There has been and continues to be continued new housing construction at a fairly high level since 1988. As noted in Table 9, there has been a rise in the number of building permits issued for residential housing since 1979. The greatest increase in production appears to be in construction of single- family homes. There has been less demand for single-family attached dwellings, apartments, and duplexes in 1999 compared to 1998.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 33 · However, the construction of new single-family dwellings does not provide opportunities for the low- or moderate-income household to purchase a new home. New housing in Bloomington- Normal is largely affordable only to middle- and upper-income households. As noted in section §91.210 (a) “Housing Production” of this report, the average price of a new home in Bloomington-Normal in 1999 was $172,983, an increase of 6.3% from 1998. · Several key informants noted that there is a strong demand for higher priced homes. They noted that builders will build more expensive homes for middle- and upper-income families because of the higher profit margins of such development. · At the same time, several key informants noted that builders are less willing to build lower-cost housing for low- and moderate-income households due, in part, to lower profit margins associated with such construction. · Builders are predicting they will continue to build more homes in the future due to low interest rates, a strong local economy, and a large middle-income and upper-middle-income population.

2. Cost of housing · The majority of housing in Bloomington-Normal available for sale is in the $100,000 range and up, as shown in Table 11. Slightly more than one-third (35.8%) is priced at $99,999 or less. In addition, the majority of houses in this price range have two or fewer bedrooms. Thus, the housing market is particularly disadvantageous to low- and moderate-income households with large families.

In addition, as Table 18 shows, the average sale price of a single-family dwelling in the Bloomington- Normal area has increased from $79,375 in 1990 to $131,768 in 1999. The increase in sale prices has slowed in recent years, but remains in the 4 to 5% range.

Table 18: Selected Factors About the Sale of Houses, Condominiums, and Duplexes in Bloomington-Normal, 1990 to 1999 Year Units Sold Total Dollars Average Price Percent Increase 1990 1,673 $132,794,593 $79,375 1991 1,982 $168,855,081 $85,104 7.2 1992 2,211 $204,795,935 $92,626 8.8 1993 2,266 $224,283,579 $98,878 6.7 1994 2,179 $233,853,140 $107,321 8.5 1995 2,116 $240,564,002 $113,688 5.9 1996 2,144 $250,299,674 $116,744 2.7 1997 2,224 $267,973,820 $120,492 3.2 1998 2,769 $351,460,587 $126,927 5.3 1999 2,621 $345,364,991 $131,768 3.8 Source: Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors, Sales of Houses, Condos, and Duplexes, (1999), (309) 829-3341.

3. Housing as a proportion of income · In addition, as housing prices have continued to increase in the Bloomington-Normal area, the percent of average household income spent on housing has increased. As Table 19 shows, average housing prices as a percent of average household income have increased throughout the period 1990 to 1998. Prices rose continuously as a percent of income until 1995 when they began to fall. · In 1998, families were spending, on average, 18% more of their income to purchase a home compared to 1990.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 34 Table 19: Average Housing Costs as a Percent of Household Income in Bloomington- Normal, 1990 to 1998 Average Housing Average Household Housing Costs as a Percentage Year Price Income of Household Income 1990 $79,375 $47,999 165% 1991 $85,194 $49,033 174% 1992 $92,626 $51,856 179% 1993 $98,978 $53,698 184% 1994 $107,321 $57,943 185% 1995 $113,688 $59,832 190% 1996 $116,744 $62,796 186% 1997 $120,492 $66,876 180% 1998 $126,927 $69,195 183% Source: Average housing price and average household income data come from McLean County Regional Planning Commission, McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan: Preliminary Report, (Bloomington, IL, November 1999), 72; Housing costs as a percentage of household income come from Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (Normal, IL, 1999).

Household income ranges in Bloomington-Normal and housing affordability In order to calculate housing affordability for families in Bloomington-Normal, one needs first to analyze household income data. Table 20 presents the number of adults in each income range in Bloomington-Normal in 1999. · More than one-third (37.5%) of all households in Bloomington-Normal have total household income at or below $35,000 per year. · Most households (58%) have incomes at or below $50,000 per year.

Table 20: Total Household Income by Income Range for the Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area, 1999 Income Range Number of Adults Percent of Adults Cumulative Percent Under $15,000 15,000 13.6 $15,000-24,999 10,800 9.8 23.4 $25,000-$34,999 15,500 14.1 37.5 $35,000-$49,999 23,000 20.9 58.4 $50,000 -$75,000 22,700 20.6 79 $75.000 or more 23,000 20.9 99.9 Source: The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999), 7.

Taking the income ranges noted above into account, along with a calculation of 30% of monthly and annual income, one can calculate what an affordable housing cost is for households in each income range. Table 21 includes household income ranges and affordable housing costs for Bloomington- Normal.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 35 Table 21: Total Household Income by Income Range and Affordable Housing Costs Established at 30% of Income 30% of high 30% of low 30% of low 30% of high Total annual household monthly income annual income monthly annual income income range range range income range range $0 to $14,999 $0 $4,500 $375 $15,000-$24,999 $4,500 $375 $7,500 $625 $25,000 to $34,999 $7,500 $625 $10,500 $875 $35,000 to $49,999 $10,500 $875 $15,000 $1,250 $50,000 to $74,999 $15,000 $1,250 $22,500 $1,875 $75,001+ $22,500 $1,875 Source: Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (Normal, IL, 1999).

4. Affordability of rental housing · There is a general problem of affordable rental housing in the Bloomington-Normal area. · Current Section 8 Fair Market Rents (FMR) in this area are $558 for a two-bedroom apartment and $775 for a three-bedroom apartment, according to the Federal Register (5/7/99). · These fair market rents are high for low- and moderate-income households. · In order to pay 30% of one’s income for housing, the HUD standard for affordability, a household would have to have an income of $22,320 to afford a two-bedroom apartment and $31,008 for a three-bedroom apartment. Based on the income ranges for households in McLean County in 1999 (see Table 20 above), approximately 20% of McLean County households could not afford a two-bedroom apartment and approximately 30% could not afford a three-bedroom apartment. · The private market is also unaffordable to many low- and moderate-income households. Many renters pay more than 30% of their income for their housing, as noted above.

Table 22: Average Monthly Rent of Apartments in Bloomington-Normal by Region, November 1998 McLean County Town of outside city/town Normal Illinois West East limits of excluding State Bloomington Bloomington Bloomington- Illinois State University (west of Main (east of Maint Category Normal University area area Street) Street) Studio None $425 $346 $316 $314 1 br. $335 $405 $405 $398 $392 2 br. $498 $489 $565 $462 $512 3 br. $665 $694 $737 $579 $670 4 br. $750 $778 $986 $875 $750 Source: McLean County Apartment Association, McLean County Rental Survey, (Normal, IL, 1998).

· Rents continue to be inflated in neighborhoods adjacent to our two major university campuses. · A landlord can charge a higher rent for a unit, when renting to students. (For example, in Normal, landlords can place four students in a two-bedroom apartment. They charge each student per semester, approximately $1,500 each.) · Many single-family renters, especially low- and moderate-income households, cannot afford to pay the inflated rents in those neighborhoods, particularly for larger three- or four-bedroom apartments. · As Table 22 shows, rents in the Illinois State University area in Normal are higher for all types of apartments than rents in other Normal neighborhoods (except studio and one-bedroom apartments). This is presumably due to a preference by students to share apartments.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 36 · Larger apartments are more expensive in the Illinois State University area than in other Normal neighborhoods. Three-bedroom apartments are $43 more expensive and four-bedroom apartments are $208 more expensive per month.

The results of the Assessment 2000 study also suggests that some residents are experiencing difficulty in affording housing. Some Normal respondents to the Household Survey reported that they spent more than 30% of income for housing (n=74). Sixteen percent (n=70) reported that they spent 1/3 to 1/2 of their income on housing; less than 1% reported that they spent more than half of their income on housing. (See Appendix 1 for Household Survey results.)

Household Survey respondents are also aware of housing affordability for other persons in the County. Among those Normal residents who commented on housing in McLean County, 35% (n=48) commented on housing affordability. One respondent commented that “Housing and especially new housing is high priced in McLean County. The average home price is steadily increasing at a rate that many people cannot afford.” Another said, “McLean County needs more housing developments within a price range that will accommodate low-income homebuyers.” (See Appendix 1 for Household Survey comments.)

A third of key informants also commented on the housing affordability issue. One key informant stated that “ A barrier for economic development (recruitment, retention, and expansion of business) is affordable housing.” In this informant’s view, “One reason people are not moving here for jobs is lack of affordable housing . . . median cost of housing in the area is $125,000. Mid- or lower-level white collar or blue collar persons might be able to afford a $50,000-$80,000 home.” Another key informant said, “Housing is not affordable. There is no way a single person or a young couple can buy a house in town even with decent salary. It is hard to find existing affordable homes.” Another key informant stated that “the elimination of Single Room Occupancy hotels (SROs) in Bloomington- Normal resulted in a loss of affordable housing. SRO housing which was demolished was not replaced. There is no recognition of the need for affordable rental housing in Bloomington-Normal. Not everyone can afford (or wants) to own their own home.” (See Appendix 1 for Household Survey results.)

5. Affordability of rental housing in Bloomington-Normal: Out of Reach housing affordability study Another study of the affordability of rental housing in Bloomington-Normal provides additional data on the ability of low-income households in this metropolitan statistical area to afford rental housing.

The Out of Reach housing affordability study, conducted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), examined rental housing affordability in the fifty states and the District of Columbia, by State, metropolitan area, and county, including Bloomington-Normal, based upon income and rental housing data.16 For each jurisdiction, the study calculated the income that a renter household would need in order to afford rental housing. The study also estimated the percent of households which could not afford to pay the Fair Market Rent (FMR), as well as what they would need to earn to pay the rent and keep their housing costs at 30% of income. Thirty percent of income is the generally accepted standard for affordability established by Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

16 Dolbeare, C.N., National Low Income Housing Coalition/LIHIS, Out of Reach: The Gap Between Housing Costs and Income of Poor People in the United States, [Internet], http://www.nlihc.org/oor99/index.htm, (Washington, D.C., September, 1999).

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 37 As Table 23 shows, a substantial minority of the households in Bloomington-Normal cannot afford to pay Fair Market Rent for either a one-bedroom or a two-bedroom. · If $16,440 is the income needed to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Bloomington-Normal, NLIHC estimated that 30% of renters could not afford that FMR. · Thirty-nine percent of all renters could not afford a two-bedroom apartment. · Renters at the median income level would have to pay more than 50% of their income for a two- bedroom apartment and 75% of their income for a three-bedroom apartment. · While a one-bedroom apartment was affordable (26% of Annual Family Median Income), a two- bedroom apartment was no longer affordable (35% of income).

Table 23: Income and Percent of Income Needed to Afford Fair Market Rents (FMR) in Bloomington-Normal, 1999 Income needed to Percent of family Percent estimated Estimated number of afford FMR annual median renter median renters unable to income needed to income needed to afford FMR afford FMR afford FMR One- Two- One- Two- One- Two- One- Two- bedroom bedroom bedroom bedroom bedroom bedroom bedroom bedroom $16,440 $22,040 26% 35% 56% 75% 30% 39% Source: Dolbeare, C.N., National Low Income Housing Coalition/LIHIS, Out of Reach: The Gap Between Housing Costs and Income of Poor People in the United States, [Internet], http://www.nlihc.org/, (Washington, D.C., September, 1999).

The Out of Reach study also calculated the hourly wage needed to afford one-bedroom and two- bedroom apartments at Fair Market Rent (FMR). It is clear that low-income workers, working at minimum wage for 40 hours per week, could not afford either a one- or two-bedroom apartment at FMR. Workers would need to earn $7.90 per hour and $10.60 per hour to afford (at the 30% of income standard) a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom apartment at FMR, respectively.

Table 24: Wages Needed to Afford Fair Market Rents (FMR) in Bloomington Normal, 1999 Housing wage as percent of Work hrs/week necessary at Hourly wage needed to federal minimum wage federal minimum wage to afford at 40 hrs/week ($5.15/hour) afford One BR FMR Two BR FMR One BR FMR Two BR FMR One BR FMR Two BR FMR $7.90 $10.60 154% 206% 61 82 Source: Dolbeare, C.N., Out of Reach.

· A family earning 30% of the estimated median family income ($18,660 per year) (see Table 25) could not afford two-, three-, or four- bedroom apartments in Bloomington-Normal. Monthly wages of $1,555 would allow them to rent an apartment for $467, assuming the 30% affordability standard. As Table 22 shows, rents for these apartments are at or above $489 per month, except Region 4 where a two-bedroom rented for $462. · Thus, low-income families, particularly those with several children, would pay more than 30% of their annual median income for nearly all three- and four- bedroom apartments.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 38 Table 25: Maximum Affordable Housing Costs by Percent of Family Annual Median Income (AMI) Earned, Bloomington-Normal, 1999 Maximum affordable montly housing cost by % of 1999 estimated median family income family AMI earned Annual Monthly 30% of AMI 50% of AMI 80% of AMI 100% of AMI $62,200.00 $5,183.00 $467.00 $778.00 $1,244.00 $1,555.00 Source: Dolbeare, C.N., Out of Reach.

6. The lack of a down-payment is not an obstacle to homeownership in the community. · The Town of Normal offers a down-payment assistance program to low- and moderate-income persons. In addition, many private lending institutions offer a variety of programs aimed at assisting first time homebuyers. · The Town of Normal cedes all or a portion of its private activity bond cap to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for first time homebuyers.

7. Residential development of various densities to accommodate a wide range of housing types is a part of the Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan, 1996.17 · The Town of Normal accepts the idea of residential development of various densities and a wide variety of housing types as a part of its Comprehensive Plan. The Town has accepted affordable housing developments as a part of the community. · However, the Comprehensive Plan does not guarantee affordable housing developments. The availability of affordable housing in Normal is largely a function of market forces. These market forces discourage low- and moderate-income housing development and favor housing for middle- and upper-income families. While the Town can assist some families through down-payment assistance programs and engage in other activities which encourage the preservation of existing affordable housing stock through rehabilitation of such stock, the Town cannot mandate the construction of affordable housing.

8. Changes in public policy, including increases in government fees and taxes, increases the cost of new housing. · A number of different housing-related fees impact the cost of developing affordable housing in Normal, including: Building Permit fees; HVAC Permit fees; and Plumbing Permit fees. · School impact fees raise costs of new construction in subdivisions. · Changes in building codes (e.g., requiring concrete curbs and gutters) adds to developer costs. · A requirement for new subdivisions to dedicate some land to parkland increases the cost of housing development. · Storm water-detention requirements also increase the cost.

9. There is a lack of accessible and affordable housing for people with disabilities. · Housing which is accessible is not affordable for most disabled people. Many persons with disabilities also have low incomes. · Housing which is affordable, is often older housing stock, and was not designed for people with disabilities. · One focus group participant stated that “Development over the past ten years has not resulted in housing which is wheelchair accessible. Apartments that are accessible are deteriorating and people don’t want to repair them.” One key informant stated that “Lots of rental units are not accessible for older adults or persons with disabilities, for example, steps may be a problem. May be inaccessible for wheelchairs. Cabinets may be hard to reach”

17 Town of Normal, Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan, (Normal, IL, 1996), 53.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 39 · When Normal residents were asked about the accessibility of their own housing in the Household Survey, 18% of Normal respondents (n=77) reported that their own housing was not at all accessible for persons with disabilities or the elderly. An additional 23% (n=98) reported that their housing was somewhat inaccessible. In the open-ended question on housing in the household survey, several Normal residents commented on the accessibility issue. One resident stated that there was a “Need for more elderly and disabled [affordable housing].” Another stated that “There is a great need for housing for low-income and disabled individuals/families. Hard to find housing to suit these groups.” (See Appendix 1 for Household Survey results).

10. Access to public transportation in some low- and moderate-income areas is either limited or nonexistent. · The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System does not offer night service after 6 p.m. This poses serious transportation issues for second and third shift workers in Bloomington-Normal. · While the Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan (1996) states that efforts should be made to service anticipated future concentrations of multi-family housing with public transportation, existing transportation systems do not cover the current needs of many low-income families.18 In the absence of an expansion of the public transit system, there is a need to provide other options to persons who do not own automobiles. There is a small number of people living in McLean County who do not have a car available in the household. 1990 Census data indicated that 6.3% of households (or 2,948 households) in McLean County did not have a car available in the household.19 · Transportation—for getting to and returning from work, shopping, medical care, other sites for goods and services, and social and recreation activities—emerged as an important factor in Assessment 2000 research. Ability to access and afford transportation is linked to age, income, disability status, and other factors. Despite a number of transportation services within McLean County, some residents and health and human service providers expressed dissatisfaction with availability of services and transportation planning.20 Getting to and form work was a problem for a significant minority of Normal respondents. Fifteen percent (n=65) reported that they had problems 1 to 5 times in getting to work because of transportation problems. In addition, eight respondents reported that it was very difficulty or difficult to get transportation to child care. (See Appendix 1 for Household Survey results.) · As residents face challenges with accessing transportation, transportation providers also face challenges in meeting transportation needs and recognizing demands for services. Transportation providers indicated that lack of staff, operating funds, and vehicles were the greatest barriers to service provision.21 · Twelve key informants commented on the issue of public transportation. One key informant said that “Transportation at night is a problem . . . Employees may be able to get to work but they can’t get back home.” Another key informant stated that “There has been phenomenal change and growth in the twin cities in the past 10 years. There is a need for transportation on the West Side—to businesses on West College Avenue. Some employers are transporting their employees.” Another key informant said that “Bloomington-Normal doesn’t fully realize that it is becoming an urban center. Planning tends to be short-sighted.” This informant also said there is no significant local tax-based support for public transportation. Another key informant characterized the need for transportation services as “extreme.”

18 Town of Normal, Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan, 74. 19 U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 3A, [Internet], http://factfinder.census.gov, (December 1999). 20 Assessment 2000, 59. 21 Assessment 2000, 61.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 40 11. The property tax has created financial difficulties for some low-income homeowners. · A few key informants suggested that some Habitat for Humanity homeowners have had difficulty paying their property tax bills and have been forced to sell their homes. Most Habitat homes are sold to an income-eligible household for approximately $30,000 to $35,000. However, the market value of the home is in the $70,000 to $75,000 range. The taxes are calculated on the assessed value (1/3 of market value) not the selling price of the home. Because their incomes do not rise as quickly as their taxes, some Habitat homeowners are forced to sell their homes. · There are no tax incentives for building affordable homes and selling them to low- and moderate- income households. · Many Normal residents complained about the impact of property taxes. Of 137 Normal residents who commented on housing issues, 39% of Normal residents (n=54) commented on property taxes. Most simply said that property taxes were too “high.” (See Appendix 1 for Household Survey results.)

12.There is a strong not in my back yard (NIMBY) sentiment which makes it politically unpalatable to build low- and moderate-income housing, particularly high density housing, when adjacent neighborhoods oppose such developments. · Residents’ perceptions that development of affordable housing will decrease property values and bring a lower class of people to their neighborhoods results in opposition to building affordable housing for low-income people. This opposition frustrates the mixing of affordable housing with moderate- and higher-end developments which is viewed as the key to healthy neighborhood development.22 The ultimate effect of NIMBY is to concentrate low-income people in high- density public or subsidized housing—a situation that leads to a range of problems.23 · Two housing projects designed to increase the amount of low- and moderate-income housing in the Bloomington-Normal area (Turnberry, Habitat for Humanity) were canceled or relocated due to neighborhood opposition. · One key informant stated that “NIMBY is a problem in Normal. Opposition to the Turnberry development was due, in part, to the problem of school overcrowding and, in part, to the location chosen [i.e., next to an established neighborhood of single-family homes].” Another stated that “NIMBY has always been a major concern with existing neighborhoods as far as affordable housing is concerned. It is also a concern with Habitat homes. NIMBY is a major obstacle to housing for low- and moderate-income persons and families. Citizens object to subsidies for Habitat and other low-income families. NIMBY opposition to Turnberry in Bloomington was non-existent because it was in a commercial area and there was no neighborhood to object to it. Opposition to the Habitat project in Bloomington was based, in part, on opposition to houses without garages. Habitat does not build houses with garages; it raises their costs. However, neighbors of the Habitat homes did not want houses next to them without garages.”

22 McLean County Regional Planning Commission, McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan: Preliminary Report, (Bloomington, IL, November 1999), 73. 23 Assessment 2000, 51.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 41 §91.215 Strategic Plan

(a) General

(1) General priorities for allocating investment in the jurisdiction The top priority of the Town of Normal during the next five years is to preserve and protect the Town’s affordable housing stock, including the infrastructure serving that stock. Because the Town’s older, affordable housing is scattered throughout the community, all programs offered shall be income based only, without regard to the recipient’s location within the community.

(2) Basis for assigning priority for each category of priority needs The assignment of priority for each category of priority needs is based upon: · key informant interviews; · focus group information; · housing market analysis; and · general knowledge of elected Town officials and staff.

(3) Obstacles to meeting underserved needs Obstacles identified in serving underserved individuals include: · a lack of affordable land; · the high cost of new construction and rehabilitation/renovation; and · the existence of a major university in the community which necessitates provision of off-campus housing for some 11,000 students; thus driving up the cost of rental housing.

In addition, the annual amount of CDBG assistance (approximately $500,000) is insufficient to mount any substantial project without eliminating the various programs already in place. Funds for housing assistance (e.g., housing rehabilitation, down-payment assistance) will be made available in the form of deferred payment loans and low-interest loans to income-qualified persons/families. Funds for infrastructure improvements will be combined with Town funds and administered jointly by the Community Development Department and the Engineering Department with projects being bid on a competitive basis. Funds for Code Enforcement will be made available from the CDBG grant and the person occupying this half-time position will be part of the Inspections Department staff, answering to the Housing Inspector. The allocation of funds to public service initiatives of local social service agencies will be based on services that agencies provide and their relevance to major issues identified by the Assessment 2000 Summary Report. Assessment 2000, a collaborative project of the United Way of McLean County and Community Advocacy Network partners, has been discussed in the Consolidated Plan.

Assessment 2000 also identified obstacles to providing human services to low- and moderate-income persons. One major obstacle to providing services is the attraction and retention of qualified staff. · While the demand for workers in health and human service occupations is increasing, workers are in short supply. Four factors were commonly identified as responsible for this problem: non- competitive salaries; lack of qualified persons; long working hours; and non-competitive benefits.24 Turnover of human service workers is also an issue that affects both service organizations and clients. Assessment 2000 participants said high turnover forces the organization to spend more time, money and human resources on recruiting, selecting and

24 Assessment 2000, 101.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 42 training new workers—resources that could be spent on clients and services. High turnover of caseworkers can negatively impact the quality of care and treatment that clients receive.25 · Key informants and focus group participants talked about the need for more respect and tolerance for personal and cultural differences among health and human service workers, including teachers.26 · Health and human service agencies need more staff training to meet the needs of their clients. One great need is for computer training and computer technical support. Other training needs are for continuing education and specific subject-matter training related to their occupations and services (e.g., fundraising, counseling techniques, child welfare and development).27 · Providers need to share information about programs and services with one another and the public needs to be made more aware of existing programs and services.28 · Front-line health and human service workers would like to provide greater input into their organizations about such things as: suggestions for change; what would make their work more effective; which criteria and rules should be used for their clients; and what changes would make their working conditions better both for themselves and for their clients.29

The health care and human service agencies in McLean County face other challenges to providing services. Among agencies that responded to the Health and Human Services Providers’ Survey, the greatest challenges to providing services are insufficient operating funds (38.5%) and lack of staff (30.3%).30 Categorical eligibility, that is, eligibility for funding tied to personal or family characteristics such as income level, is also a barrier to providing and receiving services.31 Welfare to work has increased the number of people working. However, clients who have transitioned to work often earn too much money to qualify for services; yet, their need for supportive services remains.

Eight key informants raised the issue of categorical eligibility. One key informant argued that services should be available to all people. S/he is confused by the fact that many people try to stay off welfare, have lost health benefits, and do not have benefits associated with their job. S/he would prefer a more gradual welfare to work plan. S/he believes that categorical funding leaves out people with just a little too much income and those “people fall through the cracks.” According to another key informant, “Social services are geared to income eligibility and specific population designations—also to people on fixed incomes. If we want people to be in the workforce, we must provide support to make this possible. We must raise the income eligibility.” Several focus group participants also raised the issue of categorical eligibility. One participant said that, currently, most services tend to be categorically oriented. A person has to meet certain criteria to access a service. S/he believes eligibility should not matter if there is a need and suggested the need to “set aside stigma attached to eligibility requirements.”

(4) Summary of priorities and objectives The Town’s general priorities for allocating funds within the community will not be directed at specific neighborhoods as the problems to be addressed (e.g., housing rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, infrastructure preservation, public service assistance to social service agencies) exist in isolated instances around the community.

25 Assessment 2000, 101. 26 Assessment 2000, 103. 27 Assessment 2000, 103-104. 28 Assessment 2000, 103. 29 Ibid. 30 Assessment 2000, 100. 31 Assessment 2000, 106.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 43 Affordable housing has been identified as the priority need for our community through a detailed process of focus groups, interviews with key informants, housing market analysis, and the general knowledge of Town elected officials and staff.

(5) Proposed measurable accomplishments As the following table shows, the Town of Normal is assisting three major income groups: extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income families and individuals. There are three housing assistance programs: down-payment assistance, housing rehabilitation assistance, and rental housing assistance. These figures refer to the number of families/individuals served on an annual basis.

Table 26: Number of Families or Individuals Served by Income Group and Type of Assistance Through the Town of Normal Housing Assistance Programs, 1999

Downpayment Housing Rehabilitation Income Group Assistance Assistance Rental Housing Extremely Low Income 2 2 25 Low Income 5 5 30 Moderate Income 15 7 50 TOTAL 22 14 105 Source: Town of Normal, Department of Community Development, (309) 454-9557, (1999).

In addition to the assistance noted in Table 26, the Town is expected to complete the following objectives: · housing rehabilitation program is expected to rehabilitate 12 homes per year; · down-payment assistance will be provided to 15 families per year; · one street per year is expected to be reconstructed; · 5 intersections per year will be modified to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates; and · approximately $75,000 per year will be made available for appropriate public service activities.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 44 (b) Affordable housing

(1) Analysis of the housing market: severity of housing problems, needs of extremely low- income, low-income, and moderate-income renters and owners, and the assignment of the relative priority given to each priority need in the Table 2A Priority Needs Summary Table

Table 27: Priority Housing Needs Table by Household Type and Size32 Priority Priority Priority Need Need Need 0% to 30% 31% to 50% 51% to 80% Median Median Median Family Family Family Estimated Estimated Household Type Income Income Income Units Dollars Small Families (Renter) Cost >30% High High Low 368 $1,288,000 Cost >50% High High Low 173 $605,500 Large Families (Renter) Cost >30% Low Low Low 36 $135,000 Cost >50% Low Low None 36 $126,000 Elderly Families (Renter) Cost >30% Low Low Low 111 $388,500 Cost >50% Low Low Low 53 $185,500 Owner Cost >30% Medium Medium Medium 442 $331,500 Cost >50% Medium Medium Low 148 $111,000 Note: The costs listed under the column, “Household Type,” refer to cost of housing greater than a specific percentage of family income. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census Detailed Tables—Sample Data (STF3), [Internet], http://factfinder.census.gov/, (December 1999).

Affordable housing is generally defined as safe, decent, and sanitary housing units for which the cost does not exceed 30% of the person’s/family’s income. Due to the scarcity of affordable housing in Normal, it is imperative that the Town provide funding for owner/occupants of 1 to 4 family dwelling units to keep those units up to code and in a safe and decent condition. In addition to preserving the structures, the Town must also preserve the infrastructure which serves these units and strive to assure that the neighborhoods remain free of blighting influences. This will involve the rebuilding of streets in census tracts/block groups that contain 51% or greater low-/moderate-income persons. In addition, $50,000 in CDBG funds will be combined with Town funds to continue the project to make the entire community accessible through curb cuts at every intersection in town, allowing those whose mobility is restricted to move freely about the community. Finally, a part-time Code Enforcement Officer will provide the Town with a means to identify blighting influences and enforce existing ordinances written to prevent slum and blight.

(2) Impact of the characteristics of the housing market on the use of funds made available for rental assistance, production of new units, rehabilitation of old units, and acquisition of existing units · Rental Assistance—No CDBG funds will be used for rental assistance. Town funds will be used to continue the annual rental inspection/licensing program to assure that all rental units (except single-family) in the community will be safe, decent, and sanitary.

32 This is Table 2A Priority Needs Summary Table required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 45 · New Unit Production—No CDBG funds will be used to construct new rental units. However, the Town will continue to review appropriate developments that include affordable rental housing units. In addition, local developers continue to produce new student apartment complexes while the student population at Illinois State University remains stable. This has the effect of opening units previously rented by students to the non-student population at a lower monthly rental rate. · Rehabilitation of Old Units—CDBG funds will be used to continue the Town’s housing rehabilitation program, a major component of the Affordable Housing strategy. The preservation of affordable housing and the infrastructure that serves it assures the continued viability of this segment of the housing market. The Town assures that rental units remain safe and decent through its annual inspection/licensing program. · Acquisition of Existing Units—The Town has no plans to acquire any existing housing.

(3) Description of proposed accomplishments of the Town: specification of the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income families to whom the jurisdiction will provide affordable housing, as defined in 24 CFR 92.252 for rental housing, and as defined in 24 CFR 92.254 for homeownership, over a specific time period

As Table 28 shows, the Town of Normal will assist three major income groups: extremely low- income, low-income, and moderate-income. There are three housing assistance programs: down- payment assistance, housing rehabilitation assistance, and rental housing assistance.

Table 28: Number of Families or Individuals Who Will Be Served by Income Group and Type of Assistance Through the Town of Normal Housing Assistance Programs

Downpayment Housing Rehabilitation Income Group Assistance Assistance Rental Housing Extremely Low Income 2 2 25 Low Income 5 5 30 Moderate Income 15 7 50 TOTAL 22 14 105 Source: Town of Normal, Department of Community Development, (309) 454-9557, (1999).

(c) Homelessness Homelessness is not a major problem in Normal. Due to the fact that both shelters and most of the social service agencies serving the relatively few homeless persons in this area are located in Bloomington, the Town does not provide any direct assistance to the homeless. Rather, it is the Town’s strategy to work with both shelters and service providers to provide assistance to them with both CDBG funds and other, non-Federal Town funds. The Town’s CDBG public service cap is around $75,000 so relatively little is available to assist these agencies.

(1) Helping low-income families avoid becoming homeless The Town assists low-income persons in avoiding homelessness by: · providing an economic climate which offers many employment opportunities; · a referral system which begins with on-street police officers to provide direction to those in need of assistance; · direct contact and involvement with social service agencies; · providing administrative assistance at the board level of social service agencies; and · providing emergency assistance, either directly to those in need, or through the Office of General Assistance of the Normal Township.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 46 The Town will continue to support the efforts of the Mid-Central Community Action Agency by providing four units for their transitional housing program which offers support services to enhance the residents' ability to become self sufficient. By providing CDBG funds to Chestnut Health Care Systems for their Extended Care program, the Town provides homeless persons with a structured substance abuse program which allows the participant the opportunity to defeat his/her problems and return to society clean, sober, and employed.

(2) Reaching out to homeless persons and assessing their individual needs There are a variety of organizations and services that reach out to the homeless in Bloomington- Normal. Outreach and individual assessment of need are provided as part of a broad array of services. These services include: · Case management services · Mental health services · Job placement · Mentoring programs · Veteran’s assistance · Health care

There is a variety of services offered to homeless individuals and families in Bloomington-Normal. Service providers do not collect data on the current or most recent residence of their clients. As a result, it is not possible to identify clients by residency. Services are offered for clients from Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County. It should also be noted that many services offered by these organizations and agencies are offered to all low-income persons and not simply homeless or near-homeless individuals and families.

As Table 29 indicates, services provided in Bloomington-Normal include emergency rent (6 providers), utility assistance (7), case management services (5), mental health care (3), job placement (2), mentoring programs (2), veteran’s assistance (3), and health care (6). In addition, eleven organizations offer food referrals.

In other cases, there is a single service provider. This includes intake/assessment services, transportation, child care, dental care, legal services, occupational screening, life skills training, and education.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 47 Table 29: Social Services Offered in Bloomington-Normal by Type of Service Type of service Organization Emergency rent Homes through Hearts Emergency rent Community Action Emergency rent Salvation Army Emergency rent Township governments Emergency rent St. Vincent DePaul Society Emergency rent Veteran's Assistance Commission Utility assistance Community Action Utility assistance Salvation Army Utility assistance Township governments Utility assistance St. Vincent DePaul Society Utility assistance Homes through Hearts Utility assistance Veteran's Assistance Commission Utility assistance American Red Cross Intake/assessment PATH (Outreach Worker for the Homeless) Case Management Home Sweet Home Mission Case Management Safe Harbor Case Management Neville House (domestic violence) Case Management Clare House Case Management Catholic Social Services Mental Health Care Center for Human Services Mental Health Care Catholic Social Services Mental Health Care Chestnut Counseling Center Transportation Young Women's Christian Association Child care Young Women's Christian Association Dental care McLean County Health Department Legal services Prairie State Legal Services Job Placement United Workforce Development Board Job Placement Job Partners Occupational screening Occupational Development Center Life skills training University of Illinois Extension Education GED/Gateway Mentoring program Churches Mentoring program Businesses Veteran's Assistance Veteran's Assistance Commission Veteran's Assistance Peoria Vet Center Veteran's Assistance Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs Substance Abuse Treatment Chestnut Substance Abuse Treatment Center Substance Abuse Treatment Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery Pharmaceutical Assistance Illinois Department of Revenue Health Care Community Health Care Clinic Health Care McLean County Health Department Health Care Planned Parenthood Health Care Scott Health Resources Center Health Care BroMenn Regional Medical Center Health Care OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Source: Division of Economic Development, City of Bloomington, (1999).

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 48 Table 30: Social Service Organizations Offering Food Referrals in Bloomington-Normal Center of Hope Food Pantry Network Clare House Community Action West First Assembly of God-Bread of Life Home Sweet Home Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen McLean Prairie Food Co-op Salvation Army SHARE Food Program of Central Illinois St. Vincent DePaul Society Western Avenue Community Center Source: Division of Economic Development, City of Bloomington, (1999).

(3) Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons Six organizations in Bloomington-Normal offer shelter to the homeless. There are a total of 173 beds in emergency shelters in Bloomington-Normal. This includes facilities which serve single adults (men and women), families with children, and persons who have experienced domestic violence. These facilities are discussed in §91.210 (c), “Homeless Facilities,” in this report. There is also a variety of transitional housing in Bloomington-Normal, ranging from efficiency units to five-bedroom dwellings. Four transitional housing units are located in Normal. These facilities are discussed on discussed in §91.210 (c), “Homeless Facilities,” in this report.

(4) Helping homeless persons make the transition to permanent housing and independent living Through the Continuum of Care, a system has been developed to provide services and help the homeless make the transition to permanent housing and independent living. The PATH outreach worker or case managers at social service agencies are the current access point for permanent supportive housing. Individual homeless persons may also self-refer to specific programs. Case managers provide information in goal planning. Housing seminars, offered through the City of Bloomington Community Development program, as well as life skills classes, provide information on all the options available. These options include: · subsidized housing · renting · transitional housing · down-payment assistance · other avenues to home ownership

Organizations involved in these programs include: · Bloomington Housing Authority · McLean County Coalition for Affordable Housing · Habitat for Humanity · Community Development Division, City of Bloomington · Town of Normal Community Development Department · Mid-Central Community Action

The homeless use a voucher system established by the Continuum of Care to access individual services funded through the Continuum of Care. Case managers are supplied vouchers and can select a particular service needed by a client after receiving an authorization code from PATH. A variety of different services can be accessed through this system, including: · mental health counseling

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 49 · psychiatric services · psychotropic medications · transportation · child care · dental care · legal services · job placement · occupational evaluation · site-based employment

(d) Other special needs: priority service needs of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing

Table 31: Priority Needs of Non-Homeless Persons Who Require Supportive Services, Estimated Priority Units, and Estimated Dollars to Address Needs in Bloomington-Normal, 199933 Estimated Priority Estimated Dollars to Sub-Populations Priority Need Units Address Priority Needs Elderly Low not determined not available Frail Elderly Low not determined not available Severe Mental Illness Low not determined not available Developmentally Disabled Low 8 not available Physically Disabled Medium 14 not available Persons with Alcohol/Other Drug Addictions Medium 10 not available Persons with HIV/AIDs Low 0 0 Other (specify) not available not available not available TOTAL 32

In the case of the elderly and frail elderly, a key informant noted that such services, paid for with Federal funds, do not permit the establishment of waiting lists. As a result, there is no way to calculate unmet needs. In the case of severe mental illness, there are no current reliable figures on the need for services for that population. The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units.34

No figures are included because no reliable figures are available. In addition, the estimated dollars needed to address the problems of each member in need of services is impossible to determine because needs and concomitant costs vary for each individual case. The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units.35

(1) and (2) Housing needs of the elderly and frail elderly

Town of Normal CDBG priorities

33 This is Table 1B Special Needs of the Non-homeless that is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 34 The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units. See U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Draft Guidelines for Preparing a Consolidated Plan Submission for Local Jurisdictions, [Internet], http://www.hud.gove/cpd/cp99/cp1.html, (1999), 21. 35 The jurisdiction is not required to estimate the priority units. See U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Draft Guidelines for Preparing a Consolidated Plan Submission for Local Jurisdictions, [Internet], http://www.hud.gove/cpd/cp99/cp1.html, (1999), 22.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 50 Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

Community priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(3) Severe mental illness

Town of Normal CDBG priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

Community priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(4) Developmentally disabled

Town of Normal CDBG priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

Community priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(5) Physically disabled

Town of Normal CDBG priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

Community priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(6) Persons with Alcohol/Other Drug Addictions

Town of Normal CDBG Priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

Community priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(7) Persons with HIV/AIDS

Town of Normal CDBG priorities

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 51 Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

Community priorities Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(8) Others (specify) Please see the discussion in §91.205 (c)(1), “Number of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing,” in this report.

(e) Non-housing community development

Priority non-housing community development needs The neighborhood revitalization priority is discussed above in Section b (2). In addition, the Town continues to work cooperatively with the McLean County Economic Development Council to attract diverse employment opportunities to the community. The Town passes 100% of its 1.0% hotel/motel tax to the Council, as does the City of Bloomington, to fund these efforts.

Long-term community development objectives Table 31 includes the Town of Normal’s Five-Year Operating and Capital Improvement needs. Funding for these needs comes from Town Funds, primarily General Fund monies. General Fund income is derived from State and local sales taxes, property taxes, utility taxes, and other local revenue sources. Some law enforcement activities are funded through Federal grants. Those activities will be funded from local sources once the Federal grants expire.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 52 Table 32: Priority Community Development Needs for the Town of Normal36 Estimated Priority Community Development Priority Need Estimated Dollars to Needs Level Priority Units Address Public Facility Needs Asbestos Removal not determined 0 $0 Clean-up of Contaminated Sites not determined 0 $0 Fire Stations/Equipment not determined 0 $17,200,000 Hanidcapped Centers not determined 0 $0 Health Facilities not determined 0 $0 Neighborhood Facilities not determined 0 $0 Non-Residential Historic Preservation not determined 0 $0 Park and/or Recreation Facilities not determined 0 $19,000,000 Parking Facilities not determined 0 $0 Public Facilities and Improvement not determined 0 $0 Solid Waste Disposal Improvements not determined 0 $5,600,000 Overall Medium 0 $41,800,000 Infrastructure Flood Drain Developments not determined 0 $1,000,000 Privately Owned Utilities not determined 0 $0 Removal of Architectural Barriers not determined 0 $150,000 Sidewalks not determined 0 $50,000 Street Improvements not determined 0 $22,500,000 Tree Planting not determined 0 $50,000 Water/Sewer Improvements not determined 0 $41,300,000 Overall not determined 0 $65,050,000 Public Service Needs Employment Training not determined 0 $0 Handicapped Services not determined 0 $0 Health Services not determined 0 $0 Legal Services not determined 0 $0 Mental Health Services not determined 0 $0 Public Services (General) High 0 $80,000 Screening for Lead-Based Paint/LeadHazard not determined 0 $0 Substance Abuse Services not determined 0 $0 Transportation Services not determined 0 $0 Overall Low 0 $80,000 Anti-Crime Programs Crime Awareneness Low 0 $25,900,000 Overall Low 0 $25,900,000

36 This is Table 2B Community Development Needs as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 53 Table 32: Priority Community Development Needs for the Town of Normal (continued) Estimated Priority Community Development Priority Need Estimated Dollars to Needs Level Priority Units Address Youth Programs Abused and Neglected Children not determined 0 $0 Abused and Neglected Children Facilities not determined 0 $0 Child Care Centers not determined 0 $0 Child Care Services not determined 0 $0 Youth Centers Medium 0 $0 Youth Services not determined 0 $400,000 Overall Medium 0 $400,000 Senior Programs Senior Centers not determined 0 $0 Senior Services not determined 0 $0 Overall Low 0 $0 Economic Development CI Building Acquisition, Construction, Rehabilitation not determined 0 $0 CI Infrastructure Development not determined 0 $3,300,000 CI Land Acquisition/Disposition not determined 0 $0 ED Direct Financial Assistance to For- Profit Organizations not determined 0 $0 ED Technical Assistance not determined 0 $0 Micro-Enterprise Assistance not determined 0 $0 Other Commercial/Industrial Improvements not determined 0 $0 Rehab; Publicly-or Privately Owned Commercial/Industrial Medium 0 $1,000,000 Overall not determined 0 $4,300,000 Other Urban Renewal Completion not determined 0 $0 CDBG Assistance ot Institutes of Higher Education not determined 0 $0 CDBG Non-profit Organization Capacity Building not determined 0 $0 Repayments of Section 108 Loan Principal not determined 0 $0 Unprogrammed Funds not determined 0 $0 Overall Low 0 $0 Planning Planning and Administration High 0 $0 Overall High 0 $0 Total Estimated Dollars Needed $275,060,000

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 54 Short-term community development objectives

The Town’s Short Term Goals can be found in the Year 26 Action Plan. Briefly, the goals are as follows:

1. Affordable housing · Housing Rehabilitation—The rehabilitation of 10 single family homes. · Preservation of infrastructure in low-/moderate-income census tracts, blocks, and groups—The rebuilding of Sycamore Street from Linden to Fell. This includes curbs, gutters, water/sewer mains. · Provision of funding to affordable housing subdivision--$50,000 in funds added to $100,000 in CDBG funds allocated last year to help offset infrastructure development costs to a developer of a 22-unit subdivision. Homes in this subdivision will be sold only to low-/moderate-income persons. The developer has acquired the land and must apply for rezoning and/or take out building permits prior to October 1, 2000 in order to receive this assistance. Should the developer fail to observe this deadline, the funds ($150,000) will be withdrawn and reprogrammed through the public hearing process. · Down-payment assistance—Provision of down-payment/closing cost assistance to 15 low- /moderate-income homebuyers. · Code enforcement—Provision of a three-quarter-time position to enforce existing Town ordinances addressing slum and blighting conditions.

2. Community accessibility Provision of $50,000 for curb cuts at six intersections to aid in making the community accessible to those with disabilities and to comply with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

3. Assistance to the working poor Provision of funding to social service agencies including: · Scott Health Center-Peace Meals-$18,000. Hot, home delivered meals to income-eligible seniors five days per week. · The Baby Fold-Healthy Start Program-$25,000. Funding to support this program which provides at-risk, first-time, low-/moderate-income parents with counseling to deal with the stress of economic hardship brought on by having children (25 families to benefit). · Chestnut Healthcare Systems-Extended Care Program-$25,000. The most recognized problems of the homeless are substance abuse and/or psychological problems. This program provides in- patient counseling to homeless residents including group and individual therapy and the requirement that participants obtain and maintain employment through their maximum six month stay. · Mid-Central Community Action Agency-Children’s Educational Advocacy Program-$5,000. This program provides basic school supplies to homeless children. · McLean County Health Department-Indigent Dental Care-$3,000. This program provides basic dental services to low-income persons. · Partial funding for the Community Advocacy Network (CAN) Coordinator Position. The Town will contribute $15,000 toward this position. · Other funding provided by United Way of McLean County, Heartland Community College, and CAN Partners, including Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, BroMenn Regional Medical Center, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Unit 5 Schools, and District 87 Schools. This position will provide support to the CAN in addressing the findings of Assessment 2000, a comprehensive study of the capacities of McLean County’s social service delivery

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 55 system. In addition, the position will blend the duties of the Employers Support System (ESS) with CAN duties.

4. Administration CDBG funds will continue to pay half the salaries of the department head, office associate, and housing inspector. In addition, the department head will continue to serve on the boards of several area social service providers and maintain contact with all area providers in an ongoing effort to contribute to addressing the problems faced by the Town’s low-/moderate-income citizens.

(f) Barriers to affordable housing An increase in the number and availability of affordable rental units is a difficult issue to address for the Town of Normal. The private housing market largely dictates the number and type of affordable housing units.

Discussions with local real estate lenders and apartment managers reveal that the primary reason persons are denied mortgage loans is poor credit history, followed by insufficient income to service the mortgage debt load. As noted in §91.210 (e), there is a limited amount of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income persons in the Bloomington-Normal area. This applies to both the rental housing market and the price of single-family homes, duplexes, and condominiums.

While availability of affordable housing is a high priority, the barriers rate only medium due to the fact that there is little the Town can accomplish with CDBG funds to address the causes. CDBG funds cannot be used to assist with rent payments and the Town receives insufficient CDBG funds to have any effect on the construction of new rental units. Over the past five years, the Town has worked with the Illinois Housing Development Authority to provide over 400 units of Section 42 apartments and will continue to accept appropriate proposals from developers for this type of subsidized housing. Thus, other than efforts involved with Section 42, the Town is effectively prevented from directly affecting cures for problems associated with affordable rental housing.

Chestnut Healthcare Systems offers credit counseling for persons willing to seek assistance in repairing their credit. Mortgage lenders state that, with 18 to 24 months of clean credit, those with poor credit histories can be considered for mortgage loans. The areas of affordability that can be addressed are: 1) income-eligible persons/families who need down-payment assistance in order to purchase housing; and 2) assisting those persons whose housing needs rehabilitation to keep it safe, decent, and sanitary. CDBG funding will be used for down-payment assistance and housing rehabilitation programs. In addition, the Town will continue to cede some or all of it’s Private Activity Bond Cap to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the various programs they offer to income-eligible, first-time homebuyers.

(g) Lead-based paint hazards On request, staff of the Community Development Housing Rehabilitation program of the Town of Normal will inspect owner-occupied homes built before 1978 for lead-based paint hazards where a child under age seven is present. These staff have also educated realtors and landlords about their legal obligations regarding lead-based paint hazards.

(h) Anti-poverty strategy Assessment 2000 Household Survey and Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey respondents, focus group participants, and key informants agree that the major challenge for community leaders, planners, and health and human service providers in the years to come is working poverty. People making the transition from welfare to work often find themselves less well off as their income rise

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 56 beyond eligibility requirements for Medicaid, food stamps, child care support, and public or subsidized housing. Many working poor residents of McLean County have incomes too high for government-supported programs, but too low to meet basic human needs. Service providers are frustrated by the categorical funding regulations that make it impossible for them to address the needs of local people. According to one key informant, “Social services are geared to income eligibility and specific population designations—also to people with fixed incomes. If we want people to be in the workforce, we must provide support to make this possible. We must raise the income eligibility.”37

Assessment 2000 Household Survey responses indicate concern about many issues related to working poverty. The issue ranking second among those judged to be a “very serious problem” by survey respondents (18%) was “low paying job without benefits.”38

There is a clear need for additional training and services to reduce working poverty in McLean County. Specifically, there is a need for additional training in information technology. Assessment 2000 study participants, including focus group and key informant interviewees, identified local need for training in information technologies and a facility where up-to-date computers are available to the general public. One employer commented that the Illinois Education and Training Center (IETC) provides public access to computers, but questioned whether County residents are aware of the services and training offered by the IETC.39

People with limited English language proficiencies face special challenges in acquiring job skills. Hispanic residents commented on their lack of technical skills; trouble following written or spoken instructions; and lack of training for applying and interviewing for jobs. This suggests that services specifically for Hispanics be offered in one location and include: · Up-to-date technical skills training in Spanish, enabling opportunities for good jobs paying more than the minimum wage; · English as a Second Language classes for differing skills levels; and · American cultural skills training to aid job application, interviewing, and successful employment.40

The Town’s anti-poverty strategy for the next five years will be much the same as it has been for the past 5 years—to attract a diversity of new business and provide an economically vibrant atmosphere to allow existing businesses to expand. The Town’s goal will be, and always has been, to provide a community where anyone who wants to work and succeed has the opportunity to do so.

The Town believes that its most important role in fighting poverty is to serve as a catalyst for efforts by the private sector to enhance economic viability. The Town’s strategy is to work cooperatively with Bloomington and McLean County governments through continued support of the Bloomington- Normal Economic Development Council to: · be open to ideas from new developers and from existing businesses; · provide a public forum, through the Planning and Zoning Commissions, where citizens may voice their opinions about proposed development; · offer economic incentives in the form of sales and property tax rebates to businesses that will create jobs and opportunities; and · provide a business climate that encourages new development as well as expansion of existing business.

37 Assessment 2000, 57. 38 See Assessment 2000, 42-43, for a detailed discussion. 39 Assessment 2000, 57. 40 Ibid.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 57 The Town will offer no specific programs for reducing poverty.

(i) Institutional structure

(1) Institutional structure for carrying out the housing and community development plan The institutional structure for carrying on the Consolidated Plan includes private industry, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

Private industry The principal private sector participants in the housing arena are: 1. realtors 2. lending institutions 3. developers 4. construction industry and related businesses (e.g., lumber yards) 5. labor unions

For rental housing, the McLean County Apartment Association and the Rental Guide plays an important role in gathering information about the rental housing market and in disseminating that information to both renters and landlords.

Community Development for the Town of Normal has many well-developed and long-lasting partnerships with private sector organizations in the institutional structure of the community. This includes the following organizations.

1. Bloomington-Normal Board of Realtors—903 N. Linden, Bloomington, IL The positive role of the Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors in housing activities includes their coordination of mutual housing activities as demonstrated by recent participation in the Affordable Housing Fair on October 1, 1999 and promotion of affordable dwellings in both the Bloomington-Normal and McLean County areas.

The negative role of the Board in the low- and moderate-income housing arena is the added cost of realtor fees to the sale of low-priced homes. The increased costs contribute to the inability of potential low- and moderate-income homebuyers to purchase a single-family home.

2. Local Lenders There is a variety of financial institutions in Bloomington-Normal, including banks, savings and loans, mortgage companies, and credit unions. However, no all-inclusive list of these institutions is readily available and so will not be included here.

The positive role of the local lenders in affordable housing activities in partnership with Town of Normal, Department of Community Development, includes: · The support of many primary lenders and active membership in the McLean County Coalition for Affordable Housing. The Coalition provides Down-payment Assistance to low- and moderate- income households through funds made available by the Illinois Housing Trust Fund. · The inclusion of Community Development as a member of National City CRA Committee has resulted in Community Development’s ability to make the case for community reinvestment of funds toward low-/moderate-income housing. · The Town of Normal provides down-payment assistance with CDBG funds. In addition, a number of local lending institutions provide a variety of first-time homebuyer programs.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 58 The negative role of the local lenders in affordable housing activities includes: · The number of local lending institutions makes it difficult to establish close-working relationships with all such institutions, especially in a time where laws oblige all lenders to become more community-oriented. · Code enforcement issues can affect the lien holder’s interest negatively.

3. Developers include small, family-owned businesses and large developers. The positive role of the developers in affordable housing activities includes their role in providing the skills and creativity necessary to construct affordable homes for some middle- and upper-income families on scattered sites and/or in complete subdivisions.

The negative role of the developers in affordable housing activities includes the lack of construction of smaller, affordable homes (i.e., less than $100,000 value) because of the smaller profit margin attached to such construction.

The high median income of families in the Bloomington-Normal area results in the construction of large subdivisions, as well as upper-scale homes, which provide greater realized profits.

4. Construction industry includes general as well as mechanical contractors and suppliers. The positive role of the construction industry in affordable housing activities in conjunction with Community Development includes: · The supply of technical construction skills, labor, and advice by individual contractors. · Suppliers can provide needed materials, at reduced rates, as contributions to individual projects for YouthBuild, the Area Vocational Center, Habitat for Humanity, and AMBUCS.

The negative role of the construction industry in affordable housing activities includes an over- reliance on the same individuals, businesses, or suppliers who receive multiple requests for donations of materials and labor.

5. Labor unions, including the building trades and skilled crafts (e.g., electricians, plumbers), also play a role in housing activities. Labor unions play a positive role by volunteering skilled labor for some home construction and community development projects. The negative role of labor is that payment of prevailing wages adds to housing costs.

6. The McLean County Apartment Association (MCAA) boasts a membership of over 600 landlords within the County. MCAA provides networking and educational opportunities to members.

The positive role of the MCCA includes: · The MCAA regularly provides educational sessions on a variety of housing-related topics. · The MCAA publishes the Rental Guide and distributes it free to the public. It provides advertisement of available units, whether affordable or not. · The MCAA participates actively in community events including helping to market affordable housing. · The MCAA provides input and comments on activities from landlords to the Town regarding the housing market.

The negative role of the MCAA includes: · The MCAA does not represent all owners and managers of housing properties. It is difficult for the Association to recruit members from among part-time owners and managers who are engaged in other full-time occupations.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 59 · It is difficult to attract members to educational sessions and thereby provide them with relevant housing information.

Non-profit organizations The Town of Normal, through the Department of Community Development, has worked regularly with local non-profit housing and social service agencies and organizations. These agencies and organizations administer Federal and/or State housing assistance programs at the local level and/or apply for funding and administer/develop specific projects. When non-profits apply for Federal and/or State funding, they must obtain a Certificate of Consistency with the local Consolidated Plan from the Town of Normal.

The strength of non-profit organizations involved in housing activities is that housing services are often coordinated through partnerships. The partnerships serve the common interests of the partnership members and reduce duplication of efforts.

Weaknesses of non-profit organizations involved in housing activities: · Non-profit agencies and staff are experienced in administering social service programs but not housing projects and programs. · Small staff sizes limit the amount of resources for housing projects.

Public institutions, including local, State, and Federal agencies. The strength of public institutions involved in the housing arena is that there is a high level of local intergovernmental cooperation between departments. In addition, the State and Federal governments provide various opportunities to obtain housing funding.

The weaknesses of public institutions in the area of affordable housing are: 1. Local governmental bodies · Limited staff resources available for housing activities. · Limited time and resources available to educate staff regarding housing program activities. · Completion of individual housing projects is time-consuming which limits the number of houses that can be rehabilitated at any one time.

2. State and Federal governments · The application process for State and Federal programs is unduly burdensome. · The competitive application process is problematic because completing grant applications is a time-consuming process. In addition, there is no assurance that a grant will be awarded. There are already too many demands on local government staff.

(j) Coordination Due to the Twin Cities nature of Normal and Bloomington, cooperation with other units of local government as well as with social service providers is essential. Examples of this cooperation and how it enhances the Town’s ability to serve low- and moderate-income persons in the community are listed below.

The Town of Normal cooperates on a regular basis with the following local government agencies: 1. City of Bloomington, Community Development Division, Connie Griffin, Director The Town maintains almost weekly contact with Bloomington Community Development Division to keep informed of the activities and programs being offered. The Town and the City have developed a joint application process for those social service agencies seeking Public Service funding because they both fund programs for certain agencies. Ms. Griffin and the Department of Community

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 60 Development, Town of Normal, have worked closely together to develop the Consolidated Plan through participation as Community Advocacy Network members.

2. Normal Township, Mary Caisley, Township Supervisor The Township’s General Assistance Fund has been supplemented this year by the Town’s contribution of $7,000 toward payment of rent, utilities, and other emergency items for the Township’s clients. These funds are not CDBG funds; rather, they were generated by the sale of a portion of the Town’s Private Activity Bond Cap to another municipality. Normal Township and the Town’s Department of Community Development work closely on all aspects of service delivery to residents of the Township, the borders of which conform almost exactly to the Town’s.

3. McLean County Health Department The Town’s Housing Rehabilitation Program Director, Al Brown, works closely with the Health Department on issues regarding lead-based paint and radon gas issues. Mr. Brown has chaired the County’s Lead-based Paint Task Force and has and will continue to attend HUD and other training pertinent to this issue. The Town also consults regularly with the Health Department on a variety of issues, including providing CDBG funding for adult dental care through the County’s program.

4. State of Illinois, Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) For the past five years, the Town has ceded all or a part of its Private Activity Bond Cap to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the purpose of providing assistance to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers. In addition, through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, the Town has cooperated with IHDA in the construction of over 400 units of Low Income Housing Tax Credit housing units in the Town over the past 5 years.

The Town of Normal cooperates with other local and State government agencies on other projects as needed. Depending on the project or problem involved, the Town has worked closely with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Department of Human Services (DHS), Bloomington Housing Authority (BHA), Heartland Head Start (HHS), Heartland Community College (HCC), and McLean County government.

The Town of Normal works closely with a number of local private social service agencies: 1. Community Advocacy Network (CAN) The Community Action Network consists of partners which represent the Town of Normal, the City of Bloomington, the Town of the City of Bloomington Township, Normal Township, McLean County, the two major hospitals, both school districts, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College. CAN’s purpose is to bring organizations, both public and private, together to take advantage of their diverse experiences and resources to find solutions to human service needs in McLean County.

In the past four years, CAN has undertaken major initiatives in the areas of child abuse and neglect, affordable daycare, and affordable housing. This has required the Partners to work closely with dozens of area social service providers to assess the extent of the problems and to structure programs to address them.

2. Providing Access to Help (PATH) PATH is a 24-hour telephone crisis response, information, and referral service. The Town uses PATH to refer persons/families with problems to a specific agency for assistance. PATH ties together area governments and social service agencies through information provision and referral. PATH publishes a service directory that contains over 400 listings of service providers in McLean County.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 61 3. Mid-Central Community Action Agency (MCCA) This agency serves persons at or below 80% of area median income. In most cases, the income guidelines are significantly lower. Programs offered include self-sufficiency, low-income energy assistance, housing counseling, domestic abuse shelter, transitional housing (the Town of Normal provides four housing units for this program), and first-time homebuyer assistance. The Town works closely with MCCA, particularly in their housing-related programs.

The Town of Normal Community Development Department is directly involved with agencies noted above on a regular basis. The Town of Normal makes a concerted effort to meet the needs of all citizens who need assistance, including low- and moderate-income citizens. This involvement includes consultation with: · other government agencies; · social service agencies regarding their organizational needs; and · social service agencies regarding the needs of their clients.

The Town of Normal is consulted from time to time regarding availability of Community Development Block Grant and Town funding for social service programs.

In addition, the Community Development Department Director of the Town of Normal serves on the Board of Directors of the: · United Way of McLean County; · Mid-Central Community Action; · Community Advocacy Network (CAN) (Co-chair); · Heartland Head Start (Treasurer); and · Affordable Housing Coalition.

(k) Public housing resident initiatives There are no public housing units in the Town of Normal.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 62 §91.230 Monitoring

The Town is required to describe monitoring standards and procedures only for activities undertaken with funds the Town receives directly from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Presently, the only HUD funds the Town receives, which it uses for Consolidated Planning purposes, are CDBG funds.

Currently, the housing-related activities for which CDBG funds are to be used include: the Town’s housing rehabilitation program; the down-payment assistance program for homebuyers; the Apple Street Affordable Housing project; and maintenance to the transitional housing units used by Community Action.

The Town’s Community Development Department will be responsible for monitoring progress toward the achievement of Consolidated Planning goals, and for the monitoring compliance with any applicable Federal rules and regulations with respect to the foregoing activities.

The monitoring standards and procedures to be used for these activities are the standards and procedures set forth in the CDBG monitoring handbook. The monitoring effort will include:

1. The establishment of a system for tracking the progress of all CDBG funded housing-related activities.

2. Periodic reviews of all CDBG housing activities, utilizing the tracking system mentioned above.

3. Preparation of periodic reports on monitoring results as deemed necessary and preparation of an annual comprehensive report covering all activities.

4. Periodic monitoring of subrecipients per regulation. This shall include the filing with the Community Development Department, on an annual basis, a financial audit of the subrecipient and site visits and consultations with the subrecipient.

5. Annual auditing by an outside CPA firm for compliance with generally accepted practices and principles of accounting including compliance with federal accounting requirements—this will be done for the Town as a whole as well as CDBG expenditures specifically.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 63 Appendix Introduction: Consolidated Plan Development

In conjunction with the Assessment 2000 project, Consolidated Plans were developed for both the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal. The Consolidated Plan is a five-year community development plan prepared for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Applied Social Research Unit of Illinois State University worked closely with the Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, and the Department of Community Development, Town of Normal, to develop the plans. These two municipal departments assisted in identifying local key informants who have experience with housing and community development issues. The departments also assisted in identifying other organizations that could supply data to meet Consolidated Plan reporting requirements.

The ASRU staff conducted 74 key informant interviews for the Assessment 2000 project. Key informants offered data or information related to housing and community development including health and human services. (See the discussion about key informants for more information.) The 22 key informants interviewed specifically for housing-related information to support Consolidated Plan development include: · Low-income housing advocates · Housing inspectors · Social service providers · Section 8 housing managers · Public Housing staff · Urban planners · Township officials · Public health officials · Realtors and developers · Homeless service providers

Key informants were asked if they had any data or reports which might provide additional information for the Consolidated Plan. Most key informants were asked to: · identify the most important housing issues in Bloomington or Normal; · estimate the nature of the need for affordable housing in Bloomington-Normal; and · identify obstacles to meeting the need for affordable housing in Bloomington-Normal.

In some cases, key informants were asked to provide specific data or information required by the Consolidated Plan. Examples include lead blood poisoning data, housing market prices, housing data such as the number of people on waiting lists for transitional housing, the number of persons with disabilities who were receiving support services, and other measures of housing need.

In addition to key informant interviews, information resulting from other Assessment 2000 research activities supported Consolidated Plan development. For example, several focus groups dealt directly with housing and housing-related issues. Focus groups of homeless persons and public housing residents were chosen to address data needs of the Consolidated Plan. However, other focus groups dealt with a variety of non-housing community development needs such as transportation issues, social service needs, and needs of specific client groups (e.g., persons with disabilities, low-

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 64 income families with young children). Information from focus groups has been included in the Consolidated Plan where applicable.

Public data and reports also were used to develop the Consolidated Plan. This included data on the nature of the housing market, building conditions reports, homeless data, and other local data. Housing data specific to Bloomington or to Normal were used wherever possible. In some cases, data was only available for McLean County.

Surveys of households in McLean County also provided some additional information on housing issues such as affordability, condition, and accessibility issues. Housing related comments made by residents of Bloomington and Normal are included in the Consolidated Plan.

The survey of social service providers in McLean County also supported Consolidated Plan development. The responses from these surveys were valuable, particularly for the non-housing community development portion of the Consolidated Plan.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 65 Appendix 1a: Household Survey Methods

The eight-page household survey of adult representatives (18 years of age and over) in McLean County households was conducted by mail and telephone. The survey sought information about McLean County residents’ access to health and human services. The survey included questions concerning respondents’ experiences with housing (e.g., affordability, condition, accessibility), health care (e.g., cost, utilization, insurance coverage), employment (e.g., benefits available though job, travel to work, need for job training), child care (usage, affordability, availability), and family support services and needs. The first section of the survey asked for information about the respondent and his or her household members. “Household” was defined for respondents as including “anyone living with you—both family and non-family members.”

The last section of the survey asked respondents for their perceptions about potential problems in McLean County and their household’s experience with particular situations. In addition, the survey asked respondents about their volunteer activities, their most often utilized sources of information, greatest concerns in McLean County, and what they like most about McLean County. A copy of the survey follows this narrative.

Survey development Assessment 2000 research design committee members and Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) staff worked together to develop household survey questions. An ASRU staff member introduced topics that could be covered by the survey, briefly discussed each topic, and provided reasons for including topics on the survey. The committee reviewed the topics, agreed on topics to include in the survey, and began writing questions within topical areas that would elicit information necessary for community and organizational decision-making.

Steering and research design members individually reviewed one or more drafts of the household survey and discussed drafts in their respective meetings. The survey was piloted with 14 people working in the McBarnes Memorial Building in which the United Way of McLean County is located. This pilot suggested final revisions. The survey was developed in English and translated into Spanish for persons who preferred to complete the Spanish version.

The survey included a cover letter that introduced the Assessment 2000 project, invited voluntary completion of the survey, and gave instructions for how and when to return the survey. A State of Illinois legislator signed the cover letter. The cover letter also included information for English and Spanish-speaking individuals about who they could call for help with completing the survey. The ASRU contracted with Illinois State University Printing Services to print the survey.

Survey sampling The research design team determined that the household survey population would be all McLean County households (instead of McLean County households below a certain income). Illinois State University (436 and 438) and Wesleyan University (556) telephone exchanges were excluded from the population to be sampled. Survey Sampling, Inc. provided a random sample of 6,000 households that have listed telephone numbers approximately proportionate to the total number of households

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 66 that have listed telephone numbers within each McLean County census tract.41 An exception was a double sample of households in Bloomington census tracts 15, 16, and 17 to ensure an adequate number of respondents from areas with lower income households.42 Because the survey would be mailed with the potential for telephone follow-up, each household record included a name, address, city, state, zipcode, phone number, and census tract number.

Survey Sampling, Inc. estimates there are 52,200 households in McLean County. According to Survey Sampling, of these households, approximately 50,582 households (96.9%) own phones. And of those households with phones, approximately 41,932 households (82.9%) have listed numbers. Survey Sampling drew a sample from a database of 21,698 households with listed telephone numbers (this number excludes households within Illinois State University and Wesleyan University telephone exchanges).

Survey administration Surveys were mailed at a non-profit organization bulk rate from the Illinois State University Mail Services to 6,000 McLean County households on May 3, 1999. The survey cover letter asked respondents to return surveys by May 17, 1999 in an enclosed postage-paid envelope. Outgoing envelopes included “Return Service Requested” instructions for the post office. For persons in the survey sample who had moved, the post office returned surveys to the Applied Social Research Unit with new addresses or with indication that the mail piece was undeliverable or an individual’s “forward order” had expired. The ASRU remailed surveys to individuals with new McLean County addresses and extended the return date to give them sufficient time to respond. Several people contacted the ASRU with questions about the survey after receiving it in the mail.

The ASRU staff recorded the returned surveys on the mail database to determine from which areas of the County the greatest and least response was coming. Due to a lower number of completed surveys from rural areas of the County, the ASRU determined that telephone follow-up was necessary with individuals not responding to the mail survey who live outside of Bloomington (61701, 61702, and 61704) or Normal (61761) zipcodes. The ASRU staff developed telephone survey protocol, calling scripts, a “frequently asked questions” script, and tracking sheets. The survey was revised slightly to make it appropriate for telephone conversation.

Telephone interviewers made up to four attempts to reach a household; interviewers remailed the survey to residents at their request. Since the response to remailed surveys during the telephone survey process was quite satisfactory, ASRU staff began remailing the survey to those who could not be reached by telephone after the second call attempt. The ASRU attempted or succeeded contact with 553 rural McLean County residents.

Response rate and representativeness The goal for the household survey was 400 completed surveys each from the City of Bloomington, the Town of Normal, and areas outside of Bloomington and Normal, i.e., “rural” McLean County. The 1,200 survey responses would enable the ASRU to make generalizations about Bloomington, Normal, and rural McLean County.

Of the 6,000 original households in the survey sample, 5,699 households proved to be eligible to take the survey. Ineligible households included persons who live just outside of McLean County; those

41 The Assessment 2000 Household Survey was mailed to a sample of County residents. Survey Sampling’s mailing samples are based on telephone directory listings. 42 Knowledge of the experiences and perceptions of these households is important. Many social service organizations predominantly serve households with lower incomes and base eligibility for services on household size and income.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 67 who had moved from McLean County; or persons who did not receive the survey because they had passed away, were “temporarily away,” their “forward order” had expired, or the post office returned the piece saying it was “undeliverable.”

Respondents completed 1,594 surveys for a response rate of 28% (1,594/5,699). About 46% of respondents live in Bloomington, 29% live in Normal, and 25% live in areas outside of Bloomington and Normal.

Households from rural census tracts (as a percent of the total number of eligible rural households in the survey sample) responded at a higher rate than Bloomington and Normal census tract households. This was due partly to the follow-up telephone interviews conducted with rural households to increase the number of completed surveys from rural areas. To determine if responses should be weighted by the response rate from each census tract, percent responses to each question were calculated in two ways and compared.

First, percents for each survey question were calculated with responses from tracts 15, 16, 17 weighted at one half value and responses from all other tracts weighted at a value of one. Tract 15, 16, and 17 weights were applied due to the double sampling in these tracts—households from these tracts had twice the chance of being selected for the sample than households from other tracts. Second, percents for each survey question were calculated with responses from each tract weighted by the response rate from the respective tract. For example, if there were 100 eligible households in the survey sample from a specific tract and 20 responses were received from this tract, each response from this tract was multiplied by a weight of five. For tract 15, 16, and 17, half of the weight calculated in this way was applied; again, this was due to double sampling in these tracts. This second weighting scheme assumes that non-responders from each tract are like responders. This assumption cannot be tested.

Comparisons of responses to each question were very similar regardless of the weighting scheme used. Also, there were no differences in results of a limited number of statistical tests performed using each weighting scheme. Because there were no differences in results, for simplicity, the first weighting scheme based on the actual sample and not the response rates, was used to analyze the data from the household survey.

To determine how well survey respondents represent McLean County population as a whole, survey responses for demographic questions (i.e., age, education level, income) were compared to McLean County census data. The percent of Household Survey respondents is proportionally distributed geographically to the McLean County population living in Bloomington, Normal, and other areas of the County. Household Survey respondents are older, have more education, and have higher incomes than the County’s population generally. In addition, a higher percent of survey respondents (30%) than the County’s adult population (13%) are retired. Finally, Household Survey respondents under- represent the County’s racial and ethnic diversity: nearly all survey respondents are White (97%); about 92% of the County population is White.43

43 Data used to determine how well survey respondents demographically represent McLean County’s population come from multiple sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder [on-line], [Internet], http://factfinder.census.gov, (November and December, 1999); U.S. Census Bureau, “Population Estimates for Places: Annual Time Series, July 1, 1990 to July 1, 1998,” [Internet], http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro-city/scts/SC98T_IL-DR.txt, (November 1999); Roy Treadway and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997); D.J. Ervin, McLean County, Illinois projections of White, Black, Hispanic, and Other populations based on trends from Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020 and U.S. Census Bureau, Modified Age Race Sex Data Files, (Illinois State University, December 1999).

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 68 Data entry and analysis The ASRU staff coded the survey and created a database for quantitative data entry in Microsoft Excel. Staff analyzed data in SPSS, a statistical computing software package. The ASRU staff generated frequencies and percents for each question on the survey. In addition, staff computed cross-tabulations and measures of association (Goodman and Kruskal’s tau and Kendall’s tau-b) for selected variables to determine if relationships exist between variables. Respondents’ written comments were entered in Microsoft Access. Comments were categorized by content to enable their analysis.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 69 Appendix 1b: Normal Residents’ Household Survey Responses

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 70 Assessment 2000 Help your neighbors, help yourself

Si usted necesita ayuda para completar el cuestionario, llame al Centro Western Avenue al telefono 309-829-9231. If you need help completing this survey, call Illinois State University at 309-438-7771.

April 28, 1999

Dear McLean County Neighbor,

You have been chosen to participate in Assessment 2000 by completing this survey. This project will explore health and human service needs of McLean County residents and the County’s ability to meet those needs. Your voluntary response to the survey will help improve health and human services in McLean County.

Others in your household may help complete the survey. Your household includes anyone living with you—people in your family and not in your family. We only ask that someone age 18 or older participate in completing the survey.

Your responses will be kept confidential. Your replies and those of your neighbors will be summarized in a general report.

Please return your completed survey in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by May 17, 1999. We encourage you to fill out the survey. Positive change can only happen if we hear from you–our neighbor. Thanks for participating in Assessment 2000!

Sincerely,

John and Joanne Maitland

Assessment 2000 is a cooperative effort of the United Way of McLean County, local governments, trades and labor, and health and human service organizations. Information about You and Your Household Please answer a few questions about your household. Your household includes anyone living with you— both family and non-family members. Your information will help address McLean County’s needs.

The following are responses to the Household Survey from 449 residents residing in the zipcode 61761. Please see the household survey methodology for greater detail about development, administration, and analysis of this survey. The “n” following each question is the number of people responding to the question. Please note that a respondent may have chosen not to answer a particular question or may have been asked to “skip” specific questions based on his or her experience. These individuals are not reflected in the “n” and thus, are not reflected in the percents. Unless otherwise noted, the percents reflect responding households. Formatting of some questions has been altered for data display.

1. How long have you lived in McLean County? Percent (n=449) 0.2% Less than 1 year 11.1% 1 to 5 years 12.7% 6 to 10 years 16.9% 11 to 20 years 59.0% More than 20 years

2. What is your zip code? Percent (n=1546) 46.1% Bloomington (61701, 61702, and 61704 zipcodes) 29.1% Normal (61761 zipcode) 24.8% Other (All other McLean County zipcodes)

3. Do you live: Percent (n=449) 99.1% In city/town 0.9% In the country

4. What year were you born? Percent (n=436) 2.8% 18-29 years of age 18.3% 30-39 years of age 34.6% 40-54 years of age 19.7% 55-64 years of age 14.7% 65-74 years of age 8.9% 75-84 years of age 0.9% 85+ years of age

5. Gender: Percent (n=444) 42.1% Female 57.9% Male

2 6. Race/ethnicity: Percent (n=446) 0.7% Asian/Pacific Islander 1.8% Black/African American (Non-Hispanic) 0.4% Hispanic (Latino/a) 0.2% Native American Indian or Alaska Native 96.4% White (Non-Hispanic) 0.4% Other (specify)

7. Do you have a disability? Percent (n=436) 92.0% No 8.0% Yes

8. What is the highest grade you finished in school? Percent (n=446) 0.9% Less than high school 15.5% High school diploma or GED 18.6% Some college, no degree 6.7% Associate or similar degree 34.1% Bachelor’s degree 24.2% Graduate degree

9. Are you a college student? Percent (n=448) 94.6% No 4.7% Part-time 0.7% Full-time

10. Are you retired? Percent (n=445) 67.9% No 32.1% Yes

11. What is your marital status? Percent (n=447) 73.8% Married 10.3% Separated/Divorced 7.8% Single 8.1% Widowed

12. Including yourself, how many people in each age group live in your household? Percent of households with one or more members in the age group (n=449) 24.0% Age 0-12 18.0% Age 13-17 18.1% Age 18-29 21.6% Age 30-39 40.1% Age 40-54 24.1% Age 55-64 18.0% Age 65-74 9.4% Age 75-84 1.5% Age 85+ 3 Percent estimate of all households members (n=at least 1152 members)A1b.1 15.2% Age 0-12 8.9% Age 13-17 8.9% Age 18-29 12.9% Age 30-39 24.2% Age 40-54 14.4% Age 55-64 10.2% Age 65-74 4.7% Age 75-84 0.6% Age 85+

Household size Percent of households (n=433) 16.6% I person 42.7% 2 persons 16.4% 3 persons 15.2% 4 persons 6.2% 5 persons 2.8% 6+ persons

13. Including yourself, how many members of your household work for pay? Percent (n=441) 22.2% 0 members 29.7% 1 member 38.3% 2 members 7.3% 3 members 2.0% 4 members 0.5% 5 members

14. In 1998, what was your household income before taxes? Percent (n=419) 1.0% Up to $8,999 2.4% $9,000 to $14,999 2.1% $15,000 to $19,999 8.1% $20,000 to $29,999 10.0% $30,000 to $39,999 9.8% $40,000 to $49,999 15.5% $50,000 to $59,999 34.6% $60,000 to $99,999 15.5% $100,000 to $199,999 1.0% $200,000 or more

A1b.1 The total number of household members represented by survey respondents is at least 1152. Some respondents indicated they had a household member in an age group but did not indicate the number of members. 4 Housing The next few questions ask about your current housing situation. This information will help McLean County determine housing needs and plan programs to meet them.

15. Regarding your housing, do you: Percent (n=449) 90.6% Own 8.0% Rent 1.3% Other (specify)

16. About how much of your income (before taxes) goes toward housing? Percent (n=431) 76.1% Less than one-third 16.2% One-third to one-half 0.9% More than one-half 6.7% Don't know

17. In your opinion, on a scale from 1 (“not at all”) to 5 (“very much”) is your housing: Percent of households (n varies) Not at all Very much Don’t n 1 2 3 4 5 know Affordable 1.1 4.6 25.1 26.0 42.1 1.1 435 In a safe neighborhood 1.1 2.3 10.3 38.3 47.6 0.5 439 Accessible for elderly or persons with disabilities 17.8 22.6 22.9 19.6 13.4 3.7 433 In your desired location 2.3 4.3 13.9 33.6 44.8 1.1 440 In good condition 0.7 2.3 11.3 33.8 51.8 0.2 444

18. How many bedrooms are there in your home? Percent (n=448) 0.2% 0 bedrooms 2.2% 1 bedroom 14.7% 2 bedrooms 48.0% 3 bedrooms 30.6% 4 bedrooms 3.8% 5 bedrooms 0.2% 6 bedrooms 0.2% 7 bedrooms

5 19. Do you have other comments about your housing or housing in McLean County? Please see Appendix 1c for verbatim responses to this question. The major topics and percent of respondents commenting on each topic include the following: (some respondents commented on multiple topics) Percent (n=137) 39.4% property taxes too high 35.0% affordable (and accessible) housing is unavailable (e.g., for low-income and/or young families, older adults, or persons with disabilities); housing/rent is expensive 10.9% concerns about housing development strategies (e.g., restoration of older homes needed; quality of new home construction is poor) 8.8% miscellaneous comments 3.6% infrastructure comments (e.g., poor sidewalks, lack of snow removal, poor condition of roads) 3.6% apartment issues and management (e.g., lack of adherence to apartment rules/regulations; poor appearance of area rental property/apartments; landlords must be accountable for condition of properties) 0.7% concern for being able to afford up-keep on own property [n=1] 10.9% expressed satisfaction with various aspects of individual housing and housing in the County

Health Care Being able to go to a doctor, dentist, or hospital is important to most people. This section asks about health and insurance for you and your household members. Your responses will tell us if McLean County residents can get and pay for the medical care they need.

20. How would you describe your own general health? Check one. Percent (n=446) 0.9% Poor 13.2% Fair 56.7% Good 29.1% Excellent

21. Do you have a chronic illness (a health condition that is always present, reoccurs often, or is long lasting)? Percent (n=445) 71.5% No (skip to question 23) 28.5% Yes (name illness)

Percent of respondents with these chronic illnesses (n=115) 20.0% diabetes 3.5% thyroid 20.9% high blood pressure 3.5% digestive system problems 13.9% hearth and lung (COPD) 2.6% multiple sclerosis 11.3% arthritis 1.7% osteoporosis 10.4% asthma 0.9% mental illness and substance abuse 8.7% allergies 0.9% Parkinson’s Disease 6.1% cancer 0.9% hearing problems 5.2% chronic pain 18.3% other 4.3% vision problems

6 22. If yes to 21, are you currently receiving treatment for that illness? Percent (n=125) 5.6% No 94.4% Yes

23. Including yourself, do all members of your household have a family doctor? Percent (n=445) 11.9% No 88.1% Yes

24. In the last year, how many times did you and other household members see a family doctor? Percent (n=447) 4.0% 0 times 28.9% 1 to 3 times 47.9% 4 to 10 times 19.2% More than 10 times

25. How do you usually get to your medical appointments? Percent (n=446) 98.0% In the household car 0.7% Get a ride from someone 0.2% SHOW Bus 0.2% Take a cab 0.9% Other (specify)

26. In the last year, how many times did you and other household members go to a local emergency room for treatment? Percent (n=446) 65.9% 0 times 29.6% 1 or 2 times 4.3% 3 or 4 times 0.2% 5 or more times

7 27. How many people in your household don’t have insurance? For each type of insurance below, enter the number of persons in each age group not covered. The types of insurance considered in this question include: 1) Basic medical insurance (such as group insurance, individual insurance, HMO, PPO, Medicare, Medicaid, KidCare, etc.); 2) Dental insurance; 3) Vision insurance; and 4) Prescription drug insurance. Percent of total household members (n=at least 1152) Basic medical Dental Vision Prescription household members not covered >=2.2 >=22.6 >=39.1 >=8.0

Percent of households (n=406) (n=408) (n=402) (n=409) Basic medical Dental Vision Prescription 1 or more persons in household not covered 4.4 38.2 53.0 15.2

person(s) ages 0-17 not covered 1 person in household not covered 0.5 2.7 4.0 0.7 2 persons in household not covered -- 1.7 5.0 0.2 3 persons in household not covered 0.2 0.2 1.5 0.2 # not given but someone not covered 0.2 2.5 4.0 0.2

person(s) ages 18-29 not covered 1 person in household not covered 0.7 3.2 6.0 2.0 2 persons in household not covered -- -- 1.7 0.5 3 persons in household not covered -- -- 0.2 -- # not given but someone not covered 0.2 2.0 3.2 0.5

persons(s) ages 30-54 not covered 1 person in household not covered 1.0 5.1 9.7 2.2 2 persons in household not covered -- 3.7 10.2 0.5 4 persons in household not covered -- -- 0.2 0.2 # not given but someone not covered 0.5 2.2 5.0 0.5

person(s) ages 55-64 not covered 1 person in household not covered 1.5 3.9 5.2 2.0 2 persons in household not covered 0.2 3.9 5.0 0.7 # not given but someone not covered -- 4.2 6.0 0.5

person(s) ages 65 or over not covered 1 person in household not covered 0.2 5.1 4.2 3.4 2 persons in household not covered -- 3.2 4.0 0.7 # not given but someone not covered -- 7.1 7.0 3.4

8 28. Check each situation below that affected you or someone in your household in the last year. Percent (n=449) 0.9% Lost basic medical insurance 2.9% Couldn't afford basic medical insurance 1.3% Insurance company refused coverage due to pre-existing medical condition 0.7% Needed but couldn’t afford prescription medicine 5.1% Needed but couldn’t afford dental care 0.2% Needed but couldn’t afford pregnancy care 0.7% Sick, but couldn’t afford doctor 0.7% Refused medical care because couldn’t pay 2.0% Needed but couldn't afford other health care service or item (specify)

29. Comments about health care in McLean County: Respondents made positive and negative comments about various aspects of health care. The major topics and percent of respondents commenting on each topic include the following: (some respondents commented on multiple topics) Percent of households (n=147) 22.4% cost negative (e.g., costs for health care, prescriptions, or insurance are too high or unaffordable) 17.7% coverage negative (e.g., not covered by insurance; dissatisfied with insurance coverage) 0.7% control negative (e.g., inappropriate person/organization control health care decision- making; preferred provider not on insurance plan) 8.8% quality negative (e.g., general expressions of dissatisfaction; some aspect of quality of care lacking) 13.6% access negative (e.g., a service doesn’t exist or is not available locally; insurance does not cover a particular service; dentists do not accept medicaid) 12.9% miscellaneous negative comments 0.7% cost positive (health care or insurance is affordable—i.e., within means or didn’t cost too much) [n=1] 6.1% coverage positive (e.g., good insurance coverage) -- control positive 46.3% quality positive (general expressions of satisfaction—e.g., “ok,” “good,” or “excellent”) 9.5% access positive 2.0% miscellaneous comments positive

Employment This section asks about your job situation, transportation to work, and need for job training.

30. Are you employed? Percent (n=445) 29.7% No (skip to question 36) 70.3% Yes

9 31. How many jobs do you have? Percent (n=303) 86.8% 1 job 11.6% 2 jobs 1.7% 3 jobs -- more than 3 jobs

32. How many hours per week do you usually work? Percent (n=302) 1.3% 1-9 hours 3.6% 10-19 hours 5.3% 20-29 hours 10.9% 30-39 hours 52.3% 40-49 hours 26.5% 50+ hours

33. Which of the following benefits are offered through your job(s)? Check all that apply. Percent (n=305) 13.1% No benefits are offered 83.3% Health care 65.9% Dental care 44.3% Vision care 67.5% Disability 74.4% Retirement 12.1% Other (specify) Other benefits and comments included: 401K plans, tax shelters, deductions taken for medical expenses, tuition waiver, profit sharing/stock options, prescription insurance, specialized insurance (e.g., life, long-term care), vacation, leave benefits (sick, vacation, personal days, holidays), company vehicle, and health club memberships. Some respondents used the “other” space to explain they were self-employed or to comment on employers not offering any benefits or insufficient benefits.

34. Approximately how far do you travel (one way) to get to work? Percent (n=302) 11.6% Less than 1 mile 61.3% 1 to 5 miles 16.6% 6 to 10 miles 10.6% More than 10 miles

35. How do you get to work most often? Check only one. Percent (n=306) 91.2% In the household car 0.7% Get a ride from someone not in the household 0.3% Take Bloomington/Normal public transit bus -- Take a cab 7.8% Other (specify) Other modes of transportation included: company vehicle, walk, and bicycle. Some respondents said they work out of the home.

10 36. In the last year, how many times did you or other household members have trouble getting to work because of transportation problems? Check only one. Percent (n=434) 84.8% 0 times (skip to question 38) 15.0% 1 to 5 times 0.2% 6 to 12 times -- More than 12 times

37. If you or other household members had trouble getting to work in the last year because of transportation problems, what transportation problems did you have? The major topics and percent of respondents commenting on each topic include the following: (some respondents commented on multiple topics) Percent of households (n=60) 65.0% repair or vehicle problems 18.3% snow or weather problems (bad weather, snow, frozen locks) 13.3% weather-related services (snow not removed from streets in time for work or not at all, city plowed snow and plowed driveway shut) 5.0% miscellaneous (e.g., no parking) 3.3% public transportation (e.g., busses don’t run late enough, early enough, often enough; no public transportation outside of Bloomington-Normal)

38. Do you or other household members need job training? Percent (n=441) 90.2% No (skip to question 43) 9.8% Yes

39. Why do you or other household members need job training? Check all that apply. Percent (n=43) 11.6% To get a job 32.6% To learn or do a job better 14.0% To keep a job 58.1% To get a better job or promotion 27.9% Other (specify) Respondents specified they or household members need training: to get a new job or re-enter workforce; to gain experience; for professional development or to increase quality of life; in computers; or because of a disability.

11 40. What do you or other household members need training in? The major training areas and percent of respondents commenting on each area include the following: (some respondents commented on multiple areas) Percent of households (n=37) 64.9% computer training/skills (e.g., software, programming, graphics) 32.4% miscellaneous (e.g., anything to make a living wage, service-oriented, clerical, study techniques, job search) 8.1% business, finance, management 5.4% continuing education 2.7% obtain a degree [n=1] 2.7% trade [n=1] 2.7% don’t know [n=1]

41. Can you and other household members get the training you need? Percent (n=39) 41.0% No 59.0% Yes (skip to question 43)

42. What things keep you or household members from getting job training? Percent (n=25) 28.0% Not available through employer 16.0% Not available locally 56.0% Too costly 4.0% Transportation problems 44.0% Don't have time 16.0% Child care responsibilities 20.0% Other (please explain) Respondents explained other things that keep them or household members from getting training: retired, training not needed, scheduling conflicts, or not sure of what is available

Child Care Please tell us about your experience with child care in McLean County.

43. Within the last year, did you need or use child care services? Percent (n=442) 87.8% No (skip to question 51) 12.2% Yes

44. For how many children in each age group did you need or use child care services in the last year? Percent of households (n=54) 1 2 3 4 # not given but child children children children needed/used care ages 0-2 35.2 ------1.9 ages 3-4 31.5 ------ages 5-12 37.0 18.5 -- 1.9 1.9 ages 13-18 5.6 ------

12 45. Do any of these children have a disability or other special needs? Percent (n=54) 92.6% No (skip to question 47) 7.4% Yes

46. If yes to question 45, please explain Respondents mentioned disabilities or other special needs including: attention deficit disorder; behavioral disorder; mental illness or emotional problems; Down Syndrome; Spina Bifida; and learning disability

47. What type(s) of child care do you use? Check all that apply. Percent (n=54) 24.1% Unpaid care provided by family or friends 31.5% Paid care provided by family or friends 18.5% Unlicensed child care in another’s home 29.6% Licensed child care in another’s home 3.7% Subsidized child care 11.1% Child care center 11.1% Preschool 14.8% After-school program (at school) -- After-school program (not at school) -- Child care for child with disability 16.7% Other (specify)

48. In your opinion, how difficult has it been in the last year for you to find each of the following? Please use the scale 1 ("very easy”) to 5 ("very difficult") or check N/A if a type of care does not apply to you. Percent of households (n varies) Very easy Very difficult N/A n 1 2 3 4 5 A child care provider 24.1 16.7 18.5 24.1 9.3 7.4 54 Affordable child care 22.6 18.9 30.2 18.9 5.7 3.8 53 High quality child care 25.9 16.7 18.5 18.5 16.7 3.7 54

Child care conveniently located 27.3 25.5 10.9 16.4 10.9 9.1 55 Infant care 7.5 11.3 3.8 7.5 11.3 58.5 53 Back-up child care 7.4 7.4 11.1 18.5 31.5 24.1 54

Care for sick child 11.3 5.7 7.5 15.1 37.7 22.6 53 Child care for second or third shift 2.0 -- 2.0 -- 5.9 90.2 51 Care for a child with disability 2.0 -- 2.0 2.0 7.8 86.3 51

Child care before or after school 20.8 1.9 3.8 11.3 9.4 52.8 53 Transportation to child care 32.7 3.8 3.8 5.8 9.6 44.2 52

49. In the last year, how many times did you or other household members have trouble getting to work because of child care problems? Percent (n=54) 42.6% 0 times (skip to question 51) 42.6% 1 to 5 times 13.0% 6 to 12 times 1.9% More than 12 times

13 50. If you or other household members had trouble getting to work in the last year because of child care problems, what kind(s) of child care problems did you have? Percent (n=28) 53.6% provider unavailable (e.g., provider or provider’s child sick; provider cancelled or on vacation) 50.0% own child sick (e.g., no place to take a sick child; would not take sick child to a provider— stayed home to care for child) 25.0% miscellaneous (e.g., babysitter late; relative watches children) 10.7% school or daycare closed (i.e., due to weather, holidays, vacation) 7.1% couldn’t or can’t find a provider at the last minute 3.6% scheduling conflicts [n=1]

Family Support Many McLean County residents need help at some time from a health or human service provider. Please share information about your household’s current situation.

51. Does anyone in your household need help or services they don’t receive now? Percent (n=441) 97.3% No 2.7% Yes (specify help/service) Respondents specified needing help or services including: support and assistance for diagnosed sexual addiction; services for the deaf; child therapy; dental care; medical care; assisted living; transportation; respite care; and housekeeping assistance

52. Does anyone in your household receive the following help or services? Check all that apply. Percent (n=448) 1.1% Assistance with personal care 4.9% Housekeeping assistance 1.1% Transportation 0.7% Home delivered meals 0.7% Group meals provided in a public building 0.2% Adult day care -- Home health care services 0.2% Respite care (relief for care givers) 6.9% Yard work 1.6% Other (specify) Respondents specified other help and services they receive including: home health care services; meals; transportation; speech therapy; early childhood intervention; special education; and homebound schooling

14 Current Issues Today's communities face a wide range of challenges. Your responses to the following questions will help McLean County plan health and human services in the years to come.

53. In your opinion, do you think the following are problems in McLean County? Please use the scale 1 (“not a problem”) to 5 (“very serious problem”) or check “don’t know.” Percent (n varies) Not a Very serious Don’t n problem problem know 1 2 3 4 5 Age discrimination 23.8 21.2 20.1 7.6 3.2 24.0 433 Alcohol abuse 4.0 16.0 28.8 24.2 8.4 18.6 430 Child abuse and neglect 3.5 15.6 30.5 24.5 8.9 17.0 429

Crime 2.8 19.4 48.7 18.9 4.0 6.1 423 Discrimination against gays/lesbians 19.6 18.2 23.3 11.9 4.9 22.1 429 Discrimination against people with disabilities 14.7 24.2 26.8 9.1 3.0 22.1 429

Domestic abuse 3.0 12.6 34.3 25.2 5.4 19.6 429 Drug abuse 1.4 10.2 31.1 29.2 12.3 15.8 431 Emotional problems/mental illness 3.7 17.7 32.3 17.9 3.7 24.7 430

Gangs 3.0 14.7 31.6 26.0 14.4 10.2 430 Gender discrimination 13.6 23.7 27.2 11.5 4.4 19.7 427 High cost of prescription drugs 7.1 13.8 19.8 22.8 22.6 13.8 434

HIV/AIDS 7.3 23.2 21.6 8.2 2.1 37.6 426 Homelessness 5.8 26.2 28.0 13.1 4.7 22.2 428 Juvenile delinquency 1.4 19.8 31.8 16.9 8.0 22.1 425

Lack of affordable child care 5.6 14.0 21.6 13.7 8.6 36.5 430 Lack of affordable health care 6.7 17.9 22.0 17.9 10.7 24.8 431 Lack of affordable housing 6.7 16.6 28.2 17.3 9.5 21.7 433

Lack of support for ex-prisoners 12.1 12.8 9.8 3.5 1.4 60.4 429 Lack of teen activities 8.6 17.2 21.6 16.7 10.7 25.1 430 Low paying jobs without benefits 6.9 15.0 22.2 18.2 16.4 21.2 433

Racial discrimination 11.3 21.5 30.3 13.4 4.4 19.0 432 Sexual harassment 8.3 24.3 25.9 13.0 3.5 25.0 432 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs) 5.1 17.4 21.3 8.6 2.3 45.4 432 Teen pregnancy 2.8 14.6 29.4 16.2 5.8 31.3 432

15 54. In the last year, did you or a household member experience any of the following: Check all that apply. Percent (n=448) 2.2% Difficulty obtaining a health or human service 3.1% Difficulty finding affordable housing -- Homelessness 4.9% Low paying job(s) without benefits 0.2% Difficulty finding support for ex-prisoner

4.2% Victim of crime 1.3% Trouble with gangs 3.8% Serious parent-child conflict 2.7% Other serious conflict within family 6.5% Lack of teen activities

6.9% Emotional problems or mental illness 3.3% Age discrimination 1.6% Racial discrimination 1.3% Sexual harassment 1.3% Discrimination because of sexual preference 2.7% Gender discrimination

0.7% Discrimination because of disability 1.6% Alcohol abuse 0.9% Drug abuse -- HIV/AIDS 0.4% Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs) 0.9% Teen pregnancy

55. Did you or any adult household member volunteer for any of the following organizations in the last year? Check all that apply. Percent (n=448) 7.4% Business organization (e.g., Chamber of Commerce) 51.3% Church, synagogue, or other religious organization 29.7% Community organization (Big Brother/Big Sister, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Kiwanis, etc.) 12.7% Health care organization (hospital, nursing home, free clinic, etc.) 4.0% Labor union 10.0% Neighborhood association 28.6% School 13.4% Youth recreation program (Scouts, sports team, 4-H, etc.) 11.6% Other (specify) Respondents specified they or household members had volunteered in the last year for other organizations or programs such as: historical organizations; museums; arts- related organizations; programs for people with disabilities; tutoring programs; senior service providers; walkathons; health care organizations; sports-related organizations and activities; environmental organizations; and other charitable organizations and societies.

16 56. How do you find out about what’s going on in McLean County? Check the three information sources you use the most. Percent (n=449) Some respondents checked more than three sources. 93.1% Newspapers 74.8% Radio 58.4% Television 3.8% Internet/World Wide Web 40.3% Family and friends 21.6% Work 10.9% School 13.8% Church 1.3% Other (please explain) Respondents explained they used other informational sources such as: a neighborhood association or watch group; organizations; organizational or community newsletters/ newspapers; a union; a support group; and the library.

57. What are you most concerned about in McLean County? Your topic does not have to be one mentioned in the survey. Please see Appendix 1d for verbatim responses to this question. The major topics and percent of respondents commenting on each topic include the following: (some respondents commented on multiple topics) Percent (n=288) 41.7% community and economic development and planning including land use (e.g., concerns about urban sprawl; use of farm land; planned growth lacking; rapid growth; deterioration of older areas/older areas not being rehabilitated or restored; questioning economy, economic stability, or dependence on large employers) 27.4% taxes (e.g., concerns that taxes are too high; not seeing return for high taxes; taxes are rising too rapidly) 18.1% public safety (e.g., concerns about gangs, drugs, crime, violence, safety, abuse and neglect) 17.4% public and social services; government (e.g., concerns about police, fire department, social services, other miscellaneous services, leadership, or the need to use tax money more efficiently) 16.3% ethics, attitudes, and habits (concerns about ethics, morality, spirituality, driving habits, discrimination, diversity, lack of parental control, interest, or responsibility, materialism, alcohol and drugs. Comments about increasing gap between upper and lower class.) 13.5% transportation infrastructure (concerns about public transportation, road conditions and construction, traffic flow) 10.8% cost of living (e.g., high costs for housing, gas, utilities, insurance, products, services, etc.) 10.4% education and training (e.g., Unit 5 and District 87 should merge; concerns about specific institutions; need for training and valuing vocations such as trades) 7.6% health care (e.g., concerns about long-term care, costs, insurance, mental health, and alcohol and drug abuse) 6.9% concerns about or lack of parks and recreation, entertainment, and activities (including arts and cultural activities and activities for youth, adults, or seniors) 3.1% environment (e.g., concerns about pollution, water quality, air quality, recycling, or environmental affects of hog farms) 1.7% media (e.g., need for more local media outlets such as radio, newspaper, and t.v. station; comments questioning local media policies) 4.9% miscellaneous including expressions of satisfaction

17 58. What do you like most about McLean County? Please see Appendix 1e for verbatim responses to this question. The major topics and percent of respondents commenting on each topic include the following: (some respondents commented on multiple topics) Percent (n=288) 28.1% schools; educational opportunities 24.3% the people (e.g., friendly, moral, communicators, diverse, involved, problem-solving, caring) 21.5% entertainment; recreational activities; cultural opportunities 19.8% general positive comments including miscellaneous comments 19.1% economy and employment (e.g., low unemployment, good job opportunities) 19.1% environment (e.g., beauty, seasons, good land); parks and Constitution Trail 14.2% small town; rural atmosphere; small but with urban amenities 13.9% low crime rate low; feelings of safety 12.2% location within state; travel options to and from McLean County 11.1% goods and services (e.g., restaurants, shopping) 11.1% health care and social services 8.3% public services and government 5.9% church and morals (related to religion) 4.9% transportation infrastructure (e.g., local public transportation and infrastructure; low-traffic congestion; roads) 4.5% any negative, indifferent, or uncertain comment (e.g., comments expressing wanting to leave McLean County, “don’t know,” “nothing”)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

18 Appendix 1c: Normal Residents’ Household Survey Comments About Housing in McLean County, (Question19)

· Not large enough yards in general. · Real estate taxes are high. Apartments are extremely expensive. · Rental costs keep climbing · Housing and especially new housing is high priced in McLean County. The average home price is steadily increasing at a rate that many people cannot afford. · High taxes · Very comfortable with a good life style · Taxation taking too much of housing cost. · Reasonable free market, so it has remained affordable · It seems to me a lot of quite expensive homes are being built. Need more reasonably priced homes in good condition. · Taxes are rising too fast. · We could not afford to buy our house in today's very expensive housing market. · We have an affordable (average cost) house but it would not be affordable for people with lower incomes. Our income is above the median. · High density housing only breeds less desirable living conditions. All new developments are $150,000-$500,000 homes!! · Real estate taxes are high · Taxes are too high and keep going higher each year. · Over taxed · The quality of homes built in the last 30-40 years is poor. · No clean, well-kept, up-dated homes, or apartments available for the very poor, destitute people. · expensive · I feel that housing in B-N is relatively high—but I am willing to pay for what B-N offers. · Taxes high · The taxes are too high! · Property taxes too high—other means should be made available to pay for our excellent schools (I'm a [many years] former Unit 5 teacher). · taxes are too high · Overall high cost for housing—property tax increases too frequent—in my case—5 increases in 5 years. · McLean County needs more housing developments within a price range that will accommodate low-income homebuyers. Additionally, in place neighbors need to be more receptive to having the developments nearby. · Worried about property taxes. · Property taxes are a little high. · Three-bedroom ranch · 35 years old

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 71 · Rent seems higher than it should be · Real estate taxes are outrageous! Why aren't homeowners visually reassessed? I know over 20 homeowners who have been reassessed by someone actually looking at their property & the improvements/additions made. Some are over 20 years old. Why? · One home less then 1/4 miles from mine is a drug house · Very high property taxes · Taxes are too high! · taxes too high · Cost continues to rise rapidly—nice for existing homeowners but not easily accessible for first time homebuyers. · Need smaller affordable housing (not apartments) for many but especially a senior sector— similar to Mennonite Church area on Hovey/Cottage. · We are moving soon from a three-bedroom ranch with a large yard to a two-bedroom condo with no yard work. · One-bedroom in basement (from above) · There is a great need for housing for low-income and disabled individuals/families. Hard to find housing to suit these groups. · Not enough affordable nice housing for lower incomes. · Normal needs to spend time doing more important things on the community than making all the money they can off of ordinance violations. · Building of new housing not planned well. · Our daughter bought house for our use. · Cost is too high · Taxes & real estate prices are too high. Can't afford to retire here. · Taxes have more than doubled in ten years. Politicians only pay lip service to giving tax relief to home owners. New governor (ex-drug store clerk) just announced 13 billion program. · Tenants should strictly adhere to the rules & regulations of the complex. Respect property! · Very accessible to shopping etc. · It would be nice if the snow removal on courts was a little better. · taxes too high · Apartments in other communities have better appearance. · Taxes keep going up. · Spreading out too much—not restoring older neighborhoods. · Newer homes are built poorly and extremely expensive. We would have bled to live in a subdivision with younger people but no such homes are in such a place so we, as a young married couple, live in a neighborhood of retirees. · Keeping up property is expensive. A major concern is being able to afford to keep up property as I retire. · Many slum lords. If they are earning this extra income from rental properties, they should be held responsible for maintaining the property's appearance. · Taxes are too high. · Taxes are too high · Taxes too high · Taxes on housing are too high · McLean County is excellent. There are all kinds of housing in McLean. · Doesn't seem to be much in the middle range, between $50,000-$100,000. · super · Taxes too high

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 72 · All apartment buildings should be inspected. · Need more for elderly and disabled. · Most of it is generic and cheap. No style or unique design. · Taxes are too high · Excessive new subdivision development has led to increased disregard for older areas which in turn are declining. · I can afford to stay put, but cannot afford to move. The same house new is 2 times the value of my house. · Generally, overpriced and college students get a bad deal in off-campus housing. · The ever increasing property taxes need to be addressed. · Housing is overpriced in Normal & taxes too high. · Taxes high · It is high when compared to other cities this large. · We have lived in the same residence for 20 years and prefer living near the center of the Bloomington-Normal community. · Love the area, beautiful neighborhoods. · This community is excellent · Need more affordable housing for low to low-medium income brackets. · Fix sidewalks—put sidewalks on both sides of street. · Too much building & prices rising rapidly · The street is & has been in terrible condition, bad curbs & pavement since we moved in 12 years ago. · Need to keep it affordable by cutting real estate taxes. · Rental property in my neighborhood is not kept up well. · There are very few first time affordable single-family homes available. · Too expensive, taxes too high. · Housing costs high here, higher than Peoria or Decatur. · There is not enough low cost housing in Bloomington and Normal. · Property taxes are too high in comparison to other states. · Property taxes are way too high. · My property taxes keep going up, but the value of my house isn't. · Seems over priced when in comparison to other areas. · Yes. Small affordable homes are still better than throwing up apartments everywhere. Or trapping people in tax credit apartments. Make owning your own home priority #1. · County and Normal Township roads are not keeping pace with growth of neighborhoods and subdivisions around Bloomington-Normal. · Our house and neighbors are great, but we're becoming surrounded by student housing and high- density apartments. The high density has ruined the remaining green space in this older area of town. · Expensive for retired people who live alone. · The property taxes are much too high. · Compared to Peoria, C-U, Decatur, Springfield the prices here are outrageously high. My salary as a community college faculty member, tenured, with [10+ years] of experience means that I cannot afford a 3 bedroom house in Unit 5. A house for $135,000 here is only $102,000 in Peoria and $92,000 in Decatur and C-U · We bought in 1986 when housing was cheap. · Live in Lincoln Square, Normal, a nice place to live. · property taxes are too high.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 73 · Need more help for the elderly—not the little apartments that there is hardly any room to move in. · There is no affordable rental housing for middle class families. · Very expensive in Bloomington-Normal. · The taxes are high. · Need more moderate and entry-new home owner housing. · Most new construction (last 20 years) is very shoddy!! · The taxes are too high!! We lived in St. Louis and their taxes are half of what we pay here. · General quality of construction is getting worse, too much cutting corners. · Home prices way out of line. · Housing is high in this area for what you get. · Nice housing is too expensive for pay scale in area. · Taxes too high · My housing is affordable on the mortgage side. The taxes, particularly school taxes are a heavy burden on my monthly payments. · property tax is pretty high · taxes too high · Family starter-homes are scarce (2 adults, plus 2 or 3 children) which makes them higher in price. · taxes are too high and getting higher · Taxes too high · Housing in McLean County is overpriced. · Taxes have increased substantially in the last 10 years on property. · most—good · No more govt subsidized housing!! · Only affordable because a relative is my landlord. Otherwise as a single parent my options for safe, affordable housing are bleak! · We live in ISU Student Housing (apartment hiring). · Relative to the rest of the world (i.e., metro areas such as Chicago/St. Louis) I feel our real estate tax is a bit—or 2 bits—high. · Very expensive. · Property taxes are outrageous. · Real estate taxes are extremely high. · Too many boxes. · The real estate taxes are becoming much too high!! · Too expensive for young buyers. · Location is prime concern. · Too costly for young people. · Unaffordable for low-income wage earners; housing; insurance on housing; and especially too high personal property tax—personal property tax is getting too high.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 74 Appendix 1d: Normal Residents’ Household Survey Comments About Greatest Concerns in McLean County, (Question 57)

· Too much building & using up good farm land. · Lack of knowledge, support and assistance with the issue of sexual addiction. High cost of health care and housing. Juvenile smoking, drinking, drug abuse, and sexual engagement. · How much longer we will be able to have a home with taxes going up each year. · Urban sprawl, road repair · The drug problem in McLean County. The number of child abuse and neglect cases. Loss of "green spaces" when farms are turned into real estate development and adequate land is not left for parks or open, natural areas. · Safety in the school's systems. Economic stability. · Growing too fast. · Not a most concerned but the apparent lack of forethought in road work. · Troubles with gangs, etc; drugs in the schools and all the freedom teen-agers seem to have. Under-age drinking and also the amount of clubs and restaurants that serve drinks. It's hard to find a family restaurant to take children to. · Through talking with John Q. Public, I was amazed at how many people in this community work 2 jobs (I did for 5 years as well.) Inflation climbs, but salaries don't seem to keep pace, so people are being stretched & stressed just to keep their heads above water & live a decent lifestyle. · Single party governance. We just happened to get lucky and got very competent leadership at the top of the democrat party. But that was luck alone. The electoral system needs to be changed to reflect minority party representation. A partial representation system like the old system but without its faults can be constructed to do the job. · Keep McLean County a "safe" place to live. A person has to feel safe to go outside at any time of the day. · high cost of living · Developers need to be challenged. Acres and acres of good farm and produce land are being used for commercial and expensive residential development. I would like to see down town buildings renovated to meet shopping needs of today. Once elegant old home rebuilt to meet present standards, old neighborhoods restored, etc. · Alcohol consumption. Teen jobs & training. Need jobs with medical benefits. · high taxes. growth · Traffic congestion, quality of Unit 5 education, safety for children, rising cost of property taxes. · Real Estate Taxes. Need to find more equal way to support schools!! · Roads, Housing Proliferation, Taxation · Taxes · Trend toward government trying to do what is best done in the private sector. Leads to people becoming dependent, not self-sufficient and not taking responsibility. · Lack of information regarding public transportation for non-drivers

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 75 · High real estate taxes & so many Chicago-St. Louis people locating here and being on welfare-- families are not taking pride in their home and having a real family. McLean County, especially Bloomington-Normal growing much too fast. I'm very much against the very expensive Heartland College. · The rapid expansion of the Normal/Bloomington area and the resulting need to increase taxes on property. Also concerned about Sugar Creek maintenance management. · Constant road work & repair. Crime & gangs in adolescent years. · Rising property taxes; too much building, expansion resulting in ugly urban sprawl areas. No flowers in parks as in Champaign and other towns. Ugly, too large. Developments with the same building design. Large gas stations with grotesque, offensive, bright lights. Land developers with increasingly poor taste are all "kings." · Real Estate taxes are too high!!! Population--the removal of excellent farm land for houses. The excessive use of chemicals on farm land by the farmers. The need for good drinking water. Stop pollution of rivers and streams from runoff from farm land. The development of better public transportation--other than busses. We do not need the "fast" (bullet) trains. · My major concern is domestic violence--the hidden social problem and crime. But what is the greatest concern is the attitude about the men and women who abuse their spouse. They are looked at as hopeless (the way we once looked at "drunks") rather than human beings who can change. And if we do not help people change, no number of shelters will eliminate the domestic violence problem. · Expansion in Southwest Bloomington, inadequate roads. Don't need another large store, i.e. Miejers. · Day care providers for low income people--health care for those on hourly pay with no benefits-- affordable housing for low income persons. · Ever increasing property taxes. · Making sure all children have education, food, housing, health care & love! · Too many conservatives making decisions for the rest of us. Need to wise up and combine school districts. · Rapid growth without enough planning. · Rapid Growth. Suburban sprawl eating up farmland. Hog farm draining into Lake Bloomington drinking water. High crime/drugs. We need to pass referendums to support our schools & new schools. Not a small town anymore. · It is growing too fast. Too many people, too many businesses. · High cost of home repairs--when home is at the age for new roof, new wiring, up-dated plumbing--but is basically a fine house. The escalating size of the B-N community & the increasingly maddening traffic flow on all major streets. (Not just Fridays anymore.) · No serious concerns · Turning farm land into concrete!! · 1. Rising cost of taxes on everything. 2. Increases in traffic and related problems. 3. Rapid increase in population and burden on government, charity, and churches and schools. 4. Need more swimming pools and ice skating arenas for young people. · We are worried about rising taxes and don't see how they can be avoided the way B-N is growing. Ideally the increased population should cover increased costs (education particularly) but it doesn't look promising. · The ever rising of real estate taxes for schools · Affordable health care, prescription drug cost, high real estate taxes. · Age discrimination, education discrimination. · Lack of clean, decent affordable housing and health care for very, very poor. Gangs, drug and alcohol use by teens (and younger.) Too many homes with children where both parents must (??)

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 76 work--don't know how to prioritize life values--do with less--with parent home for children. Too little parent's being responsible for children's actions--at home and school. Irresponsible drivers. Police departments understaffed. Too much importance of sports, not enough on 3 R's. Over building of homes (poorly built). Don't like people who work for politicians and take over advantage of services they expect to receive from employer. · high real estate prices. need more parks. infrastructure (esp. roads, public transportation) · The continued rapid growth. It is getting harder & harder to drive and get where you are going without fighting traffic. Also, the increased crime, I feel less safe in a larger community. · More economic expansion · Expansion of Bloomington-Normal into the farm areas. Need to slow development & using up farm land. · Child neglect & abuse--gangs--elderly care. · Taxes!! · Property taxes are rising much too fast. Traffic needs to be controlled as people drive way too fast--eating drinking, reading and telephones seem to be a way of life now while driving. · 1. High property taxes. 2. Increased opportunities for aging "Baby Boomers" such as ourselves to be involved in furthering our education, and developing cultural interests. 3. Also more opportunities for wellness/keeping physically fit since BroMenn bailed out of their exercise program. · Taxes going up for senior citizens · Housing developments on good farm land. · Officials must watch budgets & lower taxes. It is getting too expensive to live around here. · Population growth · The urban sprawl onto prime farm land. Violence in our society--gangs, domestic problems, etc. · Too much growth--using up too much good farm land. · Continuing stories about racial disharmony. Need for affordable housing and health care. · Not most concerned--but I am concerned about all the rude & inconsiderate drivers; also Unit 5 school growth & number of old school buildings. · Lack of political choices. Too many taxing bodies. Poor newspaper coverage of news outside McLean County and Illinois. Lack of air travel/airline connections. · The rapid growth of the population and increased taxes that accompany the growth. The great increase in welfare housing in B-N. How costs are rising in B-N--taxes etc. · Increase in real estate taxes. Uncontrolled growth. Our small towns are no longer small and friendly. · Growth may lead to an increase in crime, drug abuse, domestic violence, and the inability to provide adequately the needs of low-income households. Fractured Society--Are we heading towards populations of "haves" and "have nots" thus losing sight of knowing and caring for each other. · Crime, cost of living · Drugs--Taxes--Bloomington and Normal need to work as 1 unit. Too many stoplights. · Care of the poor and aged · Drugs, gangs, alcohol abuse, aggressive drivers & those who speed past my house. · Housing boom! Building new, with many, many homes on the market to sell! · Growth. Don't let us overpace our values. · Rapid growth in size of community. Continuing to provide the "quality" of life that this area has had in the past. · Health problems in our community and no cause given for one's condition. The public should know more of what the doctor knows.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 77 · Growth will actually reduce lifestyle satisfaction. That is, people and traffic construction increase will out weigh any benefits in added services and attractions. · Real estate taxes and the rate at which they are increasing. I have contacted the assessor’s office in Normal to ask why homes aren't regularly reassessed. I was told they were--however, it is not by someone actually visiting to reassess homes. Several in my neighborhood have big new additions, new decks, garages, etc. and are still assessed without these. I have personally checked to verify this. · We need a T.V. station for this county. Why does Peoria have 3 and we have 0? · Not much for teens to do. Need a place for kids to skate/skateboard. Need public services which deal with money management. Take better care of roads and sidewalks! · Taxes too high for older people. · ever larger and more impersonal terrible trouble · Growth & expansion that is not zoned properly. Lack of green space in community. Problems with crime, gangs, teen delinquencies. Cost of living continues to rise rapidly in this community. · Alcohol abuse & lack of affordable health care. · The backlog/backup of cases in the juvenile court system--in spite of new laws designed to speed this process. · Lack of planning of roads before subdivisions · The many who are in temporary, contract, or part-time work as their main source of income and have no benefits or financially positive future are becoming more numerous. I have met many since I retired. They vary in age and family commitment but without health insurance and other benefits, those with family dependents are an unstable financial element in the community. · Perhaps unrestrained growth and traffic in B-N area and growing costs. · McLean county--no concerns--Best place · How interrelated violence is towards animals, kids, seniors, school, crime, domestic violence. People don't realize the connections. · Real Estate Taxes--Primarily those costs associated with Unit 5. Public Transportation=Bus routes and Air Service · Teenage problems. Rising medical costs. Widespread obesity because of available junk foods. · Widespread use of illegal drugs and the resulting crime. · Some town ordinances are petty, senseless and unconstitutional. Instead of suing people over plants & weeds & dog kennels for 3 days out of 4 months, better time & money can be spent on making schools safer & getting kids and parents involved in activities before we've got shootings in our community!! We've got to get kids back on track and it starts in the home!!! · Lack of planning in the huge growth of this area. High cost of housing, taxes, and health care. Normal is Tax-City USA. Traffic Problems · The total lack of knowledge of Mitsubishi by the news community, especially the Pantagraph. Only sensationalism is told. All employees are viewed as either sexual perverts or abused women. · Wonderful community--very happy here! · Taxes cost never slowing. Home owners paying for business growth. Housing cost never slowing. Traffic congestion. Growth rampant growth without control=freebees for businesses. No plan for constitution trail on West Normal side. West Normal being ignored commercially. No gas station, food stores, bars, doctors, dentists, fast food. · Population growth. Inadequate road system around Bloomington-Normal · speeding · The rapid growth can lead to crowding and congestion. · Destruction of historic buildings--downtown Bloomington decay. Over development in the surrounding areas.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 78 · Discrimination because of sexual preference. 2. Racial discrimination · taxes · Rapid uncontrolled growth. Extremely high rate for real estate property taxes. Fast growth means rapid increases in school enrollment, with fewer people sharing the cost. Many are renting therefore not contributing. Feel that welfare & social service agencies are overlapping services to many people that is unnecessary. · Lack of a quality workforce, I own a small business & the prospects for employees in the under 20,000 per year range is very poor. Most small business owners are having the same problem--no quality workers! Real estate taxes--getting out of control, with no end in sight. With the population increasing, even more schools will be needed. · So much of our land used for businesses and residences. What about our good earth for agriculture! · Being able to keep my kids in a private school. Crime. Being in business for himself--hopeful that Bloomington-Normal will keep growing & needing heavy equipment operators. · Long term care facilities and staff. · Decline in ethics or morality · There seems to be a growing gap between "haves" and "have nots." A survey like this may help clarify problems. There's a lot of complacency. There needs to be another media voice to counter balance the Pantagraph. · There is too much building on good farm ground. · Gangs, crime, low paying/benefits service jobs · Hope we don't end up with a lot of "shanty towns" · Rapid expansion of B-N, loss of farm land to developments, poor streets, roads, too much traffic, congestion. Losing rural, small town atmosphere! · Taxes increasing · I think we are very fortunate in many ways to live in McLean County. Unfortunately, because this is such a great place to live, we see increased population growth, loss of green space, and changes in crime etc. that take away from the quality of life here. · Drugs, Gangs · Having a hard time trying to pay for prescriptions · The cost of housing is very high. The cost of child care is high also. I'm lucky to have the job I have. I don't see how some families make it with the high costs. Property taxes are high, but I don't mind as long as they provide good education for our children. · taxes · Personal property taxes increasing. 2. Increased crime. 3. Increasing number of jobs with no benefits. 4. Affordable housing. 5. Costs increasing for all services · Younger generation livelihood, schools and churches, drugs, alcohol abuse. · Drugs, gangs, violent crime, guns, knives, etc. Rising living expenses such as food, shelter, real estate taxes (all taxes) and utilities. I'm also concerned about the large amount of growth that's occurring in the twin cities. Bigger is not always better! · Homeless seems to be a growing concern. Real estate taxes are a concern for fixed income people. · Too crowded, traffic, crime · County wide = unisex handicap rest rooms so spouses can help handicapped spouse. · Taxes are creeping up. · Mediocre school systems. · Growing too fast and too much · Uncontrolled new development. Good older businesses are forced out by unnecessary new (chains) business development. Inner city is not being redeveloped.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 79 · High property taxes · Taking up more farmland. Taxes are very high--especially property tax. More and more gang problems. More violence than there was even 10 years ago, much more violence than 15 years ago. Road rage--people constantly running through red lights, speeding to get through them. People are rude here. People are much friendlier in Peoria, Quad Cities etc. People here are very selfish and do not like to see someone else do well. A strange phenomena many who have moved here have all told me which confused my experience. · Affordable day care. Quality of medical support. Lack of recreational facilities · Losing the small town friendly helping atmosphere. · Lack of attention to youth, latch key, parental neglect. We spend a lot of money on adult recreation--golf courses, lighted softball diamonds--but don't improve park space for kids--soccer fields, ball diamonds, basketball, volleyball. · Growing quickly--concern that we are having many unsupervised "parties" with young people--or parents that allow teens to take part in these activities because of need to be popular. Young children who have parents so involved in "earning" and having all the material things, but do not have time to involve their children in spiritual things. Concern we are asking government to account for our lack of morality. Trying to find legal help that does not leave you paying very high costs. They seem to say: You have to let me know how much you have and I'll get as much of it as I can. · Recently my doctor said I needed to see an orthopedic doctor but couldn't get me in for 2 weeks. Then I needed a bone scan & had to wait a week for an appointment. This I don't understand. · The increase of gangs & drugs in the community · Population growth in the country and the cities. Resources are spread thin because more and more people are moving to the county. Too much farm land is being taken out of agricultural production for housing and commercial use. · High cost of utilities. Clinton Power Plant. Illinois Power Plant butchering trees. A nasty attitude by the community of "me first" thinking. Road Rage. Unit 5 taxing has become a burden on everyone and needs to be addressed · 1. Rapid growth & poor construction. 2. Bad roads & lack of city planning (too many cars on bad roads not ready to handle traffic). 3. Too many blacks in concentrated area such as North Normal by Eagle. · Teen violence--My teenage daughters live in a horrible world where sex, drugs, and violence are all around her. Their culture is a very dysfunctional one. City does nothing. City targets small errors incorrectly and should be addressing big problem. Normal city government has too much inbreeding; non-service oriented, fines people too heavily, poor zoning, bad roads, horrible legal staff--one guy in particular, that everyone in my neighborhood has had a bad run in for one reason or another. This arrogant tyrant needs to be fired! Everyone is really mad about the renaming of Ash Park to Dave Anderson Park. Name a city building after yourself, but not a public park! Need curb side recycling in Normal! Nothing for teens to do! What if your not a sports nut? · Growth concerns. Litter around business areas next to residential areas. Traffic concerns although construction completion should alleviate these. · High taxes. We want to stay here when we retire, but fear we will be unable to do so because of high tax rate. · Lack of activities for teens to keep them off streets. Too high taxes · gangs, drugs, youth crime · Real estate taxes · Concerned that growth may not be controlled. Utility costs seem to be rising higher than necessary, especially telephone & cable TV.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 80 · I'm concerned about the growth and keeping up with sufficient schools to accommodate incoming children, especially in Unit 5. I also feel badly that so much of the farmland is going to housing developments. · Real estate taxes. More than half of my taxes go to Unit 5 school district and they are continually asking for more. There must be alternatives. · High taxes. Property prices starting to get out of hand. Too expensive. Developers are getting greedy & taking too much farm land. · Uncontrolled growth. Keep those green spaces. · Youth/family problems--erosion of morality. · Managing growth in the county. · Increase taxes due to Unit 5 new schools · taxes · Lack of funding for good public schools. Lack of funding for Illinois State University from the state of Illinois. · Large classes in Unit 5 and redistricting issues. · Safety of people. Cooperation of agencies. Expenses of services · Are we growing too rapidly? · Our schools. They are overcrowded. My student needed support even though he was not good in academics. He sought attention in the wrong ways. He is a creative person with talents he has not yet explored. Thank God for alternative ed. He will graduate in 3 weeks because of them. Don't discontinue this program. We need more programs for students who struggle with paper work. Start educating them earlier that it's OK to be good at technical skills. Our student loves to help people fix broken things. That's an excellent quality, but he doesn't think so and neither do the schools take time to recognize or support these students. Our current system discouraged him from studying. · gangs · The Normal Police getting their ticket quota. They need to spend more time policing the people that are speeding in school zones. · Unit 5 expansion and resulting tax burden. · Urban planning (streets, parks, schools, water quality)--growth. · Prolific increase in affordable new housing without a plan to address abandoned or converted-use older homes. Efforts to use tax support to attract additional development. · The disappearance of good old fashioned fun. It takes more time, more money, and more creativity to have fun today. Doesn't matter if you have kids or not. Simply put, there isn't enough good entertainment in McLean County, which is why many kids turn to drugs/alcohol, etc. · Rapid growth/traffic congestion. · Its adoration of athletics. Its politics! Too Republican and too conservative. Tom Ewing is a joke! But Maitland is good. Its broadcast media. Local radio/TV is abominable, except WGLT and WESN. Its attitudes toward the poor and minorities; i.e. "What problems?" Failure of "liberals"(?) @ ISU to assert themselves. · Ever increasing property taxes with no end in sight (i.e. Unit 5 School Taxes). 2. The conflicts & pettiness between Bloomington & Normal · Low wages for the less fortunate--those employees having to do very hard work. · Apathy in the police dept. They seem very concerned in the areas around ISU but other neighborhoods see less of them; they are not visible in outlying areas. (Normal). Taxes seem to fluctuate from one area to another. · Racism and the lack of cultural events. · Immigration

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 81 · I have state insurance and co-payment on Rx is poor. Dental limited and vision insurance is worse! Lack of voting is pathetic. · Gangs and lack of things for teens to do. · 1. The provision of affordable and available day care/child care in McLean County. 2. Balancing economic growth with the maintenance of "people-oriented" services (i.e., government services such as parks, youth programs, recreation, etc. as well as social service and any services). · Will the area crime stay in control like it is. While in my neighborhood I am able to feel free with leaving the patio door unlocked and go to the next floor level in my home without worrying about someone coming in my home. And no loud activity at night hours. · Crime--a lot of petty theft, juvenile delinquency. May be a result of kids growing up underprivileged, w/o role models, etc. · Gangs, Crime · Seem to be slow in awareness of problems, thus get late start in addressing--i.e. gang activity was here 4 years before officials would admit it! · The building of sub-divisions on the most productive land in the USA. Need to adopt Portland Plan! · Increase in taxes beyond my salary increases annually. Maybe State Farmers/Hawthorne Hill residents get regular increases but not BroMenn to keep up with taxes--esp. Unit 5 increases. · Managed growth. Not enough cultural activities · Lot of scary kids (high school age) with no future. · Environmental degradation, urban sprawl, loss of farmland and open space--increasing traffic. · Growing two class system. Very affluent community but still with many who struggle. Land owners look at a buck only & don't seem to be interested in helping those that cannot afford housing. Retail goods are overpriced because of the affluence & thus the poor cannot afford things. · Availability of guns. Domestic violence. Treating crime with board punishment when the money would be better spent to teach, council, and build a sense of morals and self esteem in our young children and youth. · "Quality" Health Care. Continued increase in real estate taxes. Loss of Agricultural Land--i.e., new proposed subdivision North of North-town--containing urban sprawl. · People 62 and older should not have to pay school taxes on the home they live in. If a person started to pay school taxes when he was 25 years old and pays until he is 62 that would be paying for 37 years. That should be long enough. · I am adopting a baby from China. I am concerned about racial discrimination and the limited diversity in our community. · Racial discrimination is apparent and tolerated. Community claims to have low tolerance for it but in most cases will see it, recognize it, and do nothing to stop it. Most non-whites can tell of situations where they were informed of racist remarks made behind their backs. While the informant shared the information, they didn't stop the conversation at the time. · The growing season is too short and my neighbors won't kill the dandelions in their yards. The school boards complain about each other too much and so do the mayors--though Judy is much better than Jesse was! · State representatives and state senator only seem to represent themselves and not the people. If anyone is represented, it is the rich. · Urban sprawl! Too much building going on. · Too much preferential treatment and emphasis on homosexuals. · Housing--we need to have more housing that is affordable in better neighborhoods. I have noticed in the Normal area that people don't seem to read speed limit signs. Somehow we need more policing on speed limits--when I'm doing 30 mph everyone passes me doing 35 or more.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 82 · The snobbery and "cliques." · The high cost of living in McLean County. The traffic problems are getting worse each year. The taxes are too high. · Racism, child abuse neglect. · Separate school systems--Unit 5 and District 87. There should be one school system in Bloomington-Normal!! Having 2 is unacceptable to me and most residents I talk to. It needs to be changed!! · Future educational facilities. · Increase in property taxes. · Real estate taxes raises. · Drugs available in Middle School already. 2. High real estate taxes. · Lack of quality affordable housing. · Urban sprawl vs. rehabbing existing housing; sick child care facilities; affordable child care; affordable housing. · The general shift away from traditional family values. · Yearly increases in property taxes. Too many barking dogs in neighborhood and inability to get any satisfaction from local police. · Cost of living going up and salaries remaining the same or not increasing as much as cost of living. · The raising of taxes in Normal due to Unit 5 expansion. · High cost of taxes--particularly real estate. Rapid growth of Bloomington/Normal as to cost of keeping schools and infrastructure up with growth. · Growing disparity between wealthy and poor, low unemployment rate, welfare to work support services, limited peace and social justice action/opportunities, no access to alternative childbirth services, very limited non-chain, excellent restaurants. · Growth. Uncontrolled could lead to serious problems for a well-off community. Apartment building, there's too much. Lets try to get people into the American Dream, their own home. Recycling: there should be more city involvement and citizens. TAXES! Cut spending: balance budgets. Take example from Normal--debt free is the right way. · Maintaining our ability to attract new growth industries while improving the quality of life for all citizens in McLean County. Our biggest concern is improving the quality of education for our children. With a billion dollar surplus in Illinois, why are teachers still having to use their own money to buy school supplies? It's popular for politicians to say they will cut government spending, but any fool can cut expenses. Only leaders can use resources that improve quality of life!! · Environmental problems created by expanding subdivisions into farming areas. AND by hog farms, which should be sited by local control. · Affordable housing in Bloomington/Normal. Unit 5 Taxes rising every year. · High cost of quality building standards in housing. Traffic congestion. Gangs. · The yearly raising of taxes. They have more than tripled in the last 10 years for us. The behavior of college students--parties, lack of decency, "don't care" attitude with noise. Playing catch in streets, lack of bike safety. · Developer driven sprawl. B-N has no real plan for intelligent development, no real plan for really user friendly public transportation. The road system is inadequate, the public bus system is a joke when one looks at Champain-Urbana's system. Little for 13-18 year-olds to do unless it is sports related--no good way for them to get anywhere because of needing up to 1 hour + 45 min to get from 1 location to another. Also our congressman Tom Ewing is an idiot! · Illegal drug availability to children

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 83 · Rapid, unmonitored growth resulting in overcrowded streets, businesses, restaurants, rude drivers causing dangerous situations on streets. · The Y2K--I am really frightened about no electric & how to keep warm. · taxes - property, sales · 1. Lazy work force (with such low unemployment). 2. Unit 5 growth/tax Increases continuously with no end in sight. 3. Limited facilities for families year-round, for cities (B-N) that have such a nice tax base. · Guns in schools · Population growth--so much farm land turning into subdivisions. The area I live in is safe, but am concerned about areas that have violence, drug problems, gangs, etc. High rents are a problem as you get older, with a fixed income, and rising health problems. · Lack of minor league sports teams. Lack of Jimmy Buffett concerts. · Development of its impact on the community's ability to sustain the rapid growth. Water, sewer, etc.--roads and streets capable of all handling all the increases. · Healthy development of our youth. Affordable care for the elderly and being educated on free or low cost services available. The growth is too much too fast. Residential and business development is eating up our prime farm land. Business decisions are based on money, not always the good of the community. · Mitsubishi Motors closing down--economic impact in area. Low unemployment-- restaurants/food service competing for workers--and their workforce is very watered down and unskilled in customer service. Too dependent on State Farm on many economic fronts--need to attract other large employers. · Help for the elderly. There is a bus for elderly/disabled but since my mom doesn't use a cane or walker she can't use it even though she can't walk very far. She has to sit on a bus for 45 minutes to an hour to get to work. There needs to be more help for the elderly --housing, transportation, prescriptions, etc. · School systems, overcrowding, building of new schools. · Growth is making schools uneven in size and services offered. · Bigotry is still a problem. · Controlling growth and the negatives that come with that. · Taxes. · Complacency--people ignoring problems in the community. Also parents being complacent about their children. Children left too much on their own with no parental supervision. Related, parents challenging teachers of their children rather than believing teachers and principals then taking appropriate action. School property tax rates are too high. · We are concerned about the county's ability (inability) to handle the rapid growth rate. · That everyone is provided with health care. And those who do not have health care are made award of where they can go--i.e., free clinic. · gangs, child abuse · With two young children, I am most concerned with them growing up in a safe school and neighborhood. I would like to see the police force crack down on crime in the area, as well as traffic problems. We live on a street with a 30 mph speed limit, and cars a consistently driving 40-50 mph. · Traffic flow. · The county's rapid growth · The area is growing so fast--losing the "hometown" feeling/experience. · The separation of schools (Bloomington & Normal) and their inability to join together to create a stronger school system to the work community. · Loss of farmland to development.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 84 · Overpopulation due to new housing being built! · Excessive growth of Bloomington/Normal. Drug availability and lack of police cooperation--I know of several people who are drug abusers who where reported to police so contacts could be traced--police don't want to be accused of harassment so they do nothing about the problem. One has died and another is getting close--and the police had names and addresses of both of their suppliers--and they are still supplying. · A.) Lack of things for kids to do; leads to violence, crime, drugs, etc. B.) Uncontrolled growth=destruction of farmland & rural roads for housing and motor traffic. C.) Labor unions! · The high rate of growth on the East side causes traffic congestion, am concerned with unchecked growth and give-aways to developers. And new businesses that may be unnecessary (I speculate that it may hurt some already established businesses that have served the community for a long time). · Taxes are too high, too much government--don't need Normal Township. Health care costs are high. Regional airport should be developed to include Peoria and Champaign-Urbana and possibly Springfield. Future of agriculture as we know it now is probably due for major changes. · Quality of education and education standards (Unit 5). · New home construction. We need more controlled growth in Bloomington/Normal. We're getting over-saturated with new homes. 2. Farm chemical runoff. 3. School growth in Normal. · There is no access to public bus for the people who live on the edge of city limits--example I live at the Landings Estate and would have to walk to Raab Rd. to catch a bus. · Property taxes are too high. I don't have or plan to have children, yet must support public education. · Programs for improvement of some neighborhoods in Bloomington. Some off campus housing in Normal (Vernon, Linden, School, Willow) needs to be cleaned up--trashy looking. Resurfacing of roadways--improved traffic flow for some areas. Tax caps are not the solution to reducing property taxes. · Gangs. Not enough industry job opportunities · Keeping services up with the increase in population and low unemployment. · High property taxes. · Need for additional support services from preschool to before & after school activities for children & youth to meaningful activities & outlets for senior citizens. · City and county police make up ticket violations. Need to concentrate their efforts better. Also find county, city, and ISU police in Convenient Store etc. way too often. If the police were 1/2 as efficient as the fire dept. the county would be an excellent place to live!!! · It appears the emerging layout of the communities was proposed by the freshman engineering class and accepted. Way too much of make do for today to get beyond not enough thought (thought to what an action today will mean in 10 years). · more and more apartment building started in this area. · I am most troubled by the councils of both Bloomington/Normal's failure to acknowledge the discrimination to gays and lesbians. The attitude that a town ordinance somehow equals "special rights" condones prejudicial behavior against the gay population that actively contributes money talents and business to McLean County. I am, however, glad you included that topic in your survey! · I would like to see Bloomington & Normal get together and merge many of the administrative functions. I believe this would not just save money but give our community a more united presence in Central IL. · Continued concern for gang activity. Conflict on lack of understanding among races and tolerance for those who are different. · The rapid growth and what impact that will have in the schools.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 85 · Lack of control for the growth of the community. Need better planning & fiscal responsibility for developers/builders when new subdivisions are proposed. · Increasing traffic. Lack of stop lights at dangerous intersections. Gang activities in North Normal area & other places. · Disappearing farm land. · Tax (housing) increases. 2. Commercial growth in Normal. For instance another gas station (Mobile) on Raab & Main. This is destroying the beauty & pleasantness of our town. 3. An exaggeration of those claiming harassment of discrimination. 4. Teen drug use. 5. Public schools offer too many activities · The increasing number of temporary jobs in the job market but do not pay benefits. · Urban sprawl--not enough planning concerning random use of good farm land for expensive "barn type" homes. Affluence is attracting big city gangs to sell drugs + transplants don't appreciate our heritage. Road rage is on the increase; small towns without sewers. · Lack of minority participation as it relates to the better jobs. Scant minority representation in all city on county jobs. · Lack of parental supervision and teens running wild, being out late, doing drugs & drinking. Gang activity. · Property taxes · Teen pregnancy & their search for love & acceptance leading to this. Single parent homes & their struggles. · High cost of living. · The lack of entertainment for teens · Wider gap between the "haves" and "have nots." Many families with benefits (such as a male at State Farm) will have an educated female (wife) that is willing to work part time with no benefits, and pay is not a great concern. Single-parents have a harder time trying to obtain full-time jobs with benefits. I would like to see mentoring for the group between welfare and management. · The "sprawl" to the east of Bloomington-Normal is a matter of concern. Extending services to those areas is extremely costly, and this affects all of us. It would make more sense to gentrify, or "recycle," run down areas in town, where utilities are already in place. The county government should make more of an effort to contain the sprawl. · The high cost of living for retired folks. Traffic is getting so heavy. · Very high rate of real estate taxes. 2. Increases in sales tax. · Traffic, bad roads, loss of farm land due to excess building. · Gangs, gun control. · County, township, cities, schools, employees and elected officials work hard to give us good services and deserve good wages and salaries and inflation protection. All of us who actually pay income, property, sales, and excise taxes would like to reduce some of them. At the least, those that permit undeserved perks, lousy budget planning, and seem to encourage the poor and unemployed to relax in their own condition. The do-gooders should enjoy meaningful contributions but should not disparage those that are barely able to hold their own. · Taxes, especially real estate, are getting too high, beyond what property will sell for. Also, I think a lot of growth is based on such as Mitsubishi and if there are cutbacks, we will be paying for a lot of things we don't need. I think the airport, for example, needs more quality service rather than going for all the poor quantity Mr. LaPier is going for. Too many flights are cancelled now. · Excessive expansion into farm land. We have the richest land in the world and it's being paved over! · Traffic--our roads and intersections are inadequate, and in some cases poorly planned like Fairway at Empire. The idiots at Ill. Power who lay waste to beautiful trees.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 86 · Affordability of health care and insurance. 2. Loss of excellent farm land. 3. Traffic. 4. Better mental health insurance coverage. · High price tag for schools and their administration. Appears to be a lot of "poor" planning. Personal property tax has "skyrocketed" in the last several years and is continuing to sky upward.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 87 Appendix 1e: Normal Residents’ Household Survey Comments About Most Liked Attributes of McLean County, (Question 58)

· I've been here all my 55 years. I enjoy the parks, walking trails, restaurants, churches, schools and movie theaters. I enjoy what Bloomington & Normal have to offer. A good place to live. It's home to me. · county · I think it's still a pretty safe place to live and raise a family. · Low-rate of crime. Schools that provide a good education. Growing number of things to do · Small town atmosphere; yet a large variety of things to choose from. · Has great schools, and sufficient health care for those who have insurance. · Location to major urban areas, parks and recreation. · The amount of employment, how clean Bloomington-Normal is; One can find just about anything they want in this county. · Family oriented; conservative values; good schools; many community services offered. · About the right size--large enough for special services but not large enough for many urban problems. Enlightened political leadership for the most part. · Just far enough from big major cities; Friendly atmosphere; Good schools; Well educated people in communities · job availability · Congenial neighborhoods, good schools, good churches. · Availability of quality and specialty clothing stores, i.e., petite women's clothing, children's clothing of all sizes, and men's clothing of all sizes. Jr. Colleges, adult education. · Security, Caring People · Constitution trail, having two universities, youth recreation opportunities. · Clean air, agribusiness community, variety of opportunities to participate in. · Culture opportunities, fine education access, good government units, business and retail access. Medical availability. Relatively safe environment. · Nice place to live--convenient, safe--good folks · Still relatively small, but with reasonable services. Proximity to metro areas. · Interest in improvement by both officials and general public. · Good job opportunities & low unemployment. Attractive county buildings. There are most parts of town that are relatively safe. Although I feel that is an oncoming problem. Two good universities. · Centrally located between major cities of the state. Openness in addressing problems, social services networks, libraries open on Sundays and educational opportunities. · Size--hope population does not increase more. Good grocery shopping. Two universities add to better class living. Good school systems. · Constitution trail. My neighborhood. Beyond Normal Films as we are finally getting some good movies! Being able to get practically anywhere in 15 minutes or less (unless you have to drive on Veteran's Parkway). It was a great place to raise a family with good schools and park activities.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 88 · Good employment opportunities. Good educational opportunities. · Good community--interest in civic affairs, lot of social services for people with lower incomes, little crime, good social networks, higher employment. · Good roads; for the most part, easy to drive around · Political organizations or non-partisan groups actively study the needs of the county and they try to meet the needs of low income or disabled persons. · Convenience of shopping, medical facilities, availability of job market. Police & fire protection. Culture. · Generally a good place to raise a family · It's still a small town in many ways. · Rural atmosphere. Availability of good health care, variety of entertainment, good schools, central location--easy access to larger cities. · It is still a decent place to live but I doubt decisions like expanding Rt. 9 to five lanes!! Don't do! Constitution trail & Greenways Plan--for action. Lake Evergreen kudos. Saving old courthouse-- why do you charge the historical society $10,000 per year to use it? Not fair--illogical!! · The friendly atmosphere--family oriented. · I like being in a two-university community for the cultural & social opportunities. I like the fact that B-N attracts large meetings, conferences, auto shows & good entertainment. I believe it is recognized as a major provider of restaurants, meeting places & motels. In many ways B-N maintains a small-town flavor. People tend to be friendly and accommodating. One amazing truism: people politely take turns at 4-way stops! I think PATH is an extraordinary bonus for persons in McLean County who need help. · Diversity, quality of life, growth, socio-economic climate · Two Universities; Cultural opportunities; Rural and Urban mix; School systems (Public) · 1. Good schools and colleges/university. 2. Accessibility to medical care and hospitals. 3. Good shopping area. 4. Highways, railroad, and airport are pluses. 5. Nice balance between business and agriculture, making for a balanced local economy. 6. Good places to eat. · Having grown up in a large city which we visit still and with grandchildren in three large cities, we are very appreciative of the pace of life here--traffic, overall convenience, friendliness, access to civic and governing personnel. Public Parks services in Normal are terrific. · Just about everything · Availability of good quality retail stores, reasonably low crime rate, good police & fire fighters. Good response to 911 situations. · The people · Availability of activities for all. Centrally located. Friendliness of most people. Clean air. · safe, affluent · Economy--Schools. · The opportunity for my family to experience different things by having 2 universities--i.e. sports, concerts, plays, etc. Also, the opportunities for kids to be involved in various activities--both academic & athletic. · 1. Central in nation. 2. Diversity of people, business, education. 3. Good, healthy quality of life · Small hometown feeling but a lot of bigger town opportunities. · Friendly people, college atmosphere, close to 2 universities and one college. Very good shopping areas. · Not a large city--clean--not too many people. · I like living here. It is a progressive area & yet not too large nor too small a city. I like Normal & Bloomington. · Our area is quite clean and quiet most of the time.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 89 · Opportunities for cultural and educational development, availability of a variety of human services, Miller Park Zoo, McLean County Historical Society, I.S.U., I.W.U. and many others. · Good living in the community, with stores to shop, hospital and medical care and police force. · Country atmosphere with city amenities · Nice place to live because of the cultural activities & university sporting events. · The relatively small town atmosphere. The advantages of the universities, the proximity of all services. · Clean, safe, conveniences, jobs · Convenience of driving for services, shopping, etc. in a small city. Good cultural and religious environment. · Good school systems. Grocery store competition, prices. Good choices of restaurants. Professional community. Good shopping choices. · Friends and family are close. Recreational activities are many. · Cleanliness when compared with other parts of USA. Illinois in general is cleaner. · Location; Excellent educational facilities; Excellent medical facilities (ignoring the cost factor); Broad Ccltural dimension; Strong religious environment. · Size & safety & meets medical needs. Entertainment & activities. · Crossroad of Illinois. Access to interstate roads. Climate, all four seasons. Cleanliness of most neighborhoods. Good restaurants. Road construction is usually done quickly. Good roads. · Good medical facilities & physicians · We moved here in 1961 and we found it a very comfortable place to live. We have seen many changes but we still find that it is a good place to live. Many services offered to senior citizens, and agencies that need help. · It's like family. Midwestern rural values · Has much to offer without being such a large city. Friendly community. · It is the richest community in the world I believe. Lets stop covering up the good black soil or God help us. · Most of it experiences little crime. Most people are prosperous. Bloomington-Normal right now is about the right size--that is, it has adequate retail services, but isn't traffic congested. Schools are good. People are largely decent. Overall stress is low. · Public transportation in many different areas. Special causes, people with special needs, people affected by accidents/disasters. When these situations are made public, McLean County always comes through. · Like living here. · Friendly people. · Unit 5, eating out, shopping, Constitution Trail. · There are so many activities, sports, entertainment that our county has to offer any ages. Especially B-N with plays, recreations of all kinds. Good place to live. · Where I live it's close to church, schools, and shopping places. · Peaceful. Good for families. Fewer social problems than other towns. · Schools, activities, churches, people in general. Good location, restaurants, stable economy. McLean County is a gold mine of professional people who are dedicated to their community. · Not too big/not too small; good place for family. · I'm happy that I'm raising my family in this community. · Availability of good medical, entertainment, retail, educational, and financial business and resources. Limited urban features--within a few miles you can be in open country. · Climate, convenient services, friendly people.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 90 · Availability of hospitals, doctors, unit 5 school system, weather, city services, street maintenance, colleges, social availability, good culture, people, churches, groceries & shopping, eating places, good police & fire protection. · Great neighborhood; Universities, shopping, lots to do--events, food, etc.; good, positive experience with all; income of area; highway access; winters · Safe neighborhood. Relatively affordable housing. · Despite the above, it is a safe community with good housing, plenty of entertainment and cultural events, and a much-improved transportation linkage to the rest of the world. · I don't really know any more other than its always been home!!! Too much time spent on controlling homeowners, instead of taking care of the many problems that face this community. · Cultural & Educational opportunities. The central location in Illinois (and neighboring states). Fairly good municipal services. · Quiet, cleanliness, good neighbors--nearness to son & daughter. Hospital. · Evergreen lake, the trail, very good police force, good roads, central location, choice of grocery stores. · Clean, friendly, good resources. · Standard of living and education. Location in the state = highways, 4 lanes in every direction. · Culture; school systems · educational & cultural · The schools in the area give us a healthy environment. · It's strength in education (2 universities)--strong arts and historical societies. Natural beauty. Friendly people. Constitution trail. Important businesses. Cultural events. · Cultural diversity; High School & educational & economic level · We have been Normal residents since 1958. We have always been strong supporters of Unit 5 schools and Illinois Wesleyan University. Two hospitals and numerous churches in the community add to it's desirability as an excellent environment to raise a family. We have always enjoyed our time in the progressive town of Normal. · The availability of culture and entertainment to everyone. Very many at low or no cost. Good libraries and the availability to further your knowledge & education at any age. Additional growth would not improve on or add to this benefit. Interstate highway availability. · School system, safe, healthcare is good. · Churches, education, businesses & medical for the elderly. · I love our neighborhood [street in Normal). We have a great private School Calvary Baptist Acad. & a great church--Grace Baptist in Normal. We also have a terrific town council. McLean County is a great place to live & to raise a family. · The people, educational facilities, variety of activities for the youth and seniors, good opportunities for all who want to work. · Open space (not yet congested) · In spite of a problem of complacency by many (look at the voting percentages). There are a lot of people who contribute. For the most part, the community seems tranquil and relatively safe. There are plenty of opportunities for recreation etc. · There is a lot for families and adults, but nothing for teens alone except for movies. · Not many housing projects, more nice homes etc. · University activities and points of interest in and about the community. · Good shopping, hospitals, medical & dental services--adequate schools and two colleges--still retains rural aspects. · Cleanliness, road improvements being made, growth economically · Rural but all the services of the twin cities are there. Clean, clear, free of pollution. · Nice quiet and clean; friendly people

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 91 · The good school system. Having a lot of parks for children. The great selection of businesses and restaurants. · It's a safe and prosperous place to live. · the weather is great · 1. Willingness of people to work together to solve community issues and problems. 2. Quality education availability. 3. State Farm Insurance and all it offers the community. · I like it because my family lives near me. · Educational activities for children and adults, classes and programs by universities and school districts, and senior citizen centers. · It's a great place to live, the economy is very good here. The quality of life is great. · Family oriented community · Small community activity & college programs; non-growth would be better. · No smog. Convenient air travel. · Good employers provide comfortable existence. · Everything · Great place to live. Retired and moved here. · The small town atmosphere which is going away. The great economic condition. · Central location with good transportation. · Still the small town, rural atmosphere with all the benefits one could ask for--university offers many cultural opportunities, good shopping, everything we need is here. · Well kept. Decent environment to raise kids. Services available. · The small town friendly helping atmosphere · Friendly people, generous people · It is still a safe place. It does have a lot of caring people and groups. · I did like it when I moved here but it has gotten way too big. The do have a lot of activities & benefits for senior citizens. · Smaller town, but has big city benefits · The Middle America values of the citizens of McLean County. The help others attitude of the residents encourages everyone to lend a hand and work for the common good. The me first philosophy is a little less prominent in McLean County. · Arts, cleanliness · Good economy. Job opportunities, entertainment & athletic-sports opportunities, ski club, lake run club, bike club. · Small town atmosphere with big town opportunities (shopping, theater, symphony, etc.) Our church family is very important and the opportunities our children have participated in through church & school. · Very little · Everything except high taxes and #57. · people · Quality of life issues seem to be addressed. Good schools. Good community involvement. Pay as you go philosophy in Normal. · Everything we need is available locally but we also have access to other interesting places. I especially enjoy the programs offered at Braden and at Community Theater. · Cleanliness of area overall. Beautiful countryside. Good, black dirt. Nice clean neighborhoods in most areas. Good transportation. · Climate, weather, jobs. · quality of life

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 92 · The mix of Big City & the farm community in close proximity. The opportunities for youth-- schools & universities & community colleges. The equal distance between Chicago and St. Louis. · Our friends and church. · small town atmosphere · Illinois State University; good place to raise a family; constitution trail; Marc Center services; easy access to other communities (Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis); Great airport! · Booming economy--low unemployment · combo of rural, urban mix. · size, the people · zoo · Raising family (environment). · White collar community with good tax base--giving city planners good opportunities to stay in front of social, school, transportation, and park growth. · Affordable living, clean, decent schools, low crime. · I have lived here 6 years while attending the university (ISU). I find the people I have had contact with to be generally friendly and helpful. I like the parks in the area, and I love Constitution Trail. I have had no real problems with anything. I found my medical care to be very good. Will be leaving the area at the end of the month--in a way, sorry to leave the area. · The ratio of making money to crime rate. Most places where you make money have high crime rates. Not here. · By and large there is support for basic family values. I am blessed by strong, Bible-teaching church. · Quiet/calm. Actually, am probably living the wrong place for my interests and values, but can't leave job at this time!! Too close to retirement. Then--I'm out of here! · 1. Progressiveness--business community attitude. 2. Location. 3. Infrastructure--Roads--Air-- Rail. 4. Services, activities offered. 5. Quality Schools. 6. Having ISU & IWU · ? · The many options it offers as far as entertainment. Great place to raise a family--very safe. Still has a small-town feel to it. · The community has a real sense of family--people care about their neighbors and work together for the good of all. · I like the low crime and the cleanliness of the community. Also, I like the economy situation. · The wide variety of cultural activities available. Nice people. · Cultural and educational strengths. · It is a nice place to live. · 1. McLean County benefits from a very strong standard of living with a diverse employment force. 2. The presence of ISU, IWU, and Heartland college offer a broad range of educational and cultural opportunities. · Peaceful, clean, low crime rate. · Hometown atmosphere. Generally friendly people, clean w/good services & resources. · It's a very good place to raise children. Schools are wonderful. Most people here are nice & helpful. · Overall, very safe area, well-insulated economically, friendly people, very good schools. · Parks--Golf Courses, Recreation Facilities in general. · Safe living environment. Good cost of living. Nice homes. · Small community--not the same problems associated with larger towns. · The opportunitie--universities, Passion Play, good economy

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 93 · Supportive community with strong volunteer spirit and community spirit. Good educational opportunities. · Social atmosphere, good education. · Family · School system, government. · Great place to raise a family. · I moved here in 1960 from a small town, [Southern Illlinois], because there was no employment there. I have been able to get work in this area except during the early 80s. I enjoy playing golf and there is a lot of courses around here. · It's safe, clean, easy to get around, growing. · Anything desired is available in McLean County. For whites all things are offered. For non- whites you can get things if you push hard enough. · Very warm and friendly. That was the one thing I noticed after arriving from overseas. · This is an excellent place to raise a family. There are many interesting programs offered by the universities. We are located between Chicago and St. Louis and can take advantage of the programs offered there. Our school system is very good and we have choices in where to shop. There are also lots of job opportunities. · Excellent services, excellent economy, entertainment, regional transportation systems, low crime, few tornadoes and earthquakes. It's a great place to live, as long as you can get away from it once or twice a year. · No real activities. The county is a shopping place but that is about all. No real culture, etc. · Pleasant surroundings--clean, parks, etc. · High academic standards and emphasis in education and community. · I'm conveniently located to most things I need. · Parks, soccer program, other programs for children, general caring of the community. · Constitution Trail. · I lived in Peoria, IL--Peoria County for 81 years--Happy there. I have lived in Normal, IL-- McLean County since 1997--Happy here, too. · Quality of life and accessibility to big cities. · Quality of life. · 1. Good neighborhood we live in. 2. Friends. 3. University and cultural activities. 4. Church. 5. City (Normal) trash/yard waste/discards pickup policies. 6. The Trail. · Cross roads of America with great transportation any direction and positive growth for future. · Rural-based; community oriented where people care about each other; lots of things to do; special places like Comlara Park, Funk home, Schlueter apple orchard, etc. · Ample opportunities for employment, education, and spiritual development. · The location. · My family is here. · Facilities available such as all doctors, dentists, hospitals, theatres, restaurants, sports-- Constitution Trail. · The Constitution Trail, Grady's, Children's Discovery Museum, WGLT, access to multiple university/college settings. · It's still mostly agriculture and the cities are still manageable. Crime is mostly under control and it's fairly clean. Cost is reasonable but going up. Clean air, good water. · Its people. We are blessed with people willing to give of themselves to help others. Promoting volunteerism to bring out these people will make us even greater. Good leadership in government and business has led to prosperity in McLean County. I am very proud to live here and call McLean County home!!

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 94 · I like the aggressive attitude social agencies have taken toward social problems like domestic abuse, children victimized by crime. The legal and political institutions really seem to try to solve problems, rather than give up on them. · The family oriented activities available as well as cultural places. The Constitution Trail is an added asset to the community. · Low crime, good schools, good public library, good children's programming in library, MP300 junior 300 keepers program, strong public employees unions. Our state reps & senator are good listeners--a good bunch of political leaders since we got rid of Gordon Ropp who was worse than Tom Ewing for being stupid and saying ignorant things about his constituents and about foreigners. · It has a rural feeling & basically a friendly town. · Many very nice neighborhoods. · People are really super here. · Mostly safe, affordable family living. · availability of events · Live on the very edge of Normal, like a touch of country; but good access to church, grocery stores, libraries. Services are good: mail delivery, garbage pickup; availability of jobs, medical care; availability of police and fire services. We are blessed. · The ocean waves splashing against my feet. · The people as a whole are always helpful and generous. It is a fairly low stress living environment. · Nice people, nice mix of country and city life. The fairly laid back atmosphere. · Location--2 hours from Chicago, 3 from St. Louis, Indianapolis. · Coming from Chicago--this is a great place to live. · Nice place to live. · It is small enough to have a small-town feeling--people are friendly, and yet it is large enough to offer a wide variety of restaurants, cultural activities and social services. Bloomington-Normal is a nice place to live. · Remains a very good place to raise a family. · Location. · Great location and transportation access, heart of Illinois, easy access to big cities without living there. B-N has feel of big city without the big city problems. People are generally friendly. The 4 seasons--all within a three-day period at times. · It's where I live! · People & work · A fine place to live for 83 years. · The thing I like most is that crime is not a huge problem, although over the years this seems to be changing. I feel this problem in #57 needs to be handled before it turns into a big problem. · Two universities provide opportunities for programs of all types plus sports. · Personally--family is here. Professionally--good job market and I am in a good career position. Religious--many options and opportunities. Family oriented area. Midwestern value system (mostly, but as we grow, it is changing). · The standard of living is very good here. For the most part this is a great place to raise a family. · Lots of things to do. Movies, sports, cultural, hobbies. Support groups like knitting club, sewing club, quilt guild, civic chorale, the band. There are lots and lots of opportunities if you just keep aware. · Lack of traffic. Friendly people. Quiet/rural living while in town. · Cost of living, employment opportunities for younger family members. · People; Education; Great Cycling (Bicycle)

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 95 · My kids are pretty safe here. Not too much traffic congestion, a variety of activities are available, good schools. · Nice middle income community. People here have good moral values. Nice area to raise a family. Location affords many opportunities. · Good central Illinois location; isolated but connected (interstates). · The weather! . . . No, just kidding! 1. Airport (Bloomington) is great. Very convenient, Parking will be a problem, however, with further growth. 2. Quality of life. 3. Golf course availability and price. · Small community with access to many city amenities. · There are lots of activities and restaurants to attend and the people I live around. · Very safe. · Bloomington-Normal is a great place to live and work--very vital. · Any other place we go looks better. · Quality schools, employers, and services--a nice environment to live in. · small-town mentality, familiarity · Safety · Quality education available, low crime, friendly people. · Relatively low cost of living & unemployment rate · Good park & rec. dept. except charge too much for classes and trips. · The mountain and tree removal program seems to have worked well. · Nice school district and a nice neighborhood. A town with the right population, education, environment. · I appreciate the supportive services available for families. Both school districts offer a solid education for children. · Very clean and safe place to live. · I enjoy living here. Many positive things going on. Conservative. Many strong churches. Good schools. Clean town. · Country atmosphere. Recreational opportunities. Cleanliness. It is a great place to live and work. I feel safe and also able to volunteer for community activity. · Big City atmosphere/convenience with ample services, restaurants, shopping yet has the small town feel. · small town atmosphere. · Availability of shops, grocery, numerous types of doctors, specialists, etc. Things to participate in--traveling sports--community theater. Good schools, Friendly people. · Availability of relaxing recreation, etc. Facilities (constitution trail, parks, ISU, neighborhood pride, etc) · Those who live with conservative values. Police response time is quick and efficient. Public works--sanitation, road work, lawns mowed, etc. Use of public parks. · The overall environment is very good, even though there is still a lot of work to be done throughout the county. · It's home; it's clean (no large factories emitting smoke & gas); libraries, higher education in form of JR college, 4 year colleges, private colleges, Youth Build, alternative schools, Mulberry school, Blooming Grove. · safe · ? · Opportunity to do what you want in business, job opportunities, education. Great place to raise a family. · Diverse activities for families low cost/free. Good parks & rec. · family oriented.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 96 · Many low cost, child related activities available for families to participate. · Safe area, civic spirit, schools better than in many parts of the county. · The area is community oriented. A socially even scaled community. Bloomington/Normal provides family entertainment for all cultures and economic backgrounds. · Family and friends. · Very good community to live in. · Path. · Open spaces, transportation, parks, lots of restaurants. · The people, the two universities and what they add to the community, the civic pride in the community, the high level of education held by people of the community. · Zoo, museum, D.D. Mansion, schools, U.S., churches, Consistory, State Farm, Mitsubishi, etc. Parks, groves, farms, small towns, etc., etc. · It's a nice, sleepy little place compared to the noise and crime of the big city, but I love to get away to the entertainment the big cities have to offer. · It contains the town of Normal--which I admire. Great golf courses. Great restaurants. Great air facilities. Great shopping centers. Great schools. Great people. · Safe. · Constitution Trail. · The corn and bean fields--let's keep them!!

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 97 Appendix 2: Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey Methods

A survey was mailed to 418 health and human service providers who offer their services to McLean County residents. The eight-page survey was divided into four sections that requested information about: 1. the organization; 2. the organization’s needs for maintenance, enhancement, and expansion; staffing and training; accessibility; resource sharing; and communication; 3. the organization’s major services or programs; and 4. the challenges and strengths, and gaps and duplications in providing health and human services.

Survey development Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) staff members developed general topic areas for the survey. Topics were discussed and refined with the Research Design Committee. The ASRU incorporated suggestions from the committee in a draft which was discussed in subsequent Research Design and Steering Committee meetings and reviewed individually by committee members.

A personalized cover letter was included with each survey that explained the purpose of the survey, provided instructions for completing and returning it, and encouraged participation. Peter J. Borowski, Chair of the United Way of McLean County Board of Directors, signed the letter. The questions on the survey sent to faith-based and other organizations were the same; however slightly different versions of both the cover letter and introduction to the survey were written for faith-based organizations.

Illinois State University Printing Services printed the surveys; ASRU printed the cover letters.

Mail list The goal was to send a survey to every health and human service provider in McLean County. Criteria for placing organizations on the mailing list included provision of direct services to individuals or families (not other agencies) on a regular basis, health services that were outreach in nature (not regular doctor, clinic, or hospital services), and in most cases, a mailing address within McLean County.

For the purpose of this study, health and human service providers included: · social service agencies, · churches, · support groups, · nursing homes, · outreach health services, · child care facilities (non-profit), · townships, · food banks, · special education programs in primary and secondary school systems, · libraries that offered distinct outreach programs, · external outreach services or programs of post-secondary education institutions, and

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 98 · health, child care, counseling, and disability services provided by Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan Universities.

Health and human service providers not included were: · ambulance services, · fixed fee, independent counselors, · fixed fee, independent employment agencies, · Hearts at Home (because their primary service is an annual conference), · McLean County Emergency and Disaster Agency (because they only provide services in cases of area disasters and not on an individual basis, although individuals are assisted), · organizations that provide only medical screenings or weight loss programs, · post-secondary educational institutions (except as noted above), · regular elementary or secondary schools, · Social Security Administration offices, · subsidized housing organizations, and · thrift shops or food co-ops.

The United Way, PATH, the GTE phone book, and the Faith in Service Council provided listings for faith-based organizations. The PATH Directory provided listings for all other organizations. In addition, twenty-six organizations were included on the mailing list whose main offices are located outside of McLean County. Selected on a case by case basis, out-of-county organizations were included if they offered major services or programs to McLean County residents and, in most cases, if they had no counterpart organization located in McLean County. No support groups located outside of McLean County were included.

Some large organizations had several distinct departments. The ASRU discussed with members of these organizations what would serve best both the organization’s and the project’s needs. As a result, the survey was sent to more than one person or department in some organizations. In cases where more than one survey was sent to an organization, a memo was sent with each survey telling who else within the organization was receiving a survey to avoid duplication of work and information.

In three cases, the contact person was the same for two organizations. A memo was included to those three people suggesting they ask another qualified person to fill out one of the surveys.

Survey administration Four hundred and eighteen (418) Health and Human Service Providers’ surveys with cover letters were mailed in June and July 1999. Two methods were used to follow up with organizations that had not returned surveys after the due date. On July 21, 299 postcards were mailed as reminders. Then, phone calls were made in September to all townships and social service agencies that had not returned surveys. Messages were left if the contact person was not available. New surveys were mailed to each of 60 organizations that indicated they misplaced or never received the survey.

Of the 418 organizations sent a survey, three organizations no longer existed, one was no longer established in the area, and five had a change of address that could not be traced. In addition, eight surveys were sent to organizations that were sub-divisions of another organization. Thus, surveys were sent to 401 eligible organizations.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 99 Response rate The following table summarizes the surveys sent out, returned, and used. Total Total valid Total Percent Total Organizations sent sent returned returned used agency 102 95 45 47% 43 child care 9 9 5 56% 5 children/youth 21 20 15 75% 14 faith-based 133 131 15 11% 14 college related 7 7 0 0% 0 food provider 5 5 1 20% 1 health 77 74 29 39% 29 support group 48 44 9 20% 9 township government 16 16 11 69% 8 TOTAL 418 401 130 32 % 123

Data entry and analysis Seven of the 130 surveys completed surveys were not used for the following reasons: · one agency listed only programs offered to other agencies, not individuals; · one agency filled out only the first page of the survey; · one church was not located in McLean County; · one special education department did not address the needs of special education students on the survey; and · three townships indicated offering only road maintenance or related services.

Three of the 14 faith-based organizations whose surveys were used listed their regular church services under the program section but did not list a health and human service program. However, from written comments in the survey, it was evident these churches did offer some health and human services such as financial assistance or a food bank. Organizational but not program data were used from these three churches.

The ASRU staff coded the 123 usable surveys and entered quantitative data in Microsoft Excel. Staff analyzed data in SPSS (a statistical computing software package), computing frequencies for each quantitative variable and for cross-tabulations for selected variables. The ASRU staff entered qualitative data in Microsoft Access and categorized the written comments for analysis.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 100 Appendix 3: Focus group methods

The Assessment 2000 project utilized focus groups—facilitated small group discussions on a particular topic—to collect information from a broad range of community members, health and human service providers and consumers, and other professionals involved with community planning and development. Focus groups, most notably used for market research, increasingly are used in community settings as a research, planning, and/or development tool. There are several advantages for using focus group discussions as a research activity. Focus groups can supplement knowledge gained from surveys, allow facilitators to ask questions that can’t be easily asked or answered in a written survey, and provide opportunity for follow-up questions to gain more in depth information. Focus group participants may be stimulated by and can build upon other participants’ comments. Finally, focus groups can ensure inclusion of people with particular characteristics or experiences— people that may be overlooked in a general survey of a population.

Focus group development The Assessment 2000 project committees identified individuals and networks of individuals from whom to seek input through the project. From this list and the project information objectives, the Applied Social Research Unit drafted composition of focus groups and the issues to be addressed by each group. Project committees and ASRU staff identified participants for each group. A contact person was also identified for most groups to assist with focus group development. Contacts, typically a member of the network for which the focus group was being composed, suggested appropriate individuals, venues, days, times, and incentives for groups.

For most groups, project staff invited participants with a letter that briefly described the project, the focus group composition and topics for discussion, the date, time, and place for the meeting, and the incentive offered to participants. Focus group incentives included one or more of the following: a meal, refreshments, cash incentive, or a Wal-mart gift certificate. Project staff called participants to confirm their attendance at the scheduled meeting. In some instances, contacts coordinated invitation of participants to the focus group. For one focus group, an ASRU staff member verbally announced the focus group meeting and invited participation.

Meetings were held at various locations throughout Bloomington-Normal including: Bloomington City Hall, Bloomington High School, City of Bloomington Public Library, East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, Western Avenue Community Center, Life-Cil, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, St. John's Lutheran Church, The Baby Fold, the Regional Office of Education, the United Way of McLean County, and Wood Hill Towers. One group was held at Gridley High School. Each focus group lasted for approximately 1 to 1½ hours. The following table lists each focus group with the number of people who were invited and the number who participated.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 101 Focus Group Number Invitees Number Participants #1: People Experiencing open announcement at Home Sweet 9 Homelessness Home Mission #2: Public Housing Residents approximately 100 4 #3: Advocates for Diversity and 17 7 Human Rights #4: Hispanic Community Members contact invited participants 20 #5: Persons with Disabilities contact invited members of two 19 disabilities groups #6: Faith-Based Community 25 9 #7: Urban High School Youth Bloomington H.S. social studies class 23 #8: Rural High School Youth Gridley H.S. consumer education 26 class #9: Family Members Discussing contact invited participants 9 Child Welfare and Family Issues #10: Youth Advocates 20 9 #11: Senior Advocates 18 8 #12: Social Service Providers 14 10 #13: Health Care Providers 17 7 #14: Domestic Violence Survivors contact invited participants 5 #15: Early Childhood Advocates 16 14 #16: Educators 32 9 #17: Rural Service Providers 18 6 #18: Employers 31 7 #19: Criminal Justice 16 9 Providers/Advocates #20: Persons with Mental Health several contacts invited participants 5 Problems and Their Family Members Total Invitations and Participants over 400 invited 215 participants

Bloomington Housing Authority and ASRU staff members worked together to plan the public housing residents focus group meeting to be held at the Lawrence Irvin Neighborhood Center (LINC Center). With the approval of the Resident’s Association president, an ASRU staff member delivered focus group invitations to approximately 100 residents of Sunnyside Courts. Three residents called the ASRU to reserve their places at the focus group. No residents attended the scheduled meeting. As an alternative to this focus group, an ASRU staff member held a meeting with Wood Hill Towers’ residents. A Wood Hill Towers Resident’s Council member invited participants to this meeting. Four people attended the meeting.

Staff of the Children’s Foundation and ASRU worked together to plan the child welfare and family issues group to be held at the Children’s Foundation. The focus group was not held due to unavailability and/or disinterest of potential participants to attend. A second meeting was scheduled with assistance of Healthy Start staff at The Baby Fold in planning and inviting participants for the group. This meeting was conducted.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 102 The employers’ focus group, meant to discuss employee attraction and retention issues, was cancelled due to potential participants’ unavailability and/or disinterest to attend the scheduled meeting. This focus group was not rescheduled. To gain employers’ perspectives, an ASRU staff member talked individually to several employers who had been invited to the focus group. This staff member also attended a job fair at the Illinois Employment and Training Center to talk with several other employers. Notes from these conversations are summarized with the other focus group notes following this methodology section.

Focus group administration Focus group discussions provided an opportunity for participants to respond to broad open-ended questions and elicited qualitative information to aid interpretation of survey results. Professional ASRU staff members facilitated focus groups. Also, an ASRU staff member attended each group to take notes, run the taperecorder, and assist with set-up and clean-up. A social service professional assisted with the group with survivors of domestic violence. In some groups, a third person (either ASRU or United Way of McLean County staff) attended as an observer. In focus groups in high school classes, a team of facilitators led small group discussions occurring simultaneously.

The content of focus group discussions changed depending on the participants involved. Generally, each focus group followed this agenda: · Introductions · Discussion Guidelines · Brief Description Assessment 2000 Project · Discussion Questions · Conclusion and Thanks

To begin each meeting, the lead facilitator briefly introduced himself or herself, other Assessment 2000 project staff, and the agenda and asked participants to introduce themselves. The facilitator then presented the following focus group discussion guidelines: · Confidentiality—in Assessment 2000 reporting, there will be no association of individual participants with any information or quotation. Also, the facilitator asked each participant not to associate other individuals’ names with comments they make in the focus group. · Tape recorder will be used to maintain an accurate record of what has been said in the focus group; recordings will not be used to identify individual speakers. Recordings will be destroyed after one year. · Opportunity for each person to participate—everyone contributes; nobody dominates; one person talks at a time; no side conversations. · Primary focus is on the future versus focus on past events.

The facilitator described the Assessment 2000 project purpose and activities and how the focus group fits into project research. Each participant received a one-page project description. The facilitator then introduced the discussion questions and the format for addressing each question. In some groups, participants worked in small groups to discuss a question. Participants then reported on small group discussions to the full group. Participants also addressed questions individually. In a few groups, participants voted on the issues of greatest importance to them.

Specific questions varied from group to group slightly. Generally, questions were asked to elicit the following types of information: · strengths of the health and human services system; · challenges of providing health and human services; · met and unmet service needs of McLean County residents;

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 103 · existing resources (e.g., formal or informal resources, under-recognized or under-utilized) that could be used to address unmet needs; · ways in which resources could be used effectively and in news ways; · relationship between various categories of community organizations, e.g., churches, schools, businesses, and social service agencies; · best ways to communicate service availability to community organizations and County residents; and · recommendations for improving health and human service provision in McLean County.

At the conclusion of each group, the facilitator told participants that the Assessment 2000 report would be available after January 2000 and that interested participants should contact the Applied Social Research Unit or the United Way of McLean County. Finally, the facilitator thanked participants for their participation and invited them to write additional comments, suggestions, etc., on index cards or speak to facilitators directly with any further input.

Focus group summary and analysis At the conclusion of each focus group, the notetaker for that group completed a short summary of the information participants provided. Six ASRU staff members served as notetakers for one or more focus groups. Organization of summaries varied with notetaker, the questions participants addressed, and focus group dynamics.

To analyze focus groups, an ASRU member examined each focus group summary for consistent and unique themes. Each theme was listed with the focus group number that addressed the theme. This analysis enabled all ASRU staff to utilize focus group summaries efficiently and effectively when analyzing information from other project activities and when writing Assessment 2000 reports. Broad themes emerging from two or more focus groups include issues concerned with: · Categorical funding and eligibility criteria · Child care and welfare · Coordination of services · Criminal justice · Disability · Education and training · Employment and job skills training · Health care · Housing and homelessness · Income, poverty, and financial management · Informal assistance · Information provision and sharing · Mental health and substance abuse · Religious issues and organizations · Rural services and issues · Senior services · Service provision (general) and workers · Transportation · Volunteering and volunteers · Youth issues and services

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 104 Appendix 4: Key Informant Interview Methods

The Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) utilized structured key informant interviews in Assessment 2000 project research. For Assessment 2000, a key informant is: · in a position of leadership in the County, a community, an agency, or other organization; · an informal leader or service provider within a community; · an expert in a particular field or has had a particular experience of living in the County; or · a long-time resident of the County.

These individuals answered questions about health and human service provision in McLean County and made suggestions for improving health and human services. The ASRU utilized information gained from key informants to support interpretation of other research findings and inform development of conclusions and recommendations.

Key Informant Development, Scheduling, and Interviewing Assessment 2000 project committees and the ASRU identified a list of individuals for potential key informant interviews and developed a guide for structuring interviews. The final list of key informants included persons representing various community, service, and business sectors. The categories of key informants and the number of interviews conducted within each category are in the following table.

Number Categories of Key Informants of Key Informants Churches 3 Community and economic planning and development 3 Government (City, Town, Township, County, State, and Federal) 9 Health care 5 Consolidated Plan (housing, public housing, and homelessness 28 issues) Media 3 Neighborhood associations 2 Social services and education 14 Trades and labor 1 Other selected community leaders and residents 6 Total Number of Key Informants 74

Four ASRU staff members conducted key informant interviews. Each interviewer scheduled his or her own interviews. When inviting individuals to participate in an interview, interviewers generally described the project and the reason(s) for selecting the individual for an interview. Interviewers provided most key informants with a copy of the interview guide and a one-page project description to allow the individual to prepare for the meeting. The ASRU staff informed key informants that their comments would not be associated with them in project reporting. Key informants indicated a convenient place to them for the interview. Most interviews lasted about one hour.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 105 The ASRU interviewers began each meeting by asking for information about the key informant’s job title and responsibilities or other relevant personal information. The interviewer then used the following questions to structure the interview: · Meaning of “health and human services in McLean County?” · Overall, how well does McLean County's health and human service delivery system work? · What are the strengths of McLean County's health and human service delivery system? Why? · What are the weaknesses of McLean County's health and human service delivery system? Why? · How has provision of health and human services in McLean County changed during the past five years? · What trends do you observe in provision of health and human services in McLean County? · Can you identify gaps or duplications in health and human service provision in McLean County? · Can you identify barriers to access and/or utilization of health and human services in McLean County? · Can you identify under-used or un-recognized resources for health and human service provision in McLean County? · How could health and human service delivery in McLean County be improved?

The ASRU staff varied interview questions depending on the key informant’s position or role in the health and human services system or the community and his or her responses to questions during the interview. Interviewers encouraged key informants to provided examples and suggest other relevant questions or topics not addressed by the guide or in the interview.

Key informant summary and analysis Each interviewer summarized his or her notes for each interview. Each ASRU staff member utilized key informant interview summaries to help interpret data elicited by other project research activities. To ensure confidentiality of responses, neither individual key informant interview summaries nor names of specific informants are provided.

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 106 Appendix 5: Assessment 2000 and Consolidated Plan Participants

In all, more than 2,000 McLean County residents participated directly in the Assessment 2000 project and the related Consolidated Plan development. Thus, Assessment 2000 and the Consolidated Plan truly reflect the efforts and achievements of County residents; the research process itself is one of its products. The Assessment 2000 project and Consolidated Plan development depended on project funders and developers, research participants, and other contributors. Thanks go to: · Project funders and members of the Steering Committee, Research Design Committee, Communications Committee, and the Project Development Committee; · 1,594 McLean County residents who completed household surveys; · 74 County residents, health and human service providers, clergy, government officials, community developers, and others who served as key informants; · 215 County residents and health and human service providers who served as focus group participants; · 123 Health and human service providers who completed a survey about their organizations and programs; · Organizations who contributed space for meetings, staff expertise for planning research activities, public data and local reports to inform research, and printing for reports; and · Professional research team members who served as consultants on project committees, implemented project activities, compiled and analyzed project information, and wrote project reports.

Staff of the following organizations participated directly in the Assessment 2000 project and Consolidated Plan development in some way; many more organizations were invited to participate. Individual departments of the same organization are not listed. Some organizations and individuals are not listed specifically to honor their request not to be identified or to ensure confidentiality of their responses. The Applied Social Research Unit apologizes for any contributor inadvertently overlooked when compiling this list of contributing organizations.

ABC Unlimited AIDS Task Force Alzheimer's Association American Civil Liberties Union, Central Illinois Chapter American Diabetes Association American Red Cross Anchor Township AVERT (Accused Violators Early Response Team) Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly Bloomington High School Bloomington Housing Authority Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System Bloomington Public Library Blue Mound Township Boy Scouts of America

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 107 Boynton Mennonite Church Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal BroMenn Healthcare Carle Center for Rural Health & Farm Safety Carlock Christian Church Catholic Social Services Central Illinois Mended Hearts Centrillio Council of Girl Scouts Channel 31 Chenoa Township Chestnut Health Systems Child Care Resource and Referral Network Children's Foundation Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Circuit Breaker Program City of Bloomington Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities Colene Hoose Elementary School College Avenue Baptist Church Community Care Systems, Inc. Community Health Care Clinic Community Services for the Visually Impaired Conflict Resolution Team Connections Community Center COP/POV (Creation of Peace/Prevention of Violence) Cornerstone Youth Centre Crimestoppers of McLean County Danvers Emergency and Rescue Service Day Care Center of McLean County Department of Human Services DeWitt-Livingston-McLean Regional Alternative Program District 87 Schools (Sheridan, Irving, Bent) Dry Grove Township East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging Easter Seals-UCP Eastview Christian Church Echelmann-Taylor Hearing & Speech Clinic Ecology Action Center Empire Township Employers (7 employers not listed here participated in interviews) Olympia School District First Baptist Church of Normal First Presbyterian Church First United Methodist Church For Children's Sake Fragile X Syndrome Group GED/Adult Literacy Program Governmental entities (State, County, City, Town, and Village) Green Thumb Inc. Gridley High School Habitat for Humanity

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 108 Heartland Community Church Heartland Community College Heartland Head Start Heritage Manor Home Sweet Home Mission Homes Through Hearts Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery Illinois Migrant Council Illinois Network CCRRN (Child Care Resource and Referral Network) Agencies Illinois State University Job Connection Joy Full Gospel Community Church Judson Baptist Fellowship Kids Club West Lawndale Township League of Women Voters LeRoy Christian Church LeRoy Elementary School LeRoy Emergency Ambulance Service Lexington Family Child Care Association Lexington Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Lexington Police LIFE-CIL Lions of Illinois Foundation MARC Center McLean County Apartment Association McLean County Center for Human Services McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development McLean County Child Protection Network, Children’s Advocacy Center McLean County Department of Court Services McLean County Health Department McLean County Regional Planning Commission Mennonite Church of Normal Mid-Central Community Action Ministry of Criminal Justice Mobile Meals Moms, Inc. Morningstar United Methodist Church Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Nanny Agency Neighborhood Associations (2) Neville House Normal Community West High School Normal Human Relations Commission Normal Public Library Normal Township North Danvers Mennonite Church North Pointe Elementary School Oakland Elementary School Office of Rehabilitation Services Old Town Township

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 109 Olympia Middle School OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Our Saviour Lutheran Church ELCA Pantagraph Parent Infant Connection Partners in Parenting/Even Start Program PATH (Providing Access to Help) Peace Meal PFLAG (Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians And Gays) Planned Parenthood Prairie State Legal Services Project Oz Realty companies Regional Office of Education Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints S.C.O.R.E.S. Salvation Army Sarah Raymond School Scott Health Resources Center Section 8 (subsidized housing) apartment managers 710 Front House SHOW Bus, Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community St. John's Lutheran Church St. Matthew's Episcopal Church St. Vincent De Paul Society–Food Pantry State Farm Insurance Companies States Attorney Office The Baby Fold THEOS (They Help Each Other Spiritually) Toenail Lady Town of Normal Town of the City of Bloomington (Township) Tri-County Special Education Association Uniquely Bloomington! Unit 5 School District Unitarian Church of Bloomington United Methodist Church of Ellsworth United Ostomy Association United Way of McLean County United Workforce Development Board Unity Church of Bloomington-Normal Union Missionary Baptist Church University of Illinois Extension Service, McLean County Veteran's Assistance Commission Western Avenue Community Center WJBC Yates Township YMCA of Bloomington-Normal Youth Impact YouthBuild McLean County YWCA of McLean County

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 110 Appendix 6: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Summary Report

Town of Normal Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 111 ASSESSMENT 2000

Gridley Meadows Chenoa Weston

ClarksvilleLexington

Pleasant Hill Hudson Cropsey Carlock Towanda Colfax Anchor Cooksville Danvers Kerrick Yuton Fletcher Normal Merna Barnes Bloomington Bentown Stanford Covell Holder Ellsworth Arrowsmith Shirley Gillum Saybrook Downs Funks Randolph Grove LeRoy Sabina Glenavon Bellflower McLean Heyworth Kumler Weedman Osman

Health &

Produced for Assessment 2000 Funders Human mclean county Services in assessment 2000 Help your neighbors, help yourself. McLean Produced by County Applied Social Research Unit Illinois State University

Summary Report, January 2000 Report Copies and Project Information

You can access this Summary Report at the Applied Social Research Unit’s Website at http:// www.socialresearch.ilstu.edu. At this Website, go to “Publications and Project Reports.” To obtain bound copies of this report or information about future project activities, contact the:

United Way of McLean County 201 E. Grove, Suite 100 Bloomington, IL 61702 (309) 828-7383

In addition to this Summary Report, report appendices have been produced for the United Way of McLean County and funding partners. Appendices provide detailed information about methods and findings for individual research activities. To view a copy of the Final Report (Summary Report with appendices), please visit the Applied Social Research Unit’s Website or contact the United Way of McLean County.

Health and Human Services in McLean County i Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary 1 What is Assessment 2000?1 Research activities 1 McLean County residents say . . . 2 Conclusions 7 Recommendations 8

2. Acknowledgements 11 Assessment 2000 Funders 11 Steering Committee 11 Research Design Committee 12 Communications Committee 12 Project Development Committee 12 Contributors 13 Applied Social Research Unit 13

3. Introduction: Assessing Health and Human Services in McLean County 15 Research approach 15 Research activities 16 Report structure 17

4. McLean County Profile 19 Population 19 Age 22 Race and ethnicity 24 Households and families 24 Educational attainment 25

5. Needs and Resources 27 Introduction 27 Research activities and methods 27 Profile of health and human service provision 35 Overall strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities 36 Income and poverty 41 Housing and homelessness 44 Employment 53 Transportation 59

ii Assessment 2000: Table of Contents

Health and health care 63 Child care and family support 69 Youth issues and services 75 Senior services 81 People with disabilities 86 Abuse and neglect 90 Criminal justice 93

6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services 99 Main challenges to providing and accessing services 99 Staffing, training, and operations 100 Funding decisions and categorical eligibility 106 Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs 107 Information provision and sharing 113

7. Best Practices and Models 117 Communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration 117 Making it happen 120 Additional resources for best practices and models 124

8. Conclusions and Recommendations 127 Facing the new century 127 Recommendations 128

Bibliography 131

Health and Human Services in McLean County iii Table of Figures

4.1: Population Counts, Estimates, and Changes for McLean County and Its Communities, 1980 to 2010 20

4.2: 1998 Estimated Population Counts and Percent of Total Population for McLean County and Its Communities 21

4.3: Percent Increase in Population by Age in McLean County, 1990 to 2020 (Projected) 22

4.4: Population by Age in McLean County, 1990 to 2020 (Projected) 23

4.5: Percent of High School Dropouts by Race, 1990 to 1997 26

5.1: Top Ten Qualities Residents Like Most About McLean County (n=1,071)1 37

5.2: Top Ten Concerns Residents Have About McLean County (n=1,056) 38

5.3: Top Ten Issues Residents Rate as “Serious” or “Very Serious” Problems in McLean County (n varies) 39

5.4: Percent of Households by Income Categories 41

5.5: Percent of Owners and Renters by Age Groups 45

5.6: Percent of Homes Sold by Price Range in Bloomington-Normal, 1998 46

5.7: Average Monthly Rent of Apartments by Area and Number of Bedrooms 47

5.8: Percent of Income Going Toward Housing by Income Range 48

5.9: Number Employed by Industry in McLean County, 1990 and 2005 (Projected) 54

5.10: Number Employed and Average Annual Pay of the Top 20 Occupations Contributing the Most to the McLean County Economy 55

1 The “n,” when used in this report, refers to the number of survey respondents. In one case, the “n” refers to the number of service provider sites. iv Assessment 2000: Table of Figures

5.11: Population by Age in McLean County for 0 to 4- and 5 to 9-Year-Olds, 1990 to 2020 70

5.12: Percent of McLean County’s School-Age Children (Kindergarten Through Grade 12) Living in Poverty by School District 71

5.13: Percent of Households Finding it “Difficult” or “Very Difficult” to Find Child Care 73

5.14: Average Number of Annual Referrals to Juvenile Court Services by Age and Sex, 1995 to 1998 78

5.15: Average Annual Number of Persons Aged 5 to 17 Living in Police Jurisdictions and Percent of Those Persons Referred to Juvenile Court Services, 1995 to 1998 79

5.16: Percent of Females and Males in Senior Age Groups 81

5.17: Crime Rate per 100,000 for McLean County, State of Illinois, and Illinois MSAs, 1995 to 1998 94

5.18: Number of Crimes Convicted by Type and Year in McLean County, 1996 to 1998 95

6.1 Health and Human Service Providers’ Greatest Challenges in Providing Services or Programs (n=122) 100

6.2 Health and Human Service Related Occupations with the Most Average Annual Openings in McLean County, Projected 1992 to 2005 102

6.3 Percent of Service Providers’ Sites Open During Specific Time Periods (n=188) 105

6.4 Percent of Service Providers Sharing Resources 110

6.5 Resources Needed to Maintain Services 111

6.6 Resources Needed to Enhance or Expand Services 112

Health and Human Services in McLean County v Assessment 2000: 1 Executive Summary

In 1999, McLean County organizations including local government, What is trades and labor, health and human services, and the United Way Assessment 2000? of McLean County commissioned the Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) of Illinois State University to conduct research assessing resources and needs for health and human services in the County. This research, entitled Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County, has been designed and implemented with broad and ongoing participation from County leaders and service providers. Extending and enhancing information collected for the first county-wide needs assessment, Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs (1995), the As- sessment 2000 project employs a holistic approach that recognizes a wide range of factors contribut- ing to the health and well-being of McLean County residents and their communities.

The general goal of Assessment 2000 is to support planning of health and human services for County residents in the near future (5 to 10 years). Specific and related goals of the project are to support development of the Consolidated Plans qualifying Bloomington and Normal for Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funding in 2000.

The focus of Assessment 2000 research was defined very broadly to include health care and tradi- tional social services provided to special populations in McLean County. These populations include, but are not confined to, low-income residents, people with disabilities, at-risk families and individu- als, and others facing special challenges in attaining a good quality of life. Although services offered to the entire population, such as public education and primary, specialist, and hospital medical care provided to people with insurance coverage, were beyond the scope of the Assessment 2000 project, providers and consumers of those services contributed information that enriched researchers’ under- standing of community needs and resources.

Assessment 2000 concerns the entire population and geographical area of McLean County. Although health and human services, along with many other resources, are concentrated in Bloomington-Nor- mal, more than one-quarter of the County’s population lives outside of the urban center. Rural McLean County residents have the same needs as their urban neighbors, but encounter special challenges in meeting these needs. In its research plan, reporting, and conclusions, Assessment 2000 considers both rural and urban needs, resources, and strategies.

Assessment 2000 used a mixed research approach that incorporated Research activities quantitative and qualitative methods to build a picture of McLean County’s resources and needs for health and human services and to identify opportunities for service provision in the future. Research activities included: • Review of public data collected by government agencies and local reports, directories, and plan- ning documents; • A randomized survey of 6,000 McLean County households yielding 1,594 responses; • A comprehensive survey of organizations providing health and human services to McLean County residents yielding 123 responses;

Health and Human Services in McLean County 1 1. Executive Summary

• 19 focus groups representing a wide range of issues, client populations, and service providers associated with health and human services in McLean County; • 74 key informant interviews of County leaders, service providers, and residents representing a range of perspectives, interests, and expertise; and • Review of best practice and models literature focusing on current issues affecting McLean County’s health and human service system.

In all, approximately 2,000 McLean County residents participated McLean County directly in the Assessment 2000 project. They worked as profes- residents say . . . sional researchers and committee members, filled out survey in- struments, participated in focus groups or interviews, and responded to data requests. They provided most of the information included in the Assessment 2000 Summary and Final Reports and informed development of conclusions and recommendations. Thus, Assessment 2000 truly reflects the efforts and perspectives of County residents.

Assessment 2000 research gathered information about resources and challenges associated with twelve specific topics. Detailed findings and sources are provided in the Assessment 2000 Summary and Final Reports.1.1 Highlights from research findings appear below.

Income and poverty Challenges Resources Large number of low-income individuals and Wealthy County with plenty of resources to families who have difficulty affording basic share. necessities (e.g., housing, transportation, child care, health care). "Invisibility" of the poor in a prosperous The energy and experience of low-income community. people that could be harnessed to plan and implement a range of projects and services. Potential media focus on issues and challenges surrounding the income gap in the County. Eligibility criteria for support programs that County identification and prioritization of keep low-income workers from accessing needs and allocation of local funds to meet needed services. needs not covered by categorical programs. Low-wage workers' needs for higher wages. Adult education and training programs matched to employers' needs for skilled workers.

1.1 Copies of reports may be obtained from the United Way of McLean County (201 E. Grove, Suite 100, Bloomington, IL 61702, (309) 828-7383) or the Website of the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, http://www.socialresearch.ilstu.edu.

2 Assessment 2000: 1. Executive Summary

Housing and homelessness Challenges Resources Lack of affordable housing for low-income Large number of buildings in older families and individuals. neighborhoods that could be renovated. Potential to devise incentives for developers to build affordable housing. Need for case management services for people University programs needing internship in subsidized housing complexes. opportunities for students. More difficulty housing homeless families than Agency plans for transitional and permanent individuals. housing for McLean County's homeless. Difficulty providing housing and services for Religious and other community organizations. homeless youth under age 18.

Employment Challenges Resources Need more workers to fill jobs of all kinds in Potential workers to be recruited from non- the County. traditional sources (homemakers, older adults, persons with disabilities, ex-offenders, etc.). Need for job readiness and work skills training. Wide range of educational and training providers in McLean County. Potentially unlimited supply of mentors for new workers. Need for employment support services (e.g., Employers, service providers, and workers transportation, child care, access to family can collaborate to provide some services. support services). Employers can develop family-friendly- policies and work environments.

Transportation Challenges Resources Need for expanded public transportation Collaborative project development activities services (e.g., after 6 p.m. and on Sundays; in involving participation of service providers, developing areas surrounding Bloomington- employers, County leaders, and consumers. Normal; and in rural areas). Transportation providers require additional Potential for tax-based support for expanding staff, operating funds, and vehicles. public transportation. Development planning that assumes access to Opportunity to raise public awareness of an automobile. needs of County residents including young, disabled, elderly, and low-income for affordable, accessible, efficient public transportation.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 3 1. Executive Summary

Health and health care Challenges Resources Many un- and under-insured County residents. Some providers offering care on sliding fee scale. Lack of certain types of mental health services. Potential for collaboration on the part of current health and human service providers. Some providers unwilling to accept Medicaid Potential to raise awareness of providers and and Medicare. community about issues associated with access to health care. Difficulty attracting and retaining well-trained Non-traditional types of potential workers. reliable staff. Potential of developing incentives and attractive work environments.

Child care and family support Challenges Resources Obtaining child care for 2nd or 3rd shift, care for Large number and range of local child care a disabled or sick child, and back-up child care. providers. Challenge for many low-income families of Collaborative projects involving parents, child paying the high cost of child care. care providers, and other types of residents (e.g., educators, social service providers, employers). Widespread need for family support services Existing programs that could be expanded. focused on prevention. Fragmented service delivery system and Willingness of local service providers to work categorical eligibility. together.

Youth issues and services Challenges Resources Teens dropping out of high school. Alternative educational programming. Collaboration between human service providers and schools. Lack of youth access to many services because Range of providers offering services to young of dependent legal status. people. Potential for collaboration with religious and other community organizations. Negative views of young people. Potential to integrate young people in planning and implementation of community programs and services. Media recognition of youth contributions to communities.

4 Assessment 2000: 1. Executive Summary

Senior services Challenges Resources Need for volunteers for elder support services. Potential for greater recruitment and coordination of retired people and other County residents as volunteers. Need for outreach to seniors in rural areas. Creative use of information technologies. Opportunity to develop mobile services. Affordable assisted living facilities. Housing developers and community development planners. Need for more well-trained reliable home care Opportunity to create flexible, family- providers. friendly, supportive working conditions.

People with disabilities Challenges Resources Need for transportation, including volunteer McLean County volunteers. Interagency drivers, transportation for rural clients, evening collaboration. Media outlets to raise and Sunday transportation, and door-to-door awareness of needs and existing resources. and through-the-door transportation for non- emergency medical appointments. Affordable, accessible, housing. Opportunity to include the needs of the disabled in planning for the development of affordable housing of all kinds. Need for more jobs for people with disabilities. Employers who have increasing needs for all types of workers. Need for day care, developmental preschool, Potential for collaboration among health and physical therapy, occupational therapy, and in- human service providers. home respite care for children with disabilities.

Abuse and neglect Challenges Resources Comparatively high rates of child abuse and Service providers and community leaders neglect in McLean County. focused on both prevention and response. Lack of awareness among schoolteachers about Teachers' commitment to students. mandated reporting responsibilities. Professionals prepared to provide information and training. Perception of "punishing the victim" of Organizations and professionals that deal with domestic violence. victims. Training for current staff. Specialist staff members. Need for rapid response to offense—expedited Interagency project planning and prosecution, counseling services in jail, etc. collaboration.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 5 1. Executive Summary

Criminal justice Challenges Resources Prison overcrowding. Alternative ways of managing accused offenders who cannot pay bail and punishing convicted offenders. Concern about equity of police treatment of Communication between residents and law youth and members of racial and ethnic enforcement personnel. Potential to raise minorities. public awareness of issue and solutions. Need for support services for ex-offenders. Information about programs that have succeeded in other communities. Potential collaboration among a wide range of community organizations (e.g., educational institutions, religious organizations, law enforcement organizations, employers). High crime neighborhoods. Collaboration of residents and law enforcement personnel.

Organization and management of health and human services Challenges Resources Need for additional operating funds. Wealthy County. Many health and human services. Difficulty recruiting and retaining staff and Expert and experienced staff. County volunteers. residents. Potential for increased partnerships with County educational institutions. Enhanced communication among providers Willingness to share resources and and between providers, County organizations, information. Existing referral organizations. and the public. Need for up-to-date computers, training, and Strong community technology base. technical support.

6 Assessment 2000: 1. Executive Summary

McLean County is rich in many ways. It enjoys a strong industrial, Conclusions employment, and economic base. It has abundant amenities and services. Its people share a diverse wealth of intelligence, experi- ence, skills, spiritual strength, and good will. Its many health care and social agencies offer a wide range of programs and services. McLean County has more than enough of everything necessary to support the needy, empower the powerless, include the marginalized, and develop innovative ap- proaches to challenges. Its leaders, service providers, and residents are in the enviable position of merely having to agree on the health and human service goals they wish to achieve and combine their considerable resources and energies to accomplish these goals.

The greatest challenge for McLean County’s health and human service delivery system during the early years of the 21st century is working poverty. Despite general prosperity, many employed County residents earn too little to afford the rising cost of living in the County. This combination of low incomes and high costs creates problems for which people need help. Yet, their earnings often make them ineligible for categorically funded support programs. By providing affordable housing, public transportation, child care, health care, education, and counseling, communities and service providers will help to reduce job loss, crime, abuse and neglect, substance abuse, and a variety of physical and mental illnesses. Low-income workers are an unrecognized and under-utilized resource. By spend- ing their wages in the County’s economy, they already make a large contribution. They are active members of religious and community organizations. Rather than being regarded as a needy and passive service-consuming population, their energies should be harnessed to plan and develop the amenities and services they will use. The resulting increase in quality of life will enable low-income workers to become more productive and involved in community activities, thus benefiting County residents overall.

Another continuing challenge for McLean County’s health and human service delivery system is providing services to rural residents. Service organizations are concentrated in Bloomington-Nor- mal. Rural residents perceive that service organizations, including the United Way, focus attention on urban programs and clients and devote little interest or energy to rural needs. A variety of strate- gies including outreach, mobile facilities, and use of computer and Internet technologies for commu- nication and service provision could be used to improve services to rural parts of McLean County.

Finally, McLean County’s health and human service system faces the challenge of maintaining ele- ments of the system that are strong and effective, jettisoning elements that have outlived their useful- ness, and incorporating new organizations and approaches to service provision. Assessment 2000 project participants have been most generous with their praise for new collaborative projects (e.g., the Community Health Care Clinic, the Cancer Treatment Center, the Healthy Start program) that have been designed to address specific community needs. The lesson to be learned is that planning for health and human services must be driven by needs of residents, rather than by the existence of longstanding programs and service organizations. Where possible and appropriate, planning should be collaborative and involve participation of funders, service providers, and service consumers. Lo- cal allocation of funds should also be driven by this type of planning, and should encourage and facilitate development of innovative approaches to design and delivery of services. Funded programs should be evaluated on a regular basis—if possible, by an external evaluator—to determine whether programs are meeting their objectives and to identify elements of best practice. To facilitate funding decisions and evaluation, appropriate and comparable program data should be collected and main- tained.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 7 1. Executive Summary

Information emerging from research activities suggests the follow- Recommendations ing recommendations for improvement and enhancement of health and human services in McLean County: • Improve information provision and communication among service providers and between ser- vice providers and residents. This could be done by: √ Co-housing information and services; √ Establishing and maintaining a health and human services Website providing complete and up-to-date information about services, eligibility requirements, and current availability of resources; and √ Developing an interagency information system to aid data collection and client-tracking.

• Improve attraction, retention, and support of health and human service workers. This could be done by: √ Raising wages; √ Offering flexible, family-friendly working conditions; and √ Providing on-going training and as-needed professional support.

• Provide up-to-date computer equipment, software, and technical support for health and human service organizations. This could be done by: √ Local business donations of new computers, software, and peripheral devices; √ Development of a network of technical support professionals available to service-providing organizations on an “on-call” basis. √ Creation of a full-time technical support position collaboratively funded and used by health and human service organizations.

• Incorporate consideration of health and human service needs in community development plan- ning by: √ Addressing needs for affordable housing, public transportation, family support services, and recreation in plans for new housing developments, revitalization of older neighborhoods, and downtown redevelopment.

• Fill gaps in provision of mental health services including: √ Psychiatric care and non-emergency counseling for children and adolescents; √ Coordinated mental health care for older adults between hospital, home, and nursing home; √ Care for people who suffer from both mental illnesses and substance abuse; and √ Medical detoxification for uninsured people.

8 Assessment 2000: 1. Executive Summary

• Improve prevention and support services for youth. This could be done by: √ Developing a collaborative holistic approach involving schools, churches, and social agen- cies to identify young people with one or more risk factors (e.g., low income, single-parent households, family violence, substance abuse) and providing as-needed support; √ Enhancing community support for young people who are already in trouble and lack access to formal services due to their dependent legal status; √ Reducing the number of high school dropouts by improving support in schools and enhanc- ing alternatives to traditional education; and √ Reducing youth alienation by greater community recognition of the contributions young people make and deliberate inclusion of young people in community planning and service activities.

• Enhance workforce development and support. This could be done by: √ Developing community-based affordable health insurance; √ Enhancing adult education and training to meet employers’ needs for skilled workers and residents’ needs for good jobs; √ Developing imaginative and flexible solutions to transportation and child care challenges; and √ Enhancing partnerships between health and human service organizations and local employ- ers to provide information and services in the workplace, identify workers in need of ser- vices, and facilitate workers’ access to services.

• Enhance information links and collaboration between health and human service organizations, schools, and religious organizations. This could be done by: √ Improving information sharing among these three types of organizations; √ Enhancing and developing topic-focused taskforces composed of representatives from all three types of organizations; and √ Developing collaborations to deliver services.

• Improve recognition and inclusion of diverse County residents. This could be done by: √ Providing training and support for service providers (including police) who deal with an increasingly diverse population; √ Increasing the number of minorities in leadership and agency staff positions; √ Providing translation for Spanish-speaking residents, particularly in health care, law enforce- ment, and job services; and √ Including young people, low-income workers, and members of minority groups in commu- nity planning and service provision.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 9 10 Assessment 2000: 2 Acknowledgements

The Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) of Illinois State University and the Assessment 2000 project partners wholeheartedly thank the McLean County organizations and residents who partici- pated in the project. More than 2,000 County residents played a role in project planning, design, and implementation in 1998 and 1999. The number of active participants exemplifies the vast resources in McLean County. Thank you to all the organizations and individuals recognized here and those not specifically recognized for your collaboration and sharing.

Many McLean County organizations provided project funding, in- Assessment 2000 cluding: Funders Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly BroMenn Healthcare City of Bloomington Heartland Community College Illinois State University OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Town of Normal United Way of McLean County

Representatives of funder and other organizations served on a Steer- Steering Committee ing Committee to guide the project, refine information needs, rec- ommend participants for the project, and assist with dissemination of project findings. Assessment 2000 Steering Committee members include:

Karen Daudelin, United Way of McLean County Anna Lee Fenger, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Connie Griffin, City of Bloomington Sherlyn Hailstone, BroMenn Healthcare Kim Holman-Short, Bloomington Housing Authority Mike Matejka, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly Valerie Roberson, formerly of Heartland Community College Joe Strano, Chestnut Health Systems Jerry Weber, Heartland Community College Steven Westerdahl, Town of Normal Susan Zinck, Illinois State University

Health and Human Services in McLean County 11 2. Acknowledgements

Representatives of funder and other health and human service or- Research Design ganizations served on a Research Design Committee to develop Committee research materials and protocol and recommend participants for project activities. Members of the Research Design Committee include:

Diana Cristy, United Way of McLean County Mark Dravillas, McLean County Regional Planning Commission Bob Keller, McLean County Health Department Mike O’Donnell, East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging Jack Porter, formerly of Prairie State Legal Services David Reed, Office of Rehabilitation Services Willie Ringold, formerly of Heartland Community College Valerie Roberson, formerly of Heartland Community College Joe Strano, Chestnut Health Systems Karen Zangerle, PATH

An Assessment 2000 Communications Committee comprising rep- Communications resentatives of funder and other health and human service organi- Committee zations developed a public relations strategy for the project includ- ing communication materials, a plan to disseminate project findings, and a project logo. Members of the Communications Committee include:

Diana Cristy, United Way of McLean County Karen Daudelin, United Way of McLean County Mike Kelleher, Illinois State University Lori Laughlin, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Mike Matejka, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly Scott Vogel, American Red Cross Susan Zinck, Illinois State University

The Project Development Committee worked in 1998 to determine Project Development information to be gained through the Assessment 2000 project, write Committee a “Request for Proposals,” recruit consultant candidates, and se- lect a consultant to design project activities, facilitate project implementation, and report project findings. Members of the Project Development Committee include:

Diana Cristy, United Way of McLean County Mark Dravillas, McLean County Regional Planning Commission Connie Griffin, City of Bloomington Connie Horton, Illinois State University Mike Kelleher, Illinois State University Paul Russell, McLean County Regional Planning Commission Joe Strano, Chestnut Health Systems Steven Westerdahl, Town of Normal

12 Assessment 2000: 2. Acknowledgements

The Assessment 2000 project depended on the input of participants Contributors in research activities. A special thanks goes to:

• McLean County residents who completed household surveys; • County residents, health and human service providers, clergy, government officials, community developers, and others who served as key informants; • County residents and health and human service providers who served as focus group participants; and • Health and human service providers who completed a survey about their organizations and pro- grams.

Many other organizations contributed space for meetings, staff expertise for planning research activi- ties, public data and local reports to inform research, and printing for reports. Bloomington High School and Gridley High School staff coordinated participation of their students in focus groups. In addition to the United Way of McLean County staff members mentioned above, other staff, espe- cially Magge Young, contributed significant time, effort, knowledge, and skills for implementing project activities.

The Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, ap- Applied Social Research preciates the opportunity to serve McLean County through the As- Unit sessment 2000 project. The following ASRU staff members served as consultants on project committees, implemented project activities, compiled and analyzed project information, and wrote project reports. Frank Beck Lucinda Beier Cindy Caldwell Nicole Dino Tony Donald Del Ervin Chris Griffin Kelly Hall Steve Lyons Mark Miller Sharon Mills Martha Mendez Susan Savage Roy Treadway Rachel Waterman

Health and Human Services in McLean County 13 14 Assessment 2000: Introduction: Assessing Health and 3 Human Services in McLean County

In 1999, McLean County organizations including local government, Research approach trades and labor, health and human services, and the United Way of McLean County commissioned the Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) of Illinois State University to conduct research assessing resources and needs for health and human services in the County. This research, entitled Assessment 2000: McLean County’s Health and Human Services in McLean County, has been designed and implemented with broad and ongoing participation from County leaders and service providers. Extending and enhancing information col- lected for the first county-wide needs assessment, Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs (1995), the Assessment 2000 project employs a holistic approach that recognizes a wide range of factors contributing to the health and well-being of McLean County residents and their communities.

The general goal of the Assessment 2000 project is to support planning of health and human services for County residents in the near future (5 to 10 years). Specific and related goals of the project are to support development of the Consolidated Plans qualifying Bloomington and Normal for Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funding in 2000.

The World Health Organization defines health as “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”3.1 A healthy community is one that fosters an environment where all residents have optimal access to the information, resources, and services they need to attain and maintain a good quality of life. In a healthy community, services are planned and coordinated to make the best possible use of resources to meet the widest range of needs. In a healthy community, service users are also resources and contributors—not merely problems and consumers. In a healthy community, all residents put their diverse talents and perspectives to work for the collective good.

In the 1998 Final Report of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women in Illinois, Gale Keeran, former Director of the Center for Healthy Lifestyles at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, was quoted as saying, “Health care cannot . . . operate in a vacuum. We need to consider the relationship between wellness and the components of our living and working environ- ments [such as] quality education, adequate housing, meaningful employment, access to job training, efficient public transportation, clean and safe environments and access to health education and ser- vices. If a person’s basic needs are not being met, forget mammograms and PAP smears. They won’t happen.” Similar statements could be made from the perspectives of other key community services and systems. Educators know that children with good family environments, housing, and health care are usually better students than children who are deprived in one or more of these areas; good teach- ing methods and computerized classrooms cannot compensate for deficiencies in a child’s world outside the classroom. Employers are aware that job applicants and workers with nurturing home lives and access to high quality child care, transportation, housing, and health care are more likely to be reliable and productive employees than are people lacking these resources and services. Eco- nomic developers realize that strong health and human services attract new businesses and residents.

3.1 World Health Organization, “Definition of Health,” WHO Online, [Internet], http://www.who.int/aboutwho/en/ definition.html, (December 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 15 3. Introduction: Assessing Health and Human Services in McLean County

With these issues in mind, the focus of Assessment 2000 research was defined very broadly to include health care and traditional social services provided to special populations in McLean County. These special populations include, but are not confined to, low-income residents, people with disabilities, at-risk families and individuals, and others facing special challenges in attaining a good quality of life. Although services offered to the entire population, such as Kindergarten through grade 16 educa- tion and primary, specialist, and hospital medical care provided to people with insurance coverage, were beyond the scope of the Assessment 2000 project, providers of those services contributed infor- mation that enriched researchers’ understanding of community needs and resources.

Assessment 2000 concerns the entire population and geographical area of McLean County. Although health and human services, along with many other resources, are concentrated in Bloomington-Nor- mal, more than one-quarter of the County’s population lives outside of the urban center. Rural McLean County residents have the same needs as their urban neighbors, but encounter special challenges in meeting these needs. However, it is also noteworthy that rural communities often handle the health and human service requirements of their residents differently than larger towns or cities. In its re- search plan, reporting, and conclusions, Assessment 2000 considers both rural and urban needs, re- sources, and strategies.

Assessment 2000 used a mixed research approach that incorporated Research activities quantitative and qualitative methods to build a picture of McLean County’s resources and needs for health and human services and to identify opportunities for service provision in the future. Research activities included: • Review of public data collected by government agencies and local reports, directories, and plan- ning documents; • A randomized survey of 6,000 McLean County households yielding 1,594 responses; • A comprehensive survey of organizations providing health and human services to McLean County residents yielding 123 responses; • 19 focus groups representing a wide range of issues, client populations, and service providers associated with health and human services in McLean County; • 74 key informant interviews of County leaders, service providers, and residents representing a range of perspectives, interests, and expertise; and • Review of best practice and models literature focusing on current issues affecting McLean County’s health and human service system.

Information resulting from these research activities was used to develop this Summary Report, the Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plans (Consolidated Plan) for Bloomington and Normal, and the Assessment 2000 Final Report. Specific information about the surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, and Consolidated Plan development is reported in Appendices 1 to 8 of the Assessment 2000 Final Report, which is available through the United Way of McLean County and the Applied Social Research Unit’s Website at: http://www.socialresearch.ilstu.edu.

In all, more than 2,000 McLean County residents participated directly in the Assessment 2000 project. They worked as professional researchers and committee members, filled out survey instruments,

16 Assessment 2000: 3. Introduction: Assessing Health and Human Services in McLean County

arranged or participated in focus groups or interviews, and responded to data requests. Thus, Assess- ment 2000 truly represents the efforts and achievements of County residents; the research process itself is one of its products.

The highly collaborative nature of the Assessment 2000 study should support planning and imple- mentation of projects to enhance health and human services in McLean County. Success of Commu- nity Advocacy Network initiatives that grew out of the 1995 Together We Can Community Assess- ment of Needs research suggests that McLean County has both the experience and the will to target and prioritize health and human service needs based on the Assessment 2000 project.

This Summary Report is composed of the Final Report narrative Report structure and figures. Sections 1 and 2 acknowledge contributions to the Assessment 2000 project and provide a brief Executive Summary. Section 3 (this section) provides an introduction to project philosophy, scope, and methods. Section 4 depends largely on public data and local reports to profile County population and economy. Section 5 uses information elicited by surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews to discuss needs and resources for specific categories of health and human services. Section 6 discusses McLean County’s organization and management of health and human services based on information provided by focus group participants, key informants, and Service Providers’ Survey respondents. Section 7 considers potential applications of ideas gleaned from the best practices and models literature about innovative approaches to organization and delivery of health and human services that have been employed in other communities. Section 8 summarizes major conclusions of Assessment 2000 re- search and offers recommendations for future action based on these conclusions.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 17 18 Assessment 2000: 4 McLean County Profile

McLean County’s needs and resources for health and human services depend upon factors including the composition and geographical distribution of its population and households; educational attain- ment, employment, income and housing; and residents’ health status and access to care. This section briefly profiles selected factors contributing to the quality of life in McLean County as an introduc- tion to section 5’s discussion of Assessment 2000 research findings regarding specific health and human service issues. Selected topics include population, age, race and ethnicity, household struc- ture, and educational attainment.

McLean County’s population is growing rapidly. Between 1980 Population and 1998, it grew from 119,149 to an estimated 140,980—an in- crease of 18 percent. If current projections are realized, in 2010 McLean County’s population will have increased by an additional 10 percent to 154,657. Many residents are newcomers, with approximately 3 percent having lived in McLean County for less than one year and 12 percent having lived here for between one and four years.4.1

Generally speaking, between 1980 and 1998 growth has been most rapid in Bloomington (33%), Normal (24%), and nearby “bedroom” communities, many of whose residents work in the Twin Cities. For example, between 1980 and 1998, Heyworth’s population increased by 48 percent, Hudson’s by 35 percent, and Danvers’ by 24 percent. By contrast, many rural communities in the County lost residents during the same period. Cooksville’s population declined by 25 percent, Towanda’s by 16 percent, and Stanford’s by 10 percent. In addition, the number of rural County residents living out- side of cities and towns decreased from 21,704 in 1980 to 19,139 in 1998 (-12%) and is expected to decline still further to 17,324 (-10%) by 2010.4.2 (See Figures 4.1 and 4.2.)

Implications for health and human services: • Rapid population growth should stimulate planning for delivery of health and human services. Many County residents live in subdivisions mushrooming at the peripheries of communities. This suburban development is predicated on the assumption that all residents will obtain neces- sary goods and services in Bloomington-Normal. Yet a significant proportion of residents (chil- dren, seniors, people with disabilities) are either unable to drive themselves to town or find driving difficult or dangerous. Meanwhile, as prosperous Twin City residents move to new sub- divisions, need is concentrated in the older neighborhoods they leave behind. • With rural populations declining, many County communities and residents face increasing chal- lenges in accessing health and human services. Fewer people remain to staff services such as volunteer fire and ambulance services. Small communities find it difficult to compete with larger ones in demonstrating needs and attracting public financial support for services. Yet the needs

4.1 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 4.2 Population information was obtained from multiple sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980 Census of Population and Hous- ing, Summary Tape File 1A, [Database], (1980); U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 1A, [Database], (1990); The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). Community level 2010 popu- lation estimates were calculated with information from the above sources using a linear trend method.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 19 4. McLean County Profile: Population

Figure 4.1: Population Counts, Estimates, and Changes for McLean County and Its Communities, 1980 to 2010

Population Change, 1980 to 1998

1998 2010 Community 1980 count 1990 count Count Percent estimated estimated

1) Bloomington 494,189 511,88 558,84 628,42 1%4,65 33

2) Normal 335,672 410,02 444,22 499,75 8%,54 24

3) Areas outside these 291,704 290,02 149,13 1)7,32 (%2,565 -12 listed cities and towns

4) LeRoy 27,870 24,77 33,16 34,25 2%9 10

5) Heyworth 19,598 16,62 23,36 28,71 7%6 48

6) Lexington 10,806 11,81 13,76 1),74 (%45 -2

7) Chenoa 12,847 15,73 18,73 1),63 (%112 -6

8) Gridley 14,246 19,30 10,39 13,49 1%5 12

9) Hudson 9629 14,00 17,25 15,42 3%2 35

10) Danvers 9121 938 15,14 12,26 2%2 24

11) Colfax 9420 825 855 7)9 (%68 -7

12) Saybrook 8782 706 844 7)7 (%42 -5

13) McLean 8936 861 860 7)8 (%30 -4

14) Stanford 7820 664 644 5)8 (%74 -10

15) Downs 5061 602 620 694 3%7

16) Towanda 6330 584 572 4)4 (%102 -16

17) Carlock 4810 461 413 465 2%6

18) Bellflower 4521 440 318 3)6 (%37 -9

19) Arrowsmith 2392 321 219 30%0 0

20) Ellsworth 2444 222 201 1)9 (%32 -13

21) Cooksville 2159 251 179 1)4 (%64 -25

22) Anchor 1892 167 196 1)4 (%26 -14

Total McLean County 1019,149 1029,18 1740,98 1154,65 2%1,83 18 Population information was obtained from multiple sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Sum- mary Tape File 1A, [Database], (1980); U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 1A, [Database], (1990); The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). Community level 2010 population esti- mates were calculated with information from the above sources using a linear trend method.

20 Assessment 2000: 4. McLean County Profile: Population

Figure 4.2: 1998 Estimated Population Counts and Percent of Total Population for McLean County and Its Communities

1998 Population

Percent of McLean County estimated Cumulative percent Community Estimated population of McLean County

1) Bloomington 5%8,841 4%1.8 41.8

2) Normal 4%4,221 3%1.4 73.2

3) Areas outside these 1%9,139 1%3.6 86.7 listed cities and towns

4) LeRoy 3%,164 2%.2 88.9

5) Heyworth 2%,366 1%.7 90.6

6) Lexington 1%,761 1%.2 91.9

7) Chenoa 1%,735 1%.2 93.1

8) Gridley 1%,399 1%.0 94.1

9) Hudson 1%,254 0%.9 95.0

10) Danvers 1%,143 0%.8 95.8

11) Colfax 8%52 0%.6 96.4

12) Saybrook 8%40 0%.6 97.0

13) McLean 8%06 0%.6 97.5

14) Stanford 6%46 0%.5 98.0

15) Downs 6%00 0%.4 98.4

16) Towanda 5%28 0%.4 98.8

17) Carlock 4%36 0%.3 99.1

18) Bellflower 3%84 0%.3 99.4

19) Arrowsmith 2%92 0%.2 99.6

20) Ellsworth 2%12 0%.2 99.7

21) Cooksville 1%95 0%.1 99.9

22) Anchor 1%66 0%.1 100.0

Total McLean County 1%40,980 100.0 Population information was obtained from multiple sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 1A, [Database], (1980); U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 1A, [Database], (1990); The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). Community level 2010 population estimates were calculated with information from the above sources using a linear trend method.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 21 4. McLean County Profile: Age

exist and may be growing, since rural populations are aging faster than urban populations and people earning comparatively low incomes continue to seek low-cost housing in rural areas.4.3 • County leaders should consider health and human service needs as they provide planning permis- sion for new housing developments. In addition, service providers should develop imaginative and innovative ways to provide health and human services to County residents wherever they live.

All age groups comprising McLean County’s population are grow- Age ing. Due to the aging of the baby boomers (ages 30 to 55), the largest percent growth in the early years of the 21st century will be among mature and older adults. Indeed, between 1990 and 2020, the number of people between the ages of 50 and 59 is projected to increase by 90 percent, while the groups aged 60 to 69 and 70 to 79 are projected to grow by 47 percent and 42 percent respectively. (See Figure 4.3.) There will also be an increase in the population that will be under age 20 in 2020. The smallest increase will be among

Figure 4.3: Percent Increase in Population by Age in McLean County, 1990 to 2020 (Projected)

100% 90%

80%

60% 47% 42% 40% 37%

27% 28% 25% 19%

Percent increase, 1990 to 2020 20% 11%

0% 0-14 15-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+

Age group Sources: Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (309) 438-5946.

4.3 Davidson, F.M., J.R. Crump, A. Cohen, and N. Walzer. Employment, Population and Poverty in Rural Illinois: Census Results, 1990. (Macomb, IL: Western Illinois University, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, 1994), 7.

22 Assessment 2000: 4. McLean County Profile: Age

Figure 4.4: Population by Age in McLean County, 1990 to 2020 (Projected)

40,000 34,876 34,175 32,558 32,718 32,117

29,436 1990

30,000 28,765 2000

25,500 2010

22,948 2020 22,474 20,487 20,000 20,250 18,165 16,518 16,551 16,197

Population 15,240 14,511 14,287 14,252 14,043 13,105 13,007 12,553 11,354 10,000 8,532 8,417 8,466 7,511 6,432 6,307 5,944 4,515 4,431 4,269 3,460

0 0-14 15-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+

Age group Source: Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State Univer- sity, (309) 438-5946.

people aged 20 to 40. However, in terms of actual numbers, throughout the next two decades there will be more very young people—aged 14 or younger, and young adults between the ages of 20 and 29, than County residents in any other age group.4.4 (See Figure 4.4.)

Implications for health and human services: • The growing proportion of County residents who will not be in the workforce during the next 20 years will place increasing pressure on organizations providing health and human services. While the number needing services will grow, service organizations will have increasing difficulty at- tracting and retaining good staff members. These organizations will have to increase incentives (wages, training, benefits, flexible scheduling, child care, transportation, etc.), target appropriate populations (homemakers, retirees) and develop appealing work environments. • As the number of two-earner households climbs, young and middle-aged adults will encounter increasing stress as they undertake both job responsibilities and the obligation to care for grow- ing numbers of children and elderly people. This, in turn, will place increasing pressure on

4.4 Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (309) 438-5946.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 23 4. McLean County Profile: Race and ethnicity; Households and families

health and human services. • Growth in numbers of the “young old,” many of whom will be healthy, energetic, and newly retired, offers an enormous resource in the form of both volunteer and paid workers. Health and human service planners will be well advised to recognize and take advantage of this resource opportunity. • Growth in the number of older adults will require planning and provision of an expanded range of amenities and services tailored to seniors’ needs. • With rapid change in the age composition of County population, service planners and advisors will need to closely monitor service needs at either end of the age spectrum and respond as changes occur.

McLean County’s population is predominantly White (92%).4.5 Race and ethnicity However, the minority population is growing at a much faster rate than the County population as a whole. The Black population is projected to increase from 5,594 to 7,942—a 42% change—between 1990 and 2005. During the same period, the Hispanic population is expected to grow from 1,671 to 2,167—a 30% change. The largest growth is projected in the number of other minority residents—mainly Asian—from 1,852 in 1990 to 3,020 in 2005 (63%).4.6

Implications for health and human services: • With a dominantly White but growing minority population, McLean County’s health and human service providers must remain aware of the need to deliver services in culturally appropriate ways. • As the County population becomes more diverse, service providers must make it a priority to recruit minority staff members and volunteers. • There is an increasing need for health and human service providers to offer translation services, particularly for Spanish-speaking clients.

McLean County households (one or more persons occupying a Households and families housing unit) are comparatively small. Half of the County’s resi- dents live in households composed of one or two people; 38 per- cent live in households of three or four; and only 11 percent live in households composed of five or more residents. The average number of people composing McLean County households is between 2.5 and 3.0 and may be increasing. In 1985 the average number of persons per household was 2.5. It rose to 2.52 in 1990 and is estimated to be 2.9 in 1999.4.7

4.5 Ervin, D.J., McLean County, IL projections of White, Black, Hispanic, and Other populations based on trends from Illinois Population Trends: 1990 to 2020 and U.S. Census Bureau Modified Age Race Sex data files, (Normal, IL: Census and Data Users Services, December 1999). 4.6 Ibid. 4.7 1985 and 1990 figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, USA Counties, [CD-ROM], (1998). 1999 figures are from The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000.

24 Assessment 2000: 4. McLean County Profile: Educational attainment

Most County households (64%) contain no children under age 18. According to U.S. Census data reported in the 1995 Together We Can report, almost 80 percent (79%) of children under age 18 live in a married-couple family. “About one in six lives with a single parent, 13.6 percent with a single female, and 2.9 percent with a single man.”4.8 A somewhat larger percent of children in McLean County households are under age 6 (19%) than are between the ages of 6 and 11 (15%), or between the ages of 12 and 17 (15%).4.9

Just over one-half (55%) of County adults are married; 30 percent are single; and 14 percent are widowed or divorced. Women are more likely to be widowed, divorced, or separated than men—a tendency that increases with age. Only one in five women over age 75 is married compared to two- thirds of men in this age group. In consequence, older women are much more likely to live alone than are older men.4.10

Implications for health and human services: • McLean County has a comparatively large number of people living alone. Large local university populations may partially account for this situation among younger people. However, the County follows State and national trends regarding living circumstances of older adults—particularly older women who tend to live alone. Regardless of age, persons living alone who find them- selves in need require comparatively more support from service providers than persons living together. Service providers must plan to deliver age- and gender-appropriate services to people who live alone. • As the national trends of increased female labor force participation and mothers transitioning from welfare to work continue, local planners and providers must focus on providing appropriate family and employment support services to female-headed, single-parent households.

McLean County’s adult residents are comparatively well educated, Educational attainment with more than half (52%) having at least some college and nine percent possessing graduate or professional degrees. Thirty-three percent of adult residents—aged 25 and older—have a high school diploma. Sixteen percent of resi- dents have less than a high school education.4.11

High School dropout rates are low in the County (5.6%) compared to the State of Illinois (6.8%). However, rates are much higher in the County for Blacks (11.4%) and other minority students (10.9%) than for Whites (5.1%). Furthermore, dropout rates among minority students have been climbing during the 1990s.4.12 (See Figure 4.5.)

4.8 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 81. 4.9 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000. 4.10 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 81. See also Illinois Department on Aging, Profile of Illinois’ Elderly: A Fast-Changing Demography, (Springfield, IL, 1994), 11-12. 4.11 U.S. Census Bureau, 1995 County Business Patterns, [CD-ROM], (1996). 4.12 Illinois Department of Public Health, IPLAN Data System Report, [Internet], http://163.191.194.35/, (November 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 25 4. McLean County Profile: Educational attainment

Implications for health and human services: • Its highly educated population contributes to McLean County’s quality of life in many ways. In addition to meeting the labor needs of local employers and spending in the local economy, edu- cated residents are an important resource for area health and human service organizations, pro- viding both financial contributions and voluntary assistance. • High dropout rates among minority young people require coordinated attention from educators and service providers. Low educational attainment fuels local crime figures and helps to perpetu- ate a culture of poverty. A full range of services—from early childhood and family support programs to “second chance” educational and mentoring programs for young adults—must be designed to meet local conditions, and then applied, evaluated, improved, and nurtured to bring dropout rates down.

Figure 4.5: Percent of High School Dropouts by Race, 1990 to 1997

20% Black Other White 16.4% 15% 14.1%

11.8% 11.4% 10.9% 10% 8.9% Percent 8.6% 7.7% 7.6% 7.2%

5.7% 5% 5.0% 5.4% 4.5% 5.0% 5.1% 4.1% 4.0% 3.7% 3.6% 3.0% 2.2% 1.6% 0.0% 0% 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Year Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health, IPLAN Data System Report, [Internet], http:// 163.191.194.35/, (November, 1999).

26 Assessment 2000: 5 Needs and Resources

The Assessment 2000 project is concerned with McLean County Introduction residents’ physical, mental, and social well-being and their percep- tions of health and human service availability, affordability, acces- sibility, and quality. In addition, Assessment 2000 is concerned with health and human service pro- viders’ ability to effectively: • identify and address problems and needs; • recognize residents’ and organizations’ limitations, contributions, and resources; and • plan and coordinate services, information, and resources within and among organizations.

The Assessment 2000 project utilized a multi-method research approach to obtain information to support future planning of health and human services for all McLean County residents and communi- ties. Assessment 2000 reporting provides communities and organizations with current information about County population and other demographic trends, broad health and human service topics and indicators, and models for collaboration among health and human service organizations.

Section 5, “Needs and Resources,” provides a discussion of: • project research activities and methods; • McLean County strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities; and • strengths, resources, needs, and challenges associated with providing specific types of health and human services in McLean County.

Assessment 2000 used quantitative and qualitative research ap- Research activities and proaches to build a picture of McLean County’s resources and needs methods for health and human services and to identify opportunities for ser- vice provision in the future. Research activities included: • Review of public data collected by agencies and organizations: review of government docu- ments and databases, local study reports, directories, and planning documents; • A randomized survey of 6,000 McLean County households yielding 1,594 responses; • A comprehensive survey of organizations providing health and human services to McLean County residents yielding 123 responses; • 19 focus groups representing a wide range of issues, client populations, and service providers associated with health and human services in McLean County; • 74 key informant interviews of County leaders, residents, and service providers representing a range of perspectives, interests, and expertise; and • Review of best practice and models literature focusing on current issues affecting McLean County’s health and human service system.

Information resulting from these research activities has been used to develop Assessment 2000 re- ports and the City of Bloomington and Town of Normal Consolidated Plans to be submitted to the

Health and Human Services in McLean County 27 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Each research activity is summarized below; detailed information about each activity and Consolidated Plan development is reported in Appendi- ces 1 to 8 of the Assessment 2000 Final Report which is available through the United Way of McLean County and the Applied Social Research Unit’s Website at http://www.socialresearch.ilstu.edu.

Household Survey The eight-page Household Survey of adult representatives (18 years of age and over) of McLean County households was conducted by mail with telephone follow-up to persons from rural areas who did not return a survey by mail. The survey included questions concerning respondents’ experiences with housing (e.g., affordability, condition, accessibility), health care (e.g., cost, utilization, insur- ance coverage), employment (e.g., benefits available though job, travel to work, need for job train- ing), child care (e.g. usage, affordability, availability), and family support services and needs. The first section of the survey asked for information about the respondent and his or her household mem- bers. The last section of the survey asked respondents for their perceptions about potential problems in McLean County and their household’s experience with particular situations. In addition, the sur- vey asked respondents about their volunteer activities, their most often utilized sources of informa- tion, greatest concerns in McLean County, and what they like most about McLean County.

Survey development Assessment 2000 Research Design and Steering Committee members and Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) staff worked together to develop the Household Survey. The survey was piloted with 14 people working in the McBarnes Memorial Building in which the United Way of McLean County is located. The survey was developed in English and translated into Spanish for persons who pre- ferred to complete the Spanish version.

Survey sampling The research design team determined that the Household Survey population would be all McLean County households excluding households with telephone exchanges at Illinois State and Wesleyan Universities (436, 438, and 556). Survey Sampling, Inc. provided a random sample of 6,000 house- holds with listed telephone numbers proportionate to the total number of households with listed telephone numbers within each McLean County census tract. An exception was a double sample in Bloomington census tracts 15, 16, and 17 to ensure adequate response from these lower income areas.

Response rate and representativeness Of the 6,000 original households in the survey sample, 5,699 households proved to be eligible to take the survey. Respondents completed 1,594 surveys for a response rate of 28 percent (1,594/5,699).

To determine how well survey respondents represent McLean County population as a whole, survey responses for demographic questions (e.g., age, education level, income) were compared to McLean County census data. The percentage of Household Survey respondents is proportionally distributed geographically to the McLean County population living in Bloomington, Normal, and other areas of the County. Household Survey respondents are older, have more education, and have higher incomes than the County’s population generally. In addition, a higher percentage of survey respondents (30%) than the County’s adult population (13%) are retired. Finally, Household Survey respondents under-

28 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

represent the County’s racial and ethnic diversity: nearly all survey respondents are White (97%); about 92 percent of the County population is White.5.1

For more information about Household Survey methods, responses to survey questions, and respon- dents’ written comments, see Appendices 2 and 3 of the Assessment 2000 Final Report.

Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey A survey was mailed to 418 health and human service providers who offer their services to McLean County residents. The eight-page survey requested information about the organizations’ needs for maintenance, enhancement, and expansion; staffing and training; accessibility; resource sharing; com- munication; and major services or programs. The survey also asked about challenges and strengths, and gaps and duplications in health and human services provision in McLean County.

Survey development and mailing list Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) staff members worked with Research Design and Steering Committee members to develop the survey. The goal was to send a survey to every health and human service provider in McLean County. Criteria for placing organizations on the mailing list included provision of direct services to individuals or families (not other agencies) on a regular basis, health services that were outreach in nature (not regular doctor, clinic, or hospital services), and in most cases, a mailing address within McLean County. The United Way, PATH, the GTE phone book, and the Faith in Service Council provided listings for faith-based and other organizations. For this project, health and human service providers included: • social service agencies • churches • support groups • nursing homes • outreach health services • child care facilities (nonprofit) • the Town of the City of Bloomington (Township) • townships not served by the Town of the City of Bloomington (Township) • food banks • special education programs in primary and secondary school systems • libraries that offer distinct outreach programs • external outreach services or programs of post-secondary education institutions • health, child care, counseling, and disability services provided by Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan Universities.

5.1 Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (309) 438-5946.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 29 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

Response rate and data analysis Of the 418 organizations sent a survey, 401 were determined to be eligible. Respondents completed 123 usable surveys for a response rate of 31 percent (123/401).

For more information about Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey methods, responses to survey questions, and respondents’ written comments, see Appendices 4 and 5 of the Assessment 2000 Final Report.

Focus groups The Assessment 2000 project utilized focus groups—facilitated small group discussions on a particu- lar topic—to collect information from a broad range of community members, health and human service providers and consumers, and other professionals involved with community planning and development. The ASRU conducted 19 focus groups with a total of 215 participants.

Focus group development The Assessment 2000 committee identified topics to be addressed in focus group discussions. The committee also suggested names of some individuals to be included in focus groups. For most groups, a community contact person was identified and asked to suggest appropriate individuals, venues, days, times, and incentives for groups. Meetings were held at various locations throughout Bloom- ington-Normal; one group was held at Gridley High School. Each focus group lasted approximately 1 to 1½ hours. Each focus group is listed below: • People Experiencing Homelessness • Public Housing Residents • Advocates for Diversity and Human Rights • Hispanic Community Members • Persons with Disabilities • Faith-Based Community • Urban High School Youth • Rural High School Youth • Family Members Discussing Child Welfare and Family Issues • Youth Advocates • Senior Advocates • Social Service Providers • Health Care Providers • Domestic Violence Survivors • Early Childhood Advocates • Educators • Rural Service Providers • Employers5.2 • Criminal Justice Providers/Advocates • Persons with Mental Health Problems and Their Family Members

5.2 The employers’ focus group was to discuss employee attraction and retention issues. The employers’ focus group was cancelled due to potential participants’ unavailability and/or disinterest in attending the scheduled meeting. To gain em- ployers’ perspectives, an ASRU staff member talked individually to seven employers who had been invited to the focus group or who attended a job fair at the Illinois Employment and Training Center.

30 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

Focus group administration Focus group discussions provided an opportunity for participants to respond to broad open-ended questions and elicited qualitative information to aid interpretation of survey results. Professional ASRU staff members facilitated focus groups. Focus group participants were assured they would not be personally identified in project reporting. Generally, each focus group included participant intro- ductions; presentation of discussion guidelines; a brief description of the project; discussion based on prepared questions; and concluding remarks. The content of focus group discussions changed de- pending on the participants involved. Generally, questions were asked to elicit these types of infor- mation: • strengths of the health and human services system; • challenges of providing health and human services; • met and unmet service needs of McLean County residents; • existing resources (e.g., formal or informal resources, unrecognized or under-utilized) that could be used to address unmet needs; • ways in which resources could be used effectively and in news ways; • relationships between various categories of community organizations, e.g., churches, schools, businesses, and social service agencies; • best ways to communicate service availability to County organizations and residents; and • recommendations for improving health and human service provision in McLean County.

Focus group analysis At the conclusion of each focus group, an ASRU staff member wrote a summary of information from the focus group. To analyze focus groups, an ASRU member examined each focus group summary for consistent and unique themes. Broad themes emerging from two or more focus groups include issues concerned with: • Categorical funding and eligibility criteria • Child care and welfare • Coordination of services • Criminal justice • Disability • Education and training • Employment and job skills training • Health care • Housing and homelessness • Income, poverty, and financial management • Informal assistance • Information provision and sharing • Mental health and substance abuse • Religious issues and organizations

Health and Human Services in McLean County 31 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

• Rural services and issues • Senior services • Service provision (general) and workers • Transportation • Volunteering and volunteers • Youth issues and services

A summary for each focus group is included in Appendix 6 of the Assessment 2000 Final Report.

Key informant interviews The Applied Social Research Unit (ASRU) conducted 74 structured key informant interviews in Assessment 2000 project research. For Assessment 2000, a key informant is: • in a position of leadership in the County, a community, an agency, or other organization; • an informal leader or service provider within a community; • an expert in a particular field or someone with a particular experience of living in the County; or • a longtime resident of the County.

Key informant development and interviewing Assessment 2000 project committees and the ASRU identified a list of individuals for potential key informant interviews and developed a guide for structuring interviews. Key informants included persons representing various community, service, and business sectors: churches; community and economic planning and development; government (City, Town, Township, County, State, and Fed- eral); health care; Consolidated Plan issues (housing, public housing, and homelessness issues) (see “Consolidated Plan Development” below); media; neighborhood associations; social services; edu- cation; trades and labor; and other selected community leaders and residents.

Four ASRU staff members conducted key informant interviews. Key informants were assured they would not be personally identified in project reporting. Most interviews lasted approximately one hour. The ASRU interviewers began each meeting by asking for information about the key informant’s job title and responsibilities or other relevant personal information. The interviewer then used the following questions to loosely structure the interview: • Meaning of “health and human services in McLean County?” • Overall, how well does McLean County’s health and human service delivery system work? • What are the strengths of McLean County’s health and human service delivery system? Why? • What are the weaknesses of McLean County’s health and human service delivery system? Why? • How has provision of health and human services in McLean County changed during the past five years? • What trends do you observe in provision of health and human services in McLean County? • Can you identify gaps or duplications in health and human service provision in McLean County? • Can you identify barriers to access and/or utilization of health and human services in McLean County?

32 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

• Can you identify under-used or unrecognized resources for health and human service provision in McLean County? • How could health and human service delivery in McLean County be improved?

Key informant summary and analysis ASRU staff used interview notes to help interpret information coming from other project research and inform conclusions and recommendations in project reporting. Individual key informant inter- view summaries or names of specific informants are not provided in Assessment 2000 reporting to ensure confidentiality of responses.

Review of public data, reports, and secondary literature The ASRU reviewed public data to profile McLean County’s population, economic and employment situation, health status (e.g., mortality, morbidity, vital statistics), and other demographic informa- tion. Sub-county level data were reviewed when possible. The ASRU staff obtained and analyzed public data from a variety of sources including Federal, State, and local agencies and organizations. Local agencies and organizations were also consulted for previously released reports, to identify priority issues, and to ascertain current capacity information.

In addition, ASRU staff reviewed secondary literature for information, models, and best practices associated with: • communication, collaboration, and resource sharing within and among service networks; and • coordinated community-based health and human services planning, administration, and delivery.

The ASRU staff obtained secondary literature by attending a conference entitled Transforming Com- munities: Improving Health and Quality of Life in December 1999; library research; review of United Way of America practices and models; and visiting Federal agency Websites to obtain reports on social services issues, statistics, and practices.

The bibliography of this report includes a full listing of sources for public data, reports, and second- ary literature including models and best practices.

Consolidated Plan Development In conjunction with the Assessment 2000 project, Consolidated Plans were developed for both the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal.5.3 The Consolidated Plan is a five-year community development plan prepared for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development so commu- nities gain Community Development Block Grant funding. The Applied Social Research Unit worked closely with the Division of Community Development, City of Bloomington, and the Department of Community Development, Town of Normal, to develop the plans. These two municipal departments assisted in identifying local key informants who have experience with housing and community devel- opment issues. The departments also assisted in identifying other organizations that could supply data to meet Consolidated Plan reporting requirements.

5.3 The City of Bloomington Consolidated Plan is available for public review at the Bloomington Public Library, the office of the City of Bloomington Clerk, and the City of Bloomington Community Development office. The Town of Normal Consolidated Plan is available for public review at the Town of Normal Community Development office and the office of the Town Clerk. Consolidated Plans will be made available in an appropriate form and location to persons with disabilities.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 33 5. Needs and Resources: Research activities and methods

The ASRU staff conducted 74 key informant interviews for the Assessment 2000 project. Key infor- mants offered data or information related to housing and community development including health and human services. The 22 key informants interviewed specifically for housing-related information to support Consolidated Plan development include: • Low-income housing advocates • Housing inspectors • Social service providers • Section 8 housing managers • Public housing staff • Urban planners • Township officials • Public health officials • Realtors and developers • Homeless service providers

Key informants were asked if they had any data or reports which might provide additional informa- tion for the Consolidated Plan. Key informants were asked to: • identify the most important housing issues in Bloomington or Normal; • estimate the nature of the need for affordable housing in Bloomington-Normal; and • identify obstacles to meeting the need for affordable housing in Bloomington-Normal

In some cases, key informants were asked to provide specific data or information required by the Consolidated Plan. Examples include lead poisoning data, housing market prices, housing data such as the number of people on waiting lists for transitional housing, the number of persons with disabili- ties receiving support services, and other measures of housing need.

In addition to key informant interviews, information resulting from other Assessment 2000 research activities supported Consolidated Plan development. For example, several focus groups dealt di- rectly with housing issues. Focus groups composed of homeless persons and public housing resi- dents addressed specific data needs of the Consolidated Plan. However, other focus groups dealt with a variety of non-housing community development needs such as transportation issues, social service needs, and needs of specific client groups (e.g., persons with disabilities, low-income fami- lies with young children).

Public data and reports were also used to develop the Consolidated Plan. This included data on the nature of the housing market, building conditions reports, data about homelessness, and other local data. Housing data specific to Bloomington or to Normal were used wherever possible. In some cases, data was only available for McLean County.

Surveys of McLean County households also provided additional information on housing issues such as affordability, condition and accessibility issues. Housing related comments made by residents of Bloomington and Normal are included in the Consolidated Plan.

34 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Profile of health and human service provision

The survey of social service providers in McLean County also supported Consolidated Plan develop- ment. The responses from these surveys were valuable, particularly for the non-housing community development portion of the Consolidated Plan.

Assessment 2000 takes a holistic and “healthy community” approach Profile of health and to examining health and human service provision in the County. human service provision With this view, a health and human services network addresses a human service provision person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and provides access to a variety of goods, services, and amenities that support well-being (e.g., food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, training, employment). This section briefly summarizes the types of health and human services that currently exist in the County.

One of the County’s strengths mentioned by Assessment 2000 participants is the presence of a wide range of health, human service, and support organizations. PATH’s Directory, an information re- source that lists “over 250 human service agencies and organizations within McLean County,” out- lines the scope of service provision in the County. 5.4 One Assessment 2000 key informant, after reviewing the PATH Directory, said, “I didn’t realize there [are] so many organizations here.” In addition to BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Carle Clinic Association, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, and primary and specialist health care providers, there are individuals, agencies, organiza- tions, and programs that: • support specific populations (e.g., infants, toddlers, youth, seniors, persons with disabilities, fami- lies, parents, businesses, consumers); • treat specific health conditions, illnesses, disorders, and addictions; • provide education, training, counseling, and information; • provide equipment, supplies, and household goods; • help meet basic needs such as housing, utilities, food, and clothing; • advocate for and ensure civil rights; • offer recreational opportunities; • address environmental issues such as recycling; • provide services for persons experiencing particular situations (e.g., divorce, abuse, difficulty with managing finances); • provide employment support; and • protect McLean County residents and property (i.e., police and fire departments).

Health and human services are located throughout McLean County but are concentrated in Bloom- ington and Normal. Of 188 total service sites listed by the 123 organizations that completed the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, 56 percent are located in Blooming- ton, 26 percent are in Normal, 11 percent are in other areas of McLean County, and 7 percent are

5.4 PATH (Providing Access to Help), Directory 2000, (McLean County, IL, 1999), Introductory Notes.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 35 5. Needs and Resources: Overall strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities

outside of the County. 5.5 Most responding organizations (83%) indicate serving all of McLean County. A County-wide service area does not ensure that all County residents will be able to access an organization’s services or programs.

Faith-based organizations (i.e., churches, temples, other associations), also located throughout the County, are sometimes overlooked in their role as health and human service providers within a community. In addition to supporting the religious and spiritual well-being of members, many McLean County faith organizations provide services including counseling, food, shelter, clothing, child care, financial assistance, literacy programs, health care and information, and education. Many Assess- ment 2000 participants, including clergy, spoke of McLean County faith organizations as a signifi- cant but unrecognized or under-utilized resource.

This section summarizes overall McLean County strengths and Overall strengths, concerns related by Assessment 2000 participants. Specific topics concerns, challenges, (e.g., housing, health care), populations (e.g., youth, older adults), and opportunities and organizational issues (e.g., resource and information sharing, staffing, training) are discussed later in this report.

Strengths Many Assessment 2000 participants (key informants, focus group members, survey respondents) talked about McLean County’s wealth—its financial, organizational, social, and environmental re- sources and positive characteristics. One health and human service provider’s comment represents several comments about McLean County’s ability to provide health and human services. This pro- vider listed finances as a major strength, saying “Financial—County has [a] strong economy and growing tax base.” More than 1,000 of the 1,594 respondents to the Assessment 2000 Household Survey commented about the qualities they most like about McLean County; the top ten qualities are summarized in Figure 5.1.5.6

Although Household Survey respondents referred to the County’s strong economy and employment opportunities as strengths, they believe the County’s greatest strength is its people who are seen as friendly and caring, increasingly diverse in culture and perspective, communicators, problem-solv- ers, and involved in community activities and organizations. Residents take advantage of numerous opportunities for involvement. In addition to family and work responsibilities, nearly three-quarters of Household Survey respondents (73%) say they or other adults in the household volunteer for one or more organizations. They are active in business, religious, social service, health care, labor, neigh- borhood, educational, recreational, historical, arts-related, and environmental organizations and as- sociations. McLean County’s young people also contribute to their communities by working within

5.5 The Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey was mailed to over 400 organizations including religious organiza- tions. Thirty-three organizations listed two or more service locations. For detailed information about survey methods and a summary of responses, see “Appendix 4,” Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report (Bloomington, IL, 2000). 5.6 Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 58, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). See “Appendix 3,” Assessment 2000: Final Report, for all respondents’ verbatim responses to question 58.

36 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Overall strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities

Figure 5.1: Top Ten Qualities Residents Like Most About McLean County (n=1,071)* Percent Quality

20.9% The people 18.6% Schools and educational opportunities

16.6% Entertainment, recreational activities, cultural opportunities

15.9% Economy and employment (i.e., low unemployment, good job opportunities)

13.7% Environment, parks, and Constitution Trail (i.e., beauty, seasons, good land)

13.1% Low crime rate and feelings of safety

10.6% Small town, rural atmosphere, but with urban amenities

10.5% Goods and services (i.e., restaurants, shopping)

9.0% Location within Illinois and travel options to and from McLean County

8.9% Health care and social services *Some respondents listed multiple qualities in answering this open-ended question. The n is the total number of Household Survey respondents who answered this question. Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 58, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

and outside of the family, volunteering for school, church, and community organizations, and partici- pating in extracurricular activities.5.7 One key informant noted that there is much ability, wealth, and good leadership within the County and said, “When people understand the issues, they will pull together.”

Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey respondents also most often com- ment that staff and volunteers are the greatest strengths of their organizations. Providers view staff and volunteers as skilled, experienced, and collaborative.5.8 As a strength, collaboration was not lim- ited to staff within organizations but also included collaboration among organizations. See section 6, “Organization and Management of Health and Human Services,” for a discussion of collaboration and resource sharing among organizations.

Concerns Just as Household Survey respondents shared what they like best about the County, they also shared issues about which they are most concerned. Issues having to do with community and economic

5.7 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 6,” Focus Groups with Urban and Rural High School Youth; Schools and Faith Communities Engaged Together for Youth, Report of Discussions from a Community Dialogue: Defining Success of Our Children, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 5.8 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, questions 51 and 52.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 37 5. Needs and Resources: Overall strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities

planning and development (including land use) topped the list of things about which they are most concerned. They perceive that commercial and residential growth is occurring rapidly with a lack of planning and at the expense of valuable farmland. Some respondents call for the redevelopment and restoration of older neighborhoods. Others are concerned about retention of large employers. One respondent commented: “Developers need to be challenged. Acres and acres of good farm and produce land are being used for commercial and expensive residential development. I would like to see downtown buildings renovated to meet shopping needs of today. Once-elegant old homes rebuilt to meet present standards, old neighborhoods restored, etc.” Another expressed concern about “Ex- cessive and poorly planned growth into productive rural land. Unsightly commercial development.” See Figure 5.2 for a list of top ten concerns.5.9

Figure 5.2: Top Ten Concerns Residents Have About McLean County (n=1,056) Percent Concern Further explanation or examples Community and economic 31.2% Including land use development and planning 29.6% Hsigh property taxes Including not seeing return on high taxe Concerns about gangs, drugs, crime, violence, safety, 18.6% Public safety abuse, and neglect Concerns about police, fire department, social Public services and 15.9% services, other services, leadership, and the need to government use tax money more efficiently or effectively Concerns about declining morality and spirituality, poor driving habits, incidents of discrimination, lack of 13.9% Ethics, attitudes, and habits parental responsibility, materialism, alcohol and drug consumption, and increasing gap between upper and lower classes High costs for housing, gas, utilities, insurance, and 12.4% Cost of living other products and services Concerns about specific educational institutions, need 9.2% Education and training for training, and need for valuing trade occupations Concerns about public transportation, road conditions 9.0% Infrastructure and construction, and traffic flow Concerns about long-term care, costs, insurance, 8.1% Health care mental health, and alcohol and drug abuse Lack of parks and Including arts and cultural activities, and activities for 7.0% recreation, entertainment, youth, adults, or seniors and activities *Some respondents listed multiple qualities in answering this open-ended question. Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 57, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

5.9 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 57. See “Appendix 3,” Assessment 2000: Final Report, for all respondents’ verbatim responses to question 57.

38 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Overall strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities

Household Survey respondents’ perceptions about the existence and seriousness of 24 specified is- sues are another overall indicator of concern. Figure 5.3 lists the top ten issues that respondents believe are “serious” or “very serious” problems in McLean County.5.10

All but three of these ten most serious issues were ranked in the top ten serious issues for the 1995 Community Assessment of Needs.5.11 Juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and lack of af- fordable health care seem to be greater concerns now than they were five years ago. The largest percentages of 1999 respondents indicated “don’t know” about the existence or seriousness of McLean County problems associated with support for ex-prisoners (60%), sexually transmitted disease (45%), HIV/AIDs (36%), and lack of affordable child care (34%). Respondents’ perceptions about the existence of and seriousness of issues may be influenced by media reports, conversation with others, and work, volunteer, or other personal experience. Respondents who had experience with specific issues rated those issues as more serious problems than respondents without experience with an issue.

Figure 5.3: Top Ten Issues Residents Rate as “Serious” or “Very Serious” Problems in McLean County (n varies) Percent Issue of residents

49.5% of 1479 High cost of prescription drugs 42.8% of 1477 Drug abuse 42.3% of 1469 Gangs 35.6% of 1472 Low paying jobs without benefits 32.8% of 1470 Lack of affordable health care 31.8% of 1463 Lack of teen activities 31.8% of 1470 Alcohol abuse 30.8% of 1457 Child abuse and neglect 30.2% of 1446 Juvenile deliquency 29.0% of 1474 Lack of affordable housing Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 53, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

5.10 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 53. Respon- dents were asked to rate 24 quality of life issues on a scale from 1 (“not a problem”) to 5 (“very serious problem”) or to indicate “don’t know” if unsure. 5.11 Community Assessment of Needs: Community Survey Report, (Bloomington, 1995), 11. A list of 34 quality of life issues was presented in the 1995 Community Survey. Respondents were asked to rate each issue as 1 (“serious”), 2 (“somewhat serious”), or 3 (“not serious”). “Don’t know” was not given as an option.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 39 5. Needs and Resources: Overall strengths, concerns, challenges, and opportunities

Overall, 29 percent of responding households had experienced at least one of the following situations “in the last year”:5.12 • Difficulty obtaining or affording medical insurance, medical care, prescriptions, dental care, or another health care service or item (14% of households experienced one or more situations) • Serious parent-child conflict or other conflict within the family or a lack of teen activities (11% of households experienced one or more of these situations) • Illness or health condition (i.e., emotional problem, mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, HIV/ AIDS, sexually transmitted disease, teen pregnancy) (9% of households experienced one or more of these illnesses or health conditions) • Discrimination based on age, race, gender, sexuality, or disability (9% of households experi- enced discrimination based on one or more characteristics)

Although some of these issues disproportionately affect lower income households (e.g., difficulty obtaining or affording medical insurance, medical care, prescriptions, dental care, or another health care service or item), McLean County households at all income levels—low (less than $20,000), mid ($20,000 to $59,999), and high ($60,000+)—experienced the above problems.

Challenges and opportunities for health and human services: • County residents and providers generally acknowledge the County’s greatest strength is its people. Assessment 2000 participants said that the community does a good job of responding if made aware of need. Yet about one in five service providers (20%) acknowledged that a “lack of volunteers” is one of their three greatest challenges for providing services. The County has a potentially large volunteer pool. Volunteers must be recruited, trained, encouraged to make spe- cific contributions, and then recognized for their contributions. Some participants call for a centralized volunteer coordination function that could identify volunteer opportunities and serve as a referral source for such opportunities to churches, businesses with volunteer programs, youth and other community groups, and individuals. Such a coordinating function could be placed within an existing organization such as PATH, the United Way of McLean County, or the YWCA which runs the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). University organizations could partner with an agency that serves the larger community as a volunteer referral source. • Community and economic planning and development should widely include residents’ perspec- tives; ensure adequate access to goods and services; ensure fair and affordable tax burden for residents; and emphasize redevelopment/restoration of older homes and neighborhoods. • County organizations including media outlets and groups working with particular issues, may consider initiating information campaigns to heighten awareness about existence or seriousness of problems in the County including those most Assessment 2000 households “don’t know” about— availability of support services for ex-prisoners, sexually transmitted disease, HIV/AIDs, and availability of affordable child care. Organizations could also use this opportunity to highlight services, programs, and individuals that work to address such issues.

The following sections discuss strengths, resources, needs, and challenges associated with providing specific types of health and human services in McLean County.

5.12 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, questions 28 and 54.

40 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Income and poverty

Income Income and poverty McLean County residents are comparatively prosperous. Although the County’s 1996 per capita median income of $24,504 lagged behind the State of Illinois figure of $26,855, the large number of students (20,000+) in Bloomington- Normal makes that figure artificially low. Indeed, at $29,962 in 1996, the average annual pay level for Bloomington-Normal was second highest among Illinois metropolitan areas, ranked only behind Chicago, where 1996 average annual pay was $33,907.5.13 The 1999 median income of McLean County households is an estimated $44,600.

While these figures are good news for most County residents, a significant number of residents are less fortunate. Recent estimates indicate that 14 percent of households have incomes under $15,000 a year and 10 percent have annual incomes between $15,000 and $24,999.5.14 (See Figure 5.4.) 1995 U.S. Census estimates indicate that 8 percent of McLean County’s residents overall and 11 percent of children under age 18 live in poverty.5.15 McLean County’s Black population is between two and three times more likely to live in poverty than its White residents.5.16 Although no recent figures are

Figure 5.4: Percent of Households by Income Categories

25%

20.9% 20.6% 20.9% 20%

15% 13.6% 14.1%

9.8% Percent 10%

5%

0% under $15,000 to $25,000 to $35,000 to $50,000 to $75,000 $15,000 $24,999 $34,999 $49,999 $74,999 or more Household income Source: The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999).

5.13 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Average Annual Pay Levels in Metropolitan Areas for the State of Illinois,” [news release], (11 February 1998). 5.14 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 5.15 U.S. Census Bureau, “Model-Based Income and Poverty Estimates for McLean County, Illinois in 1995,” [news re- lease], (17 February 1999). 5.16 McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Commu- nity Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 8.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 41 5. Needs and Resources: Income and poverty

available, 1989 U.S. Census data indicate that the per capita income of Black residents was 64 per- cent that of Whites; the per capita income of Hispanic residents was 50 percent that of whites. In 1989, certain other categories of residents—older adults living alone and female-headed households with children in particular—were considerably more likely than other residents to be poor.

Welfare The number of McLean County recipients of State-administered welfare benefits (Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and Food Stamps) has been declining in recent years, partly as a result of welfare-to-work policies, and partly because of steadily improving job opportunities in the County. In November 1999, only 94 County residents were receiving TANF income supplements; of these, 68 TANF recipients (72%) had earned income and most employed recipients were working full-time. This is not to say that low-income McLean County residents do not receive public support: 3,964 are enrolled in Medicaid and receive Food Stamps; 606 receive Food Stamps only.5.17 Figures provided by Voices for Illinois Children indicate that 506 McLean County children are enrolled in the new KidCare medical coverage program.5.18 Local public health agencies report that as many as 10,000 children in low-income families are eligible for KidCare coverage. And during the past five years, a steadily increasing number of McLean County residents, ranging from 860 in 1994/1995 to 1,654 in 1998/1999, received General Assistance (administered through The Town of the City of Bloomington Township) to cover necessary expenses.5.19

Working poverty Assessment 2000 survey respondents, focus group participants, and key informants agree that the major challenge for community leaders, planners, and health and human service providers in the years to come is working poverty. People making the transition from welfare to work often find themselves less well off as their incomes rise beyond eligibility requirements for Medicaid, food stamps, child care support, and public or subsidized housing. Furthermore, regardless of welfare history, many McLean County residents have incomes too high to qualify for government-funded support programs, but too low to purchase basic necessities. Service providers are frustrated by the categorical funding regulations that make it impossible for them to address the needs of local people. According to one key informant, “Social services are geared to income eligibility and specific popu- lation designations—also to people with fixed incomes. If we want people to be in the workforce, we must provide support to make this possible. We must raise the income eligibility.”

Assessment 2000 Household Survey responses indicate concern about many issues related to working poverty. The issue ranking second among those judged to be a “very serious problem” by survey respondents (18%) was “low paying jobs without benefits.” One respondent wrote, “The cost of housing is very high. The cost of child care is high also. I’m lucky to have the job I have. I don’t see how some families make it with the high costs.” Another said a major worry is the “Cost of living going up and salaries remaining the same or not increasing as much as cost of living.” A third commented about the “Many who are in temporary-contract or part-time work as their main source

5.17 Department of Human Services, [interim report], (Bloomington, IL, December 1999). 5.18 Illinois Department of Public Aid, [personal communication], (Springfield, IL, November 1999). 5.19 The Town of the City of Bloomington, Township Office of General Assistance Welfare, provided these data. Other McLean County Townships offer General Assistance. Some townships work independently of Bloomington. The Town of the City of Bloomington Township figures indicate the bulk of County needs.

42 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Income and poverty

of income and have no benefits.” A fourth called for “Child care for second and third shift. More support for low income families in rural areas.” A fifth wrote, “In 20 years my taxes have gone from $450 per year to $2,800 per year. My salary has not kept up. It now takes two salaries.” Finally, a respondent summed up the situation, describing a “Growing two-class system. Very affluent commu- nity but still with many who struggle.”

To the extent that individuals and families meet eligibility requirements, virtually all of McLean County’s 200+ health and human service organizations support the needs of County residents who are among the working poor. The majority (85%) of the Community Health Care Clinic’s patients are employed, as are many of the people using services provided by the McLean County Health Depart- ment, Planned Parenthood, the Center for Human Services, and the Scott Health Resources Center. Early childhood and family support services provided by agencies and programs including the Children’s Foundation, Catholic Social Services, Department of Children and Family Services, the Baby Fold, Head Start and Healthy Start, number many working families among their clients. Hous- ing, food pantry and group meals, financial counseling, and adult education services support the working poor. Services for at-risk youth, homeless people, persons with disabilities, and older adults aid working people.

Service providers identify conditions that make it hard for working families and households to im- prove their circumstances. • One key informant discussed the needs of “Newly-employed low-wage workers for life skills training, decision-making support, information and child care, etc.” S/he suggested that these needs “Could best be met through the workplace.” • Another commented that people transitioning from welfare cannot reduce their work hours, en- roll in educational or training classes, and continue to receive assistance. Thus, Illinois’ “Work First” orientation may deprive people of ways to move out of poverty. • Others talked about work and life environments that force people (usually women) to make im- possible choices. One example is the person holding a minimum-wage job whose child’s school calls the workplace to say that the worker’s son or daughter is sick and needs to be picked up. If the parent leaves work to pick up the child, s/he runs the risk of being fired. If s/he does not pick up the child, s/he may be accused of neglect. Furthermore, as indicated elsewhere in this report, Household Survey respondents identify care for a sick child and back up child care as the types of child care that are most difficult to find. The cost of child care is also a problem. One service provider commented, “How can mom get off welfare when it costs her more money in day care than she would make working each week?” • In addition, lack of affordable housing and public transportation serving areas where many low- income people live undermine people’s chances of both keeping jobs and achieving career ad- vancement. One service provider commented, “The local transportation system does not accom- modate the working families without personal vehicles. When the buses stop running at 6:00 [p.m.], people have a hard time getting to and from work.”

Focus group participants identified a problem that disproportionately affects the working poor— access to and management of money. The focus group with members of the Hispanic community indicated a problem obtaining bank accounts for persons without Social Security numbers. Employ-

Health and Human Services in McLean County 43 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

ers pay them with checks they are unable to cash. Whether documented or not, workers with limited English-speaking ability have difficulty using local banks and dealing with tax forms. This situation leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and limits their freedom to spend what they earn as they wish. The focus group representing religious organizations identified two other important problems—people who cannot manage their own money (mainly due to mental illness) and people with huge credit card debt. This group identified a need for trustworthy, affordable, accessible financial education and management services. Focus group participants and key informants also identified a bad credit his- tory as a problem for many working people, affecting their access to housing and transportation in particular.

The working poor tend to be viewed as a problem rather than a resource. Yet they make important contributions to the community. As indicated in section 5, “Employment,” of this report, the occupa- tions pouring the most money into the local economy are low-wage occupations. Furthermore, low- income service workers, including cashiers, retail sales people, food-service staff, nursing assistants, maintenance workers, and others support the life-styles of the more prosperous. Their taxes help to fund local infrastructure and public education. Their purchases fuel the booming local retail, restau- rant, entertainment, and financial services industries. In short, McLean County needs the working poor, but fails to prioritize the needs of this population in community development initiatives and fails to involve them actively in planning and problem-solving.

Implications for health and human services: • In a prosperous community, low-income people can be both marginalized and invisible. They face special challenges in obtaining good quality, affordable, appropriate housing, public trans- portation, child care, health care, and other elements necessary to maintain a comfortable life- style. Enlightened self interest suggests that the County as a whole will benefit from implement- ing planning and services that meet the needs of all residents, rather than just those with moder- ate and high incomes. • As assistance provided by the State declines, more assistance is (and will be) sought at local levels. Ending “welfare as we know it” will not end need; getting people off the welfare rolls does not guarantee their self-sufficiency. Thus, the County will benefit from developing an increasing array of both safety net and upward mobility programs. • Because of its prosperity, McLean County can afford to provide effective support programs to help many low-income residents make the transition out of poverty and to improve the quality of life of those who will not make that transition. • Low-income people are neither necessarily “clients,” nor passive recipients of the community’s largesse. Focus groups conducted for this project indicate that adults dealing with poverty have opinions, ideas, and abilities the community could harness more effectively to meet the social challenges of the future.

Housing Housing and Owning and renting homelessness According to a survey conducted in 1999 for The Pantagraph, 67 percent of McLean County adults own homes, while 30 percent rent. Two-thirds of McLean County

44 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

adults live in single family homes, 9 percent live in townhouses or duplexes, 5 percent live in mobile homes, and 17 percent live in apartments.5.20 Rural residents are more likely to own their homes than their urban neighbors.5.21

In McLean County, whether people own or rent their homes is related to their age, income, sex, and marital status. Assessment 2000 Household Survey responses indicate that people in the youngest (18 to 29) and oldest (75 to 84) age groups are more likely to rent than are other County residents. (See Figure 5.5.) People with higher incomes more often own their homes than people with lower incomes. Single men are more likely to own homes than are single women. Married people are more likely to own than are single people.

Paying for housing The average sale price of a single family dwelling in Bloomington-Normal rose from $79,375 in 1990 to $131,768 in 1999, a 66 percent increase. The average sale price of a new home built in 1999 was $174,151, a 7 percent increase from the average new home price in 1998. Most houses (64%) avail-

Figure 5.5: Percent of Owners and Renters by Age Groups

% Own % Rent

100% 7% 7% 5% 8% 21% 18%

80%

60%

93% 93% 95% 92%

Percent 40% 79% 82%

20%

0% 18-29 30-39 40-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 Age group Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, questions 4 and 15, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

5.20 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 5.21 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 82.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 45 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

able for sale in Bloomington-Normal are priced at $100,000 or more. (See Figure 5.6.) The 36 percent of houses selling for under $100,000 tend to be smaller, with 28 percent having two or fewer bed- rooms, 55 percent having three bedrooms, 16 percent having four bedrooms, and 1 percent having five bedrooms. By comparison, only 1 percent of houses selling for over $100,000 have two or fewer bedrooms, while 36 percent have three bedrooms, 58 percent have four bedrooms, and 6 percent have five bedrooms.5.22

Current data are not available for home prices in rural McLean County. According to the U.S. Cen- sus, the 1990 median home value of owner-occupied homes was lower in rural areas than in Bloom- ington-Normal. Rising assessed valuations in the County’s rural communities suggests that this situ- ation may be changing.5.23

McLean County rents vary according to apartment location. With some exceptions, they tend to be lowest in rural McLean County and the Town of Normal (excluding the Illinois State University housing area), higher in Bloomington, and highest of all for apartments in Illinois State University’s student housing area.5.24 (See Figure 5.7.)

Figure 5.6: Percent of Homes Sold by Price Range in Bloomington-Normal, 1998

$180,000 + 17%

$140,000 - $179,999 18%

$120,000 - $139,999 14%

$100,000 - $119,999 15%

$80,000 - $99,999 16%

Price range of homes sold

$0 - $79,999 20%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Percent Source: Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors, Residential Type Home Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1999).

5.22 Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors, Residential Type Home Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 5.23 Falcone, P., “No Small Affair,” The Pantagraph, (Bloomington, IL, 18 July 1999). 5.24 McLean County Apartment Association, McLean County Rental Survey, (Normal, IL, 1998).

46 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

Figure 5.7: Average Monthly Rent of Apartments by Area and Number of Bedrooms

Normal Outside (excluding West East Illinois State Category Category Bloomington-- Illinois State Bloomington Bloomington University average Normal University)

Studio $e425 n6ot availabl $431 $631 $034 $35

1 bedroom $5405 $833 $239 $539 $740 $38

2 bedroom $8489 $249 $246 $551 $556 $50

3 bedroom $5694 $966 $057 $767 $973 $66

4 bedroom $0778 $575 $087 $675 $898 $82

Other $0449 $e50 neot availabl n8ot availabl $6152 $82

Area $0540 $655 $852 $152 $176 $58 average Source: McLean County Apartment Association, McLean County Rental Survey, (Normal, IL, 1998).

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has determined as it criteria for housing affordability that housing should cost no more than 30 percent of a household’s gross income. Many McLean County residents may not be able to afford adequate housing. Considering the information in Figure 5.7, the 30 percent HUD criteria, and County household incomes, a McLean County house- hold needs a gross annual income of: • $15,480 to afford a one-bedroom apartment ($7.44 per hour for a single wage earner); • $20,200 to afford a two-bedroom apartment ($9.71 per hour for a single wage earner); and • $26,760 to afford a three-bedroom apartment ($12.87 per hour for a single wage earner).5.25

A full-time worker earning the Federal Minimum Wage of $5.15 an hour could afford $267 for hous- ing, which is considerably less than the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the County ($387).

Assessment 2000 Household Survey results indicate that lower income residents spend a greater proportion of their incomes on housing than their higher income neighbors. Between 40 and 60 percent of households with annual incomes of less than $20,000 spend one-third or more of their income on housing; whereas, less than 20 percent of households with annual incomes over $60,000

5.25 National Low Income Housing Coalition, Out of Reach, [Internet], http://www.nlihc.org/oor99/introduction.htm, (Sep- tember 1999); The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, 7.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 47 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

Figure 5.8: Percent of Income Going Toward Housing by Income Range

4% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1% 0% 100% 5% 9% 13% 10% 17%

29% 29% 30% 80% 34% 36%

48% 45% 60%

100% 90% 40% 82% 68% 69% 69% 59% 62%

20% 44% 42%

0% Percent of income going toward housing $14,999 $19,999 $29,999 $39,999 $49,999 $59,999 $99,999 $9,000 to $200,000+ $199,999 $15,000 to $20,000 to $30,000 to $40,000 to $50,000 to $60,000 to up to$ 8,999 $100,000 to More than one-half Income range One-third to one-half Less than one-third Source: Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 16, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

spend one-third or more of their income on housing. (See Figure 5.8.) In addition, younger people tend to spend a larger proportion of their incomes on housing than older people. Over one-third of survey respondents under age 40 spend more than one-third of their incomes on housing compared to one-fifth of respondents over age 40.

Public and subsidized housing All McLean County public housing is located in Bloomington. The current total of 633 units is mostly one- to two-bedroom apartments.5.26 Twenty-two families are currently on the waiting list for public housing.5.27 Key informants indicate that at present, 83 public housing units designated for the elderly are vacant.

The Assessment 2000 focus group composed of public housing residents identified the following problems in Bloomington’s public housing: • Mental illnesses suffered by some residents and lack of comprehensive mental health services; • Ongoing tension between older and younger residents;

5.26 Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, Illinois, [interim report], (1999). 5.27 Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, Illinois, Draft Agency Plans for the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, (September 1999).

48 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

• Adult children living with their parents; • More housing available for seniors than is needed; • Need for more housing for younger people; and • Bloomington Housing Authority staff, “Should talk to residents about what they need, rather than telling them what they need.”

In addition to public housing, McLean County has rental housing that is partially or fully subsidized by the government. Of this housing, 25 percent is in rural McLean County, 32 percent is in Normal, and 43 percent is in Bloomington.5.28 Currently, 387 McLean County families are on the waiting list for section 8 (subsidized) housing vouchers.5.29

Assessment 2000 key informants indicate that there is a need for case management and referral services for residents of subsidized apartment complexes. They also report some tension resulting from mixed populations (elderly, disabled, families with young children) and from lack of supervision of children in the complexes. In addition, in some complexes there are problems with gangs and drugs that are exacerbated by high density and difficulty enforcing rules about guests and unauthorized persons on the premises. Nonetheless, key informants say, only a handful of people cause these problems.

Housing needs and resources Needs The 524 Household Survey respondents who commented about housing in McLean County identified the following categories of problems: • High property taxes (45.6%); • Lack of affordable rental or owner-occupied housing (32.8%); • Poor local housing development planning (12.6%); • Lack of access to basic goods and services and inadequate maintenance of infrastructure (e.g., poor sidewalks, inadequate snow removal) (5.2%); • Poor apartment management and maintenance (2.1%); and • Expense of home maintenance (1.7%);

Many comments link rising prices of new homes to increasing property taxes. One respondent com- mented, “[Housing] has become overly inflated, which also makes real estate taxes too high. See little to no benefits from this ‘growth.’ No bus, no park in walking distance—can’t get across Veterans.”

Rural residents also complain that they get little for the property taxes they pay. One respondent wrote, “Taxes are too high—at least where I live. They are higher in Heyworth than in Bloomington for a comparable house.” Another rural dweller wrote, “Taxes are too high! Grocery stores too far away—turning into ghost town. Everybody moving away.” Older adults are concerned about the

5.28 McLean County Apartment Association. 5.29 Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, Illinois, Draft Agency Plans for the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 49 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

pressure rising taxes impose on homeowners with fixed incomes. One respondent commented, “We, along with a lot of other people, will probably be selling our home when we retire as we’ll be in the poor house trying to pay taxes.”

Urban sprawl and deterioration of old neighborhoods was the focus of a number of comments. One survey respondent commented, “Let’s renovate older homes—stop wasting valuable farmland for million-dollar show places—tax breaks to renovate older homes.” Another wrote, “Excessive new subdivision development has led to increased disregard for older areas which, in turn, are declining.” A third said, “Seems like if you live west of Morris Avenue, you don’t have too good of a chance of getting a good price for a house if you sell it.”

Many survey respondents commented on the lack of affordable housing. Indeed, more than 29 per- cent of survey respondents ranked this issue as a serious or very serious problem in McLean County. (See Figure 5.2.) One respondent wrote, “I think apartments run too high. Unaffordable for the young adults just starting out.” Another commented, “Affordable housing for couples who don’t make much money or especially single people in a decent area is almost nonexistent. Unless you want to live in projects or rough neighborhoods.” A third said, “For my salary, I cannot afford an apartment along with regular bills and car loan.” A fourth wrote, “I feel like at my age of 48 I will never be able to afford to buy a house in McLean County because it’s too expensive for a single woman to afford.” A fifth commented, “There is a great need for housing for low-income and dis- abled individuals/families. Hard to find housing to suit these groups.” A service provider reported that his agency has applicants who spend 50 to 60 percent of their incomes on housing.

In addition to available affordable housing, survey respondents identified a need for local policies, services, and culture receptive to its development. One respondent wrote, “Need for special loans and grants for single people that want to build a home. Everything is for people with children or the elderly.” Another called for “Programs for down payment assistance for first time home buyers.” A third commented, “McLean County needs more housing developments within a price range that will accommodate low-income home buyers. Additionally, ‘in-place’ neighbors need to be more recep- tive to having the developments nearby.”

Resources According to the recently completed McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan, “Virtually all the resources needed to enhance sensible housing growth already exist in McLean County. These include developers, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, social service groups, neigh- borhood associations, local universities, lending institutions, and other organizations that play a role in shaping housing growing in McLean County.”5.30 The County has recognized a need for affordable housing for some time.5.31 Provision of public and subsidized rental housing and development of affordable owner-occupied housing by programs such as Habitat for Humanity, Youthbuild, and the City of Bloomington’s down-payment assistance programs help some households that meet eligibil- ity requirements. However, the need for affordable housing outstrips current local efforts to fill it.

5.30 McLean County Regional Planning Commission, McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan: Preliminary Report, (Bloomington, IL, November 1999), 73. 5.31 For example, see Together We Can, 44-47.

50 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

Furthermore, there are two major obstacles to development of affordable rental and owner-occupied housing: • Developer-driven planning; and • Strong “Not In My Back Yard” (NIMBY) sentiments of residents and neighborhoods.

Local land use planning has influenced the direction of growth, particularly on the fringes of Bloom- ington and Normal. However, it has not effectively controlled developers’ tendencies to build big houses for the prosperous, rather than developments for low- and moderate-income homebuyers. Furthermore, there has been no comprehensive approach to renovation of older housing and neigh- borhoods in McLean County communities.5.32 Generally speaking, developers build the housing that will garner the largest profit; they justify this approach on the basis that since people will buy the houses they build, there must be a need for this housing. Developers’ ability to purchase land and obtain permission to build drives development planning in McLean County.

Residents’ perceptions that development of affordable housing will decrease property values and bring a lower class of people to their neighborhoods results in opposition to the building of residences for low-income people. This opposition frustrates the mixing of affordable housing with moderate and higher-end developments which is viewed as the key to healthy neighborhood development.5.33 The ultimate effect of NIMBY is to concentrate low-income people in high-density public or subsi- dized housing—a situation that leads to a range of problems.

Homelessness During the period between June 1, 1998 and May 31, 1999, 148 homeless persons/families requested assistance from local agencies. Persons requesting tend to be single males, female heads of families, or Black persons. One-half of persons requesting assistance were males in one-person households. Female headed households with families of two to four represent almost one-quarter (23%) of per- sons requesting assistance in 1998/1999. Over one-third (37%) of homeless persons were Black men (28) and women (27).5.34

A variety of services, all located in Bloomington-Normal, are offered to McLean County’s homeless individuals and families. Six organizations provide emergency shelter; 173 beds are available, not including places for homeless young people provided by Project Oz. Eleven organizations provide food or meals. Additional services, together with numbers of providers, include emergency rent (6), utility assistance (7), case management (5), health care (6), mental health care (3), assistance for veterans (3), job placement (2), mentoring (2), intake and assessment (1), transportation (1), child care (1), dental care (1), legal services (1), occupational screening (1), and education (1).5.35 Thirty- six transitional housing facilities, ranging from efficiency units to one five-bedroom dwelling, are offered to homeless individuals and families. In addition, people made homeless by domestic vio-

5.32 McLean County Regional Planning Commission, 71. 5.33 McLean County Regional Planning Commission, 73. 5.34 McLean County Continuum of Care, Regional Online Service Information System (ROSIE). For additional information, contact PATH (Providing Access to Help), (309) 827-4005. 5.35 City of Bloomington, Illinois, Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 35- 38.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 51 5. Needs and Resources: Housing and homelessness

lence receive housing and other assistance through local agencies. McLean County also provides permanent supportive housing to people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities, some of whom have been homeless.

According to an Assessment 2000 key informant, the official number of homeless in McLean County underestimates the problem because it does not include people under age 18 who run away, are locked out, or lose their homes for other reasons. Because these teens are legally dependent, it is difficult to provide services for them. In addition, many homeless people, regardless of age are housed informally in the community. One local agency indicated that it provides services to the “Couch Homeless.” According to a key informant, PATH routinely receives calls from people “living with relatives” and “on the street.”

Many of the adult homeless in McLean County suffer from a mental illness or are substance abusers. Some suffer from developmental disabilities. According to key informants, while local shelters usu- ally have the capacity to serve individual adults, there is sometimes a problem finding space for families with children. Since welfare reform, service providers note an increase in the number of single women among the homeless.

Implications for health and human services: • There is a continuing and growing need for affordable housing in McLean County. If low-in- come people pay too much for housing, they may cut back on other necessities affecting health and quality of life. It is the responsibility of the community to ensure that sufficient affordable housing is built, made accessible for people with physical limitations, and supported with ser- vices such as public transportation and child care. • Affordable housing does not have to be new. Renovation of older homes and neighborhoods for use as affordable housing will benefit both low-income residents and the wider community. • Affordable housing must be coupled with affordable property taxes. Otherwise, low-income homeowners may be unable to keep their homes. • Developers are building increasingly expensive homes—presumably because this is more profit- able than building homes within the means of low-income County residents. Without pressure and incentives from communities, developers will not build affordable apartments, homes, and developments. • Attention must be paid, not only to the cost, but to the type of developments planned and built in the County. Zero-lot line subdivisions and barracks-like apartment complexes are neither the most aesthetically pleasing, nor necessarily the healthiest designs for the communities of the future. The Traditional Neighborhood Development (or New Urbanism) movement that pro- motes neighborhood designs incorporating communal spaces, sidewalks, and other areas planned for social contact and exercise may suggest options for McLean County planners.5.36 There is no reason neighborhoods of the future could not include access to appropriate types of health and human services.

5.36 McLean County Regional Planning Commission, 68-69 and “Traditional Neighborhood Developments,” Visions News- letter of McLean County Regional Planning Commission, (Bloomington, IL, Summer 1999).

52 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Employment

Employment is crucial to individual, family, and community quality Employment of life. The income, benefits, training, and experience derived from employment build the conditions necessary for prosperity, security, and health. Plentiful good jobs and a high-quality workforce are key to community economic develop- ment. Good relationships between employers and workers and a flexible, stimulating, nurturing work environment supports recruitment, retention, and success of businesses and employees. Thus, identi- fying and implementing innovative ways to link the workplace with health and human services will benefit the community as a whole.

Employment and industry in McLean County At 2.1 percent, McLean County’s unemployment rate is among the lowest in the State of Illinois. Indeed, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, in October 1999 the number of people employed reached a new all-time high in Bloomington-Normal. 5.37 Unemployment among Blacks has consistently been double that of Whites during the period from 1990 to 1996. 5.38

Reflecting national trends, McLean County’s workforce is composed of approximately equal propor- tions of men (52%) and women (48%). 5.39 Seventy percent of Assessment 2000 Household Survey respondents report being employed, with 87 percent holding one job and 13 percent holding two or more jobs.

Generally speaking, McLean County’s adult workers fall within three broad occupational categories: professional, technical, executive and managerial (23%); sales, support, and clerical (24%); and blue collar (24%). 5.40 The majority (67%) of McLean County workers are employed in the private for- profit sector. Fourteen percent of workers are employed by State, local, or Federal government employers; eight percent work in the not-for-profit sector; and six percent are self-employed. 5.41 Fourteen percent of adults are retired. 5.42

McLean County has a healthy balanced economy. All industrial sectors employ stable numbers of people except financial services, retail, trade, and miscellaneous services, where employment is growing rapidly. (See Figure 5.9.) Demand is increasing most dramatically in retail and service employment for workers at all points on the wage and qualification spectrum—from fast food workers and cash- iers on the one hand, to nurses, teachers, and executives on the other hand. 5.43

All workers contribute to the local economy by spending on taxes, housing, food, transportation, health care, and a variety of other goods and services. It is noteworthy, however, that workers in low- paid occupations make a comparatively large, under-recognized contribution. Of the twenty occupa- tions making the largest financial contribution to the local economy, the five employing the most

5.37 Illinois Department of Employment Security, “Job Growth Continues in Most Illinois Metro Areas,” [Internet news release], http://lmi.ides.state.i8l.us/html/metronews999.htm, (23 November 1999). 5.38 McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Commu- nity Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 6. 5.39 U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 3A, [database], (1990). 5.40 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 5.41 U.S. Census Bureau, USA Counties, [CD-ROM], (1996). 5.42 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000. 5.43 Illinois Department of Employment Security, 1992-2005 Occupational Projections, (Springfield, IL, May 1996).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 53 5. Needs and Resources: Employment

Figure 5.9: Number Employed by Industry in McLean County, 1990 and 2005 (Projected)

1,809 Construction 2,627 1990 Employment Agriculture, forestry, 3,642 2005 Employment and fishing 3,106 2,598 Wholesale trade 3,213 2,591 Government 3,259 Transportation, communi- 3,393 cations, & utilities 3,714 7,808 Manufacturing 8,015

Occupational group Finance, insurance, 11,330 and real estate 13,954 12,009 Retail trade 15,338 23,234 Services 30,180

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

Number employed Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security, 1992-2005 Occupational Projections, (Spring- field, IL, May 1996) in McLean County Workforce Issues 1998, Applied Social Research Unit, (Normal, IL: Illinois State University, June 1998).

people are assemblers and fabricators, retail salespeople, cashiers, general managers and top execu- tives, and waiters and waitresses. Four of these five occupations pay an average annual salary of less than $20,000. The third largest group of workers, cashiers, earns an average of $13,680 per year; the fifth largest group, waiters and waitresses, annually earns an average of $12,000. (See Figure 5.10.) 5.44

In McLean County, there are 3,410 establishments that employ people. Most of these employers are very small. Indeed, only 12 organizations employ more than 499 people; 75 (2%) employ between 100 and 499 workers; 420 (12%) employ between 20 and 99 people; and 2,903 establishments (85%) employ between 1 and 19 workers. 5.45 Although many McLean County employees work full-time for large employers, those who work for small firms, work part-time, or are self-employed encounter special challenges in accessing benefits including comprehensive health insurance coverage, pen- sions, and employee assistance programs. 5.46

5.44 Illinois Department of Employment Security, 1997 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Bloomington-Normal, IL MSA, [Internet], http://stats.bls.gov/oes_1040m.htm, (November 1999). 5.45 U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, [CD-ROM], (1995). 5.46 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000.

54 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Employment

Figure 5.10: Number Employed and Average Annual Pay of the Top 20 Occupations Contributing the Most to the McLean County Economy

Number employed

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000

Assemblers & Fabricators, not 2,630 Machine, Electric., & Precision

Salespersons, Retail 2,130

Cashiers 1,820

General Managers 1,720 & Top Executives

Waiters & Waitresses 1,500

General Office Clerks 1,380

Secretaries, Except Legal 1,280 & Medical 1st Line Supervisors & Managers of 1,150 Clerical & Adm. Support Workers Janitors & Cleaners, not Maids 990 & Housekeeping Cleaners Bookkeeping, Accounting, 960 & Auditing Clerks Clerical & Administrative 860 Support Workers, unclassified Truck Drivers, Heavy 850 or Tractor-Trailer 1st Line Supervisors & Mgrs. 850 of Sales & Related Workers Laborers, Landscaping & 810 Groundskeeping

Accountants & Auditors 780

Prof., Paraprof., & Tech. 710 Workers, unclassified Managers and Administrators 600 of unclassified occupations

Insurance Underwriters 540

All Other Management 440 Support Workers

Financial Managers 330

$- $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 Average annual pay

Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security, 1997 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employ- ment and Wage Estimates, Bloomington-Normal, IL MSA, [Internet], http://stats.bls.gov/oes/state/ oes_1040m.htm, (November 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 55 5. Needs and Resources: Employment

McLean County’s workforce development and support system 5.47 McLean County’s workforce development and support system is large and complex. In part, it is made up of organizations that offer formal programs or services designed to prepare people for work, help them find jobs, and support their career development. These organizations include: • Education and training providers, including public and private schools (K through 12), the Area Vocational Center, two- and four-year colleges, and for-profit tutoring and training firms; • Social agencies and programs, including government and nonprofit organizations offering a vari- ety of training and employment support services to many special populations; • Labor unions that provide training and support for members and advocate for benefits and good working conditions; and • Employers offering training, support services, and benefits to their employees and work experi- ence opportunities to area schools.

The County’s workforce development and support system also includes a growing array of commit- tees and initiatives intended to foster communication and collaboration among educators, social ser- vice agencies, employers, and labor organizations. These groups and projects include the Heartland Regional Partnership and the McLean County Compact, which focus on education-to-careers pro- gramming; the United Workforce Development Board, which provides training and employment sup- port services to eligible clients; Job Partners, which delivers job readiness and employment support services to people transitioning from welfare to work; the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Workforce Issues Committee, which supports the Chamber’s goal to “attract, retain, and train a qual- ity educated workforce”; 5.48 and the Employment Support Services group, which works to reduce barriers to employment affecting hard-to-employ County residents.

Finally, the County’s workers and their families receive support from facilities and services not ex- plicitly organized for this purpose, including housing, public transportation, child care, respite care for family members with disabled or elderly dependents, cash assistance, counseling, and health care.

Improving employment support services In research conducted for the Assessment 2000 and McLean County Workforce Issues 1998 project, McLean County residents, service providers, and employers provided information about their expe- riences, preferences, and needs associated with job training and employment support. Project partici- pants also discussed ways employers and human service providers could work together to improve workers’ access to employment support services.

Education and training To get and keep jobs and advance in careers, McLean County workers need education and training. Ten percent of Assessment 2000 Household Survey respondents said they or members of their house- holds need job training “to get a better job or a promotion” and/or “to learn or do a job better.” More than half (52%) of respondents with training needs indicated need for computer-related skills. Smaller

5.47 For more information, see Applied Social Research Unit, McLean County Workforce Issues 1998, (Normal, IL: Illinois State University, 1998). 5.48 Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council, [organizational brochure], (McLean County, IL, [1999]).

56 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Employment

percentages of respondents with training needs (less than 10% in each case) wanted training in a specific trade or a broad field such as business, finance, or management. Respondents indicated that training costs and lack of time are the main reasons people fail to get the training they need.

Other study participants, including focus group and key informant interviewees, identified local need for training in information technologies and a facility where up-to-date computers are available to the general public. One employer commented that the Illinois Education and Training Center (IETC) provides pubic access to computers, but questioned if County residents are aware of the services and training opportunities offered by the IETC.

People with limited English language abilities face special challenges in acquiring job skills. His- panic residents commented on their lack of technical skills; trouble following written or spoken instructions; and lack of training for applying and interviewing for jobs. They suggest that services specifically for Hispanics be offered in one location and include: • Up-to-date technical skills training in Spanish, enabling opportunities for good jobs paying more than the minimum wage; • English as a Second Language classes for differing skills levels; and • American cultural skills training to aid job application, interviewing, and successful employ- ment.

Hispanic residents also commented that health and human service providers, school personnel, and employers need cultural sensitivity training to increase their patience and understanding when deal- ing with Hispanics. Finally, Hispanic residents suggested that the Illinois Department of Employ- ment Security hire a speaker of Spanish to help Hispanics complete job applications, make interview appointments, provide interview training, and follow-up with clients.

Employment support services Many McLean County residents need help with personal and family issues to enable them to get and keep jobs and advance in their careers. Lack of access to appropriate affordable services can affect workers’ reliability and productivity. While employers have traditionally had little to do with provid- ing or facilitating health and human services for their employees, according to one research partici- pant there is growing awareness in the business community of the extent to which social issues affect the workplace. During this period of low unemployment and competition for workers, employers may find it in their organizational best interest to help link employees with services.

Research participants indicate that the following services would improve workers’ success with get- ting and keeping jobs and would improve employers’ success with attracting and retaining good workers: • Public transportation services available for longer hours and covering a larger area. Most Household Survey respondents (92%) drive to work; fewer than 100 respondents (8%) reported using some other mode of transportation to get to work (e.g., take the bus, walk, bike, or use a company vehicle) or working at home. About one in five respondents (18%) reported that a household member had trouble getting work in the past year because of transportation problems. Of respondents who commented about public transportation (n=11), they mentioned buses not running to particular areas (West College Avenue) or at particular times (early or late enough or

Health and Human Services in McLean County 57 5. Needs and Resources: Employment

on Sunday). One employer mentioned that staff working in the evening might be able to use the bus to get to work, but cannot get home again because mass transit stops at 6 p.m. (Please see the “Transportation” section of this report for more information.) • Affordable accessible child care services—particularly back-up care and care for a sick child. Problems with child care increase absenteeism. Employers comment that child care presents a particular challenge for single parents. Low-income parents have more trouble finding afford- able child care than do people with higher incomes. Respondents needed care for disabled chil- dren or care during a second or third work shift the least. Yet, for respondents who need care for a disabled child or for second or third work shifts, these types of care were the most difficult to find. (Please see the “Child care and family support” section of this report.) • Benefits and employment support services for all workers. Employees of small firms, self-em- ployed people, and part-time workers often lack health insurance and other benefits. Fifteen percent of employed Household Survey respondents reported that no benefits are offered through their jobs. Focus group participants indicated the problems small employers have offering ben- efits. They also reported increasing numbers of people without health insurance or paid time off for medical appointments. • Increased employment and support for persons with disabilities. Despite efforts of some em- ployers to recruit and hire employees with disabilities, study participants indicated that others (including some major County employers) are behind in this matter. Assessment 2000 focus group participants suggested improvement and marketing of services to inform employers about jobs for which people with disabilities are trained and are able to perform; help disabled people find employment; provide training for persons with disabilities; and inform employers about workspace changes that would enable persons with disabilities to work. Research informants commented that although local agencies provide these services, some people with disabilities are unaware of them; in addition, informants identified a need to strengthen these services. (Please see the “People with disabilities” section of this report for more information.) • Increased employment and support for ex-offenders. (Please see the “Criminal justice” section of this report for more information.) • Substance abuse and mental health services. A representative of a manufacturing firm said that absenteeism due to drug and alcohol addiction or mental health problems is the greatest chal- lenge facing the company. This informant views McLean County social agency eligibility re- quirements as too stringent, social agencies as under-staffed, and agency staff members as under- paid and under-qualified. • Mentoring for workers. Study participants suggested mentoring for new workers and people who have been out of the workforce for a long time. One-to-one support and follow-up can help workers make the decisions and arrangements necessary to comply with workplace demands. In addition, mentoring in the workplace can help current employees identify and take advantage of career opportunities.

Links between health and human services and employers Employers participating in Assessment 2000 research called for more information about the services available in the community. A few use the PATH Directory to aid referrals; others were unaware of the Directory. Employers also indicated that workers are not aware of services available in the com-

58 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Transportation

munity. Employers would welcome direct communication from social agencies about services, eligibil- ity criteria, operating hours, and other issues affecting workers’ access to services.

Service providers participating in Assessment 2000 research view local businesses as partners and resources in planning and facilitating services. Their suggestions for employers include: • Providing information about health and human services in the workplace; • Training human resources staff to answer questions and inform employees about services; • Being flexible about allowing workers to access services (most of which are only available dur- ing regular business hours); • Being flexible about enabling workers to deal with family problems and scheduling challenges; • Allowing agency staff to provide information and services in the workplace; • Providing financial and other (computers) resources to local human service agencies; and • Allowing employees release time to volunteer.

Implications for health and human services: • McLean County’s prosperity depends, to a significant extent, on the labor and spending of nu- merous low-wage workers. Yet it is hard for low-income individuals and households to find high quality, appropriate, affordable housing, child care, health care, transportation, and other neces- sities. To attract and retain workers, employers must pay as well as possible. They must also continue to develop flexible, family-friendly working conditions, support services, and benefits. • In today’s tight labor market, employers must consider attracting “non-traditional” workers in- cluding retirees, persons with disabilities, homemakers, and the long-term unemployed. It is in employers’ best interest to develop appealing policies and working conditions and to offer access to a range of support services. • Employers and service providers should communicate more directly and often. Businesses should request and obtain information about services and agencies and use business publications to pass this information on to their employees. Social agencies should coordinate their approach to businesses and provide information in appropriate, user-friendly ways. Employers and service providers should continue to work together on community-based committees and collaborative projects. • Workplaces could become key access points for information about and links to health and human services. Because access to services would become more convenient, workers might seek help before a problem becomes a crisis. This, in turn, would reduce absenteeism and increase produc- tivity, thus benefiting employers.

Transportation—for getting to and returning from work, shopping, Transportation medical care, other sites for goods and services, and social and recreation activities—emerged as an important issue in Assessment 2000 research. Ability to access and afford transportation is linked to age, income, disability status, and other factors. Despite a number of transportation services within McLean County, some resi- dents and health and human service providers expressed dissatisfaction with availability of services and transportation planning.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 59 5. Needs and Resources: Transportation

Several organizations provide transportation services within McLean County: • The Bloomington-Normal Transit System operates eight fixed routes in Bloomington and Normal from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays. During fixed-route times, the Transit System also provides Spe- cial Bus Service, a curb-to-curb service for eligible riders who can not use fixed route service. Riders must schedule Special Bus Service. Costs for service one way are 50 cents or 25 cents depending on the age, student status, or disability status of the rider. Rides are free for pre-school children if accompanied by a fare paying rider. • Illinois State University (ISU) and the Bloomington-Normal Transit System provide Nite Ride service, a fixed-route bus service provided from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. around the ISU campus and to College Hills Mall during the spring and fall semesters. There is no cost for the service to ISU students with a student identification card. Students without ID and community members may ride the bus for 50 cents. Nite Ride also operates a Special Services Bus for students with disabilities who are unable to use the fixed-route bus and for students in some areas not included on the fixed route. • SHOW Bus, sponsored by Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, provides transportation service to residents living in rural parts of McLean County and several other counties. Anyone is eligible to ride SHOW Bus for any purpose on scheduled routes. Transportation is available on specially scheduled routes for medical and other appointments. Riders must make reservations at least 24 hours in advance for scheduled routes. SHOW Bus asks for a donation from riders 60 years and older and charges a fee of at least $5.00 (depending on the route) for persons under age 60. • The YWCA provides after hours transportation Monday through Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to midnight and on Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to midnight for individuals with low incomes and per- sons with disabilities to get to work and to child care providers. The YWCA charges $1.00 per ride (one way) per individual or family. • TLC Express provides transportation for children and seniors in Bloomington-Normal and the surrounding area Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Services must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. There are differing enrollment and trip fees for adults and children for one- way and round trips.

In addition to these services, other groups and organizations provide transportation to their clients or residents for specific purposes such as getting to medical appointments, school, work, or child care. Some long-term care facilities provide residents with transportation and some employers provide transportation to employees from outlying areas or in occasional cases of need. Six taxicab compa- nies and a shuttle service also operate in Bloomington-Normal. According to an informal taxicab survey conducted by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Workforce Issues Committee, five cab companies average anywhere from 100 to 300 people transported per day mainly to and from work with average fares of $4.00 to $6.50. 5.49 Cab fares are not affordable for persons with low incomes. For instance, a person working for the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour, may have to spend an hour’s worth of pay or more to take a cab one way to work.

5.49 McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Issues Committee, [informal taxicab survey], (Bloomington-Nor- mal, IL, Fall 1999).

60 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Transportation

Most Assessment 2000 Household Survey respondents reported using a household vehicle to get to work (92% of working respondents) or to a medical appointment (96%). 5.50 1990 Census data indi- cates that 6.3 percent of households (or 2,948 households) in McLean County do not have a car available in the household. 5.51 Households without cars depend on rides from persons outside of the household, public transportation, or another mode of transportation to get to and from work, medical and other appointments, centers for goods and services, and recreation and social activities.

Some McLean County residents have greater challenges in accessing transportation than other resi- dents. Assessment 2000 participants—survey respondents, focus group participants, and key infor- mants—referred to older adults, persons with disabilities, rural residents, young people, single par- ents, persons with low incomes, and persons working second or third shifts as people having the greatest need for reliable, affordable, timely, and accessible public transportation. About one in five service providers (15 providers out of 78 who commented about gaps) wrote that transportation has been a gap in McLean County’s health and human service delivery system in the past year. 5.52 One provider said, “transportation is insufficient to meet demands—especially to medical appointments and to work” in McLean County. Participants expressed general concerns about transportation in the County and reported need for these expanded public transportation services. • after 6:00 p.m.; • on Sunday; • to the north beyond Raab Road; • to the south to Meadows Trailer Park; • to the east beyond Hershey Drive; • to the west to the Outlet Mall and West College Avenue; • more frequent routes; • transportation to rural areas; • in the early morning; and • additional routes.

Transportation is important for self-sufficiency and independence. Available transportation increases opportunities for affordable housing, employment, and goods and services such as child care, medi- cal care, and shopping. One Household Survey respondent commented on both timing of and eligi- bility for services as issues of concern facing public transportation users, calling for “Help for the elderly. There is a bus for elderly/disabled but since my mom doesn’t use a cane or walker she can’t use it even though she can’t walk very far. She has to sit on a bus for 45 minutes to an hour to get to work. There needs to be more help for the elderly—housing, transportation, prescriptions, etc.” Another resident is concerned about “being able to find affordable housing to be able to live indepen- dently and transportation for medical care and shopping.” A key informant talked generally about

5.50 Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, questions 25 and 35, (Bloomington, IL, 2000). 5.51 U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 3A, [Internet], http://factfinder.census.gov, (December 1999). 5.52 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 53.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 61 5. Needs and Resources: Transportation

gaps in services for single parents and/or low-income parents and said many of these parents have no vehicle, low education, and limited job opportunities. They may lack confidence and have a high stress level from coping with limited resources. These factors combine to increase depression, a sense of oppression, and anger. Although these individuals have great strength and coping mecha- nisms, they represent a “community in our community that is overlooked.”

Some residents may be unaware of all the transportation services available to them. One Household Survey respondent said there is a “lack of information regarding public transportation for non-driv- ers.” In addition, some focus group participants were unaware that SHOW Bus is available to any resident in a rural area of McLean County—not just seniors. Even with awareness of services, some County residents perceive that growth in residential and commercial/industrial development is occur- ring ahead of adequate planning for infrastructure growth including roads and public transportation. One key informant indicated that “Bloomington-Normal doesn’t fully realize it is becoming an urban center. Planning tends to be short-sighted.” This person also said there is no significant local tax- based support for public transportation.

As residents face challenges with accessing transportation, transportation providers also face chal- lenges in meeting transportation needs and recognizing demand for services. Transportation provid- ers indicated that lack of staff, operating funds, and vehicles are the greatest barriers to service provi- sion. Designing services to utilize resources most efficiently is another challenge. Despite these issues, providers are serving a large number of McLean County residents. SHOW Bus reported having served 5,283 riders (number of one-way trips) in its most recently completed program year and indicated the organization is serving close to the maximum number of clients with current re- sources. 5.53 From January through November 1999, the YWCA took 5,073 reservations (number of one-way trips) and made 3,302 actual pick-ups (some riders cancel or “don’t show” for a ride). On average, the YWCA transported 48 individual adults per month at night in the first eleven months of 1999. The YWCA also transports children to child care although the YWCA transportation statistics did not indicate the number of children transported. 5.54 According to its Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System estimated it would serve 685,000 riders (number of fares) in fiscal year 1999 (ending June 30, 1999).

Implications for health and human services: • Public transportation challenges affect service providers, employers, and residents. At least two community groups with business, human service, and transportation representatives—the Chamber’s Workforce Issues Committee and the Transportation Advisory Committee—focus on transportation issues. These committees, although they have somewhat differing missions, may consider continuing to work together on County transportation issues. • Residents and providers recognizing unmet transportation needs should continue to formally document examples of need. Documentation could include: written statements from employers who have workers experiencing transportation difficulties; current ridership and capacity to pro- vide services including unfulfilled requests for service; statements from transportation and other

5.53 This information comes from the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey completed by SHOW Bus in Summer 1999. 5.54 YWCA, Transportation Statistics 8/98-11/99, [interim report], (Bloomington-Normal, IL, January 2000).

62 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Health and health care

service providers about transportation issues they attempt to resolve for customers; and where possible, unduplicated counts of individuals with a transportation need that is not being met through current services. Documentation will help to demonstrate need to public and private entities when seeking funding or other in-kind donations. • A few participants indicated that there is a “stigma” some County residents associate with utilizing public transportation. Public transportation providers and other human service providers can encourage the use of public transportation and demonstrate that diverse residents use public transportation for many purposes. Transportation providers should market their services through multiple media (e.g., brochures, posters, radio, television, direct communication with County residents and organizations, billboards). They should continue to look for new ways of commu- nicating service availability. • In addition, public transportation providers should continue to look for innovative ways of pro- viding services and meeting customer needs. They can look to other communities, transportation providers, and social agencies as well as McLean County residents for ideas to improve services and increase ridership. • The 1995 Community Assessment of Needs also identified transportation issues and need for expanded services especially after 6 p.m., on Sunday, in rural areas, and special services (e.g., for persons with disabilities or seniors). 5.55 The McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan iden- tifies “Transportation planning and development” as having a “major impact on sensible growth.” 5.56 Efforts are being made to address transportation issues; there is a need for continued concerted planning for transportation as the County population increases and urban areas grow.

Health indicators Health and health care In 1997, there were 1,978 live births in McLean County. Accord- ing to the McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Community Health Plan and Needs Assessment (June 1999), between 1990 and 1997, the annual number of births ranged from a low of 1,801 to a high of 1,978. There has been a steady increase in the infant mortality rate, from 5.9 per 1,000 in 1991 to 8.1 per 1,000 in 1996. The 1997 rate was 7.6 per 1,000. In the period 1990-1996, County low birth rates ranged from 5.2 percent to 7.4 percent. The percent of births with low birth weight among Blacks was at least twice (8%-14%) that of Whites for most years during this period.5.57 In 1997, a total of 171 births were to teenaged moth- ers, with three being to children under age 15, 62 being to girls aged 15 to 17, and 106 being to 18 to 19-year-olds.5.58

In 1998, there were 979 deaths in McLean County. Mortality rates declined by seven percent in the County between 1990 and 1997. The age-adjusted death rate among Blacks is higher than among

5.55 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 60-61. 5.56 McLean County Regional Planning Commission, McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan: Preliminary Report, (Bloomington, IL, November 1999), 109. 5.57 McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Commu- nity Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 13. 5.58 Illinois Department of Public Health, “Teen Births by County, 1997,” Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs, [Internet], http://163.191.194.35/, (November 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 63 5. Needs and Resources: Health and health care

other groups and exceeds the Illinois and U.S. rates. In McLean County, leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, and stroke.5.59 The 1999 McLean County IPLAN identified as the top three health priorities for the County: 1. Coronary heart disease/heart disease (including cerebrovascular disease); 2. Infant mortality (including low birth weight/very low birth weight and congenital anomalies); and 3. Cancer (including lung and breast cancer).5.60

A 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey that included responses from 401 McLean County residents indicates that most life-style risk factors are comparatively high in McLean County. Teen smoking rates are high, particularly at upper grade levels, and 26.8 percent of total respondents smoke. Ap- proximately one-third of respondents (31%) is at risk of obesity. Over one-quarter (26%) have seden- tary life-styles. One-fifth of respondents seldom or never use seat belts. The population at risk for alcohol dependence is between 8 and 12 percent.

One out of every five McLean County adults has a diagnosable mental disorder. Mental health prob- lems affect 20 percent of young people at any given time. Over one-third of adults indicated that they had between 1 and 30 days over an unspecified period when their mental health was not good.5.61

Health status Generally speaking, McLean County residents are healthy. Most Assessment 2000 Household Sur- vey respondents reported being in excellent (29%) or good (56%) health; only 13 percent were in fair health and 2 percent were in poor health.5.62 Self-reported health status was related to household income, with lower-income respondents reporting poorer health; health status was also related to age, with younger respondents reporting better health. Health status was also related to experience of chronic illness, although it should be noted that over half (59%) of respondents with chronic illnesses reported their health as good or excellent.

Nine percent of survey respondents indicated having a disability and 31 percent suffer from a chronic illness. Most of the 467 respondents with chronic illnesses reported having high blood pressure (20%), heart and lung disorders (20%, rising to 29% if asthma sufferers are included), diabetes (16%), and arthritis (15%). Over one-tenth indicated that they are not receiving treatment for their chronic conditions.

Survey respondents (n=1551) reported that they or members of their households had experienced other health problems during the past year including mental illness (7%), alcohol abuse (2%), drug abuse (1.2%), sexually transmitted diseases (0.4%), HIV/AIDS (0.1%), and teen pregnancy (0.8%).

5.59 McLean County Health Department, IPLAN, 12. 5.60 Ibid, 12. 5.61 Ibid, Appendix C, Appendix E. 5.62 Assessment 2000: McLean County Health and Human Services: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

64 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Health and health care

Access to health care Access to health care involves a number of factors including number and location of providers, abil- ity of residents to see providers in a convenient and timely manner, availability to health insurance, affordability of health care and insurance coverage, and willingness of providers to accept patients. Access is affected by health care consumers’ residence (rural or urban), transportation, income, em- ployment, health status, mobility, and insurance coverage (or lack thereof). Most primary and all specialist and hospital care in McLean County is located in Bloomington-Normal. This circumstance enhances access for Twin Cities residents and limits access for residents living in rural parts of the County.

Bloomington-Normal is a regional center for health care services. McLean County has two major hospitals, a Public Health Department, and the Community Health Care (“Free”) Clinic. BroMenn and OSF St. Joseph hospitals attract patients from well beyond McLean County’s borders. The Com- munity Cancer Center, which resulted from the collaborative effort of the two hospitals, provides specialist treatment to cancer sufferers. Carle Clinic offers a wide array of outpatient services. In addition, there is a full range of other health care providers including 390 physicians and surgeons. Nonetheless, Assessment 2000 focus group participants and key informants indicated the following shortages or gaps in health care provision: • Shortage of nursing home beds; • Shortage of rehabilitation therapists in nursing homes; • Shortage of trained and reliable home care providers; • Shortage of mental health services for the working poor and uninsured; • Shortage of inpatient and residential accommodation for mental illness sufferers; • Lack of coordinated geriatric mental health care provision; • Lack of psychiatrists for children and adolescents; • Lack of services for people suffering from both substance abuse and mental illness; • Lack of medical detoxification services for uninsured patients; • Lack of sterilization and abortion services; • Need for pharmacist(s) for the Community Health Care (“Free”) Clinic; and • Need for Spanish-speaking health care providers or translators.

The ability of residents to get to medical appointments is as important as the presence of health care providers in the County. The majority (96%) of Household Survey respondents depend on the family car for this purpose. Those who use other kinds of transportation disproportionately report house- hold incomes of less than $20,000 per year.5.63 Although a variety of transportation services are available to people without cars, these are sometimes expensive (Medivan and taxis), sometimes difficult for people with physical limitations to use (lacking home-to-bus stop and bus-to-appoint- ment support), and sometimes pose schedule coordination difficulties (Show Bus). One Household Survey respondent commented, “Elderly people need help with rides to Doctor and Dentist without

5.63 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 25.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 65 5. Needs and Resources: Health and health care

costing a fortune like taxis or private drivers. Lifeline needs to reevaluate their charges as well for Medicare patients.”

Insurance coverage is another important factor governing McLean County residents’ access to health care. According to the 1999 McLean County IPLAN, 93 percent of County residents have some kind of health care coverage. The seven percent of residents lacking any kind of coverage is a matter for concern since, in the words of one Household Survey respondent, “If you have insurance, you get care; no insurance, you don’t get care.” However, according to Household Survey findings, many more McLean County residents lack coverage for certain types of care including dental care (27%), vision care (42%), and prescription drugs (10%). A survey respondent wrote, “Some employers don’t have dental or vision insurance because too costly for employer per employee. It would be nice if more employers could find it cost-effective to offer this benefit.”

Some McLean County residents find it difficult to get health insurance, either because of a health condition, or because of their employment. One survey respondent commented, “We had a very difficult time getting health insurance (3 years ago) because of minor preexisting conditions. We finally got a company to cover us at high rates. Their increases in premium are scary.” Another wrote, “I lost my job, which meant I lost my health coverage and COBRA was so unaffordable when you don’t have a job. Then I got a job but health insurance was not a group coverage but individual and [the insurance company] refused me due to my age and health. I can’t win!!!” According to focus group participants, the uninsured population is increased by growing numbers of self-employed people and part-time workers. While many of these people have low incomes, an increasing number are professionals with good incomes but no job-related benefits.

Furthermore, even people with health care coverage may lack access to care. According to key informants and focus group participants, there are no dentists or psychiatrists in McLean County that will accept Medicaid assignment. One key informant commented that it is a shame that people have to go through the unpleasantness of applying for Medicaid only to be refused service because they are on Medicaid. Several others mentioned the stigma associated with the “green card.” Medicare beneficiaries also face challenges. A Household Survey respondent commented, “When I moved here, I had difficulty getting a doctor because they wouldn’t accept Medicare patients. Finally, a friend talked to her doctor and he agreed to see me.” Another respondent summed up the situation, writing, “There is a common desire among doctors to see only patients with private or work insur- ance.”

Sometimes people with medical coverage encounter access problems caused by insurance require- ments. One Household Survey respondent commented, “General practitioners on our PPO would not take new patients, so [my] husband and I do not have a family doctor, but the kids have a pediatri- cian.”

Together with other Americans, McLean County residents are concerned about the high cost of health care and insurance. One-fifth of Household Survey respondents mentioned cost issues in their com- ments about health care in the County. The high cost of prescription drugs ranked first among McLean County’s “very serious problems,” identified as such by 398 survey respondents (27%). The cost of care is of particular concern to older adults, families with special needs, and those with moderate or

66 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Health and health care

low incomes. One survey respondent commented, “Elderly need more help. My mom is 74 and has to work 30+ hours a week to get insurance to pay 80% of her prescriptions. If she didn’t have the insurance she would not be able to afford her prescriptions even with working.” Another wrote, “My boy at age 12 has a mental illness. With my income and with my very poor health insurance provider, I’m at the point I may have to file bankruptcy. What agencies out there could help me? We’ve been to a few, but my situation has to be more serious to get help. Well, I need help, and I can’t get it.” A third said, “We feel confident that we are able to find quality professionals for help, but medical costs are so high that we try not to go to the doctor, but rather ‘tough it out’ when we are not well.” A fourth commented, “In order to carry health insurance on three of us right now, our deductible is at $4,000 each [person] and our oldest is 19 and not covered on insurance at work yet.”

Since 1994, the Community Health Care Clinic (commonly called the “Free Clinic”) has provided care for people without insurance coverage. With only two paid employees (a full-time nurse practi- tioner and a full-time nurse), the clinic depends on the voluntary services of 60-70 primary care physicians and up to 130 specialists. According to the Assessment 2000 survey of service providers and a key informant, this year the clinic will see at least 6,000 people, 85 percent of whom are employed but not insured. There are usually between 15 and 25 people on the clinic’s waiting list; the average wait for an appointment is three weeks. In addition to medical consultation, the clinic will provide over $500,000 worth of free medications this year.

The McLean County Health Department also provides free or low-cost health care for low-income and other County residents. Services include family case management and immunization programs, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic, HIV antibody counseling and testing, the tuberculosis clinic, dental clinics for children and adults, an eye clinic, and home nursing services. Only the dental clinics currently have waiting lists. The family case management program, which serves pregnant women and infants, the home nursing service, and the eye clinic are serving close to the maximum possible number of clients. Other Health Department programs could accept more clients than are presently being served. A few key informants view the Public Health Department as an under-used resource that is available to all County residents.

The Planned Parenthood organization offers confidential family planning services including gyneco- logical exams, testing for STDs, pregnancy testing, and counseling to women over age 12. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale or paid for through health insurance plans.5.64

Mental health services are offered by the Center for Human Services, Chestnut Health Systems, and a number of private providers. The Center for Human Services is the County Mental Health Agency, providing services on a sliding fee scale to people with serious mental problems. Its only waiting list is for child and adolescent services. Chestnut Health Systems provides a range of counseling services and substance abuse treatment. Focus group participants and key informants identify a gap in local provision of services for people suffering from both substance abuse and mental illness. There is also a need for respite and residential treatment facilities for mental illness sufferers. Finally, there is a need for improved care and administration of prescribed medication for mental illness sufferers who are in jail.

5.64 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 67 5. Needs and Resources: Health and health care

Despite problems with access and cost, nearly half (43%) of the Household Survey respondents report that the quality of health care in McLean County is good. However, it was common for them to comment positively on the quality of care, while making a negative comment about issues includ- ing cost, access for people without insurance, negative influence of insurance or managed care poli- cies, and “required bureaucratic paper work.”

Challenges for health care providers Health care providers face challenges generated by changes in medical science and technology, the health care system, and the wider society. Providers’ responses to these challenges ultimately affect access to and quality of care.

Perhaps the most immediate challenge to providers is the new bottom-line orientation introduced by for-profit managed care, embraced by employers and insurers, and adopted by government policy- makers. With reductions in reimbursements and increases in control over services on the part of all payers (e.g., insurance, HMOs, Medicare, Medicaid), providers must review their own operations and identify all possible ways of cutting charges and costs. In recent years, both their freedom to make treatment decisions and their traditional ability to provide a local health care safety net have been limited.

Furthermore, hospitals, in particular, are being forced to change the kinds of services they provide. Demand for impatient services is declining, while outpatient and outreach services are increasing dramatically. Currently, the two major hospitals in McLean County offer virtually identical services and compete for patients. However, their successful collaboration on the Cancer Care Center sug- gests an opportunity to share resources and develop complementary services in the future.

In addition, both current research findings and economic realities are encouraging all health care providers to shift their emphasis from their traditional focus on treatment toward disease prevention. According to a recent study, the greatest influence on health status is behavior (50%), followed by environment (20%) and heredity (20%); health care, at 10 percent, is least important.5.65 This finding suggests an opportunity for closer collaboration between the Public Health Department and other health care providers in the County.

According to focus group participants and key informants, a major internal challenge faced by health care providers is recruiting and retaining qualified staff in professional, technical, and service posi- tions. There is high turnover. The work is stressful and often not well paid.

Implications for health and human services: • In McLean County, as elsewhere in the United States, health care is rationed by the ability to pay. For people with good health care coverage, access and quality are good. For Medicaid beneficia- ries and people lacking complete health care coverage, access and quality are poor.

5.65 Adler, Nancy E., (University of California: San Francisco), “Social and Economic Drivers of Health,” [paper presented at the Transforming Communities: Improving Health and Quality of Life conference sponsored by the Health Forum and Health Research and Educational Trust], (Chicago, IL, December 1999).

68 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Child care and family support

• Providers including the Community Health Care Clinic, the McLean County Health Department, the John M. Scott Health Resources Center, and the Center for Human Services supply health services to people who would otherwise not have access to care. Nonetheless, this stopgap method of meeting the health care needs of the un- and under-insured is not ideal. McLean County may wish to develop its own affordable health coverage plan to spread risk and services among people who lack insurance. • Local experience indicates that even in a wealthy community with a nearly comprehensive range of providers, the current health care payment system does not work very well for either consum- ers or providers. A single-payer universal system would improve access, quality, and comfort level for all McLean County residents. • Prevention is the key to addressing the major health problems in McLean County. Health educa- tion, behavior modification, and other prevention strategies can address all of the top health priorities identified by the recent IPLAN process. • Physical and mental illnesses are exacerbated by poverty and low educational attainment. Im- proving quality of life of people with low incomes will improve their health. • Prosperity is related to life-style choices that contribute to some health risk factors, such as sed- entary jobs, residence in remote subdivisions, and dependence on automobile transport. Plan- ners, developers, and employers should keep these risk factors in mind when designing the living and working environments of the future. • To recruit and retain good staff, health care providers can adopt a number of strategies including increasing wages, offering family-friendly benefits and support services (e.g., transportation, child care, flexible hours, etc.), providing training or scholarships for current workers who wish to increase their skills and qualifications, and targeting nontraditional population groups for re- cruitment efforts (e.g., homemakers, retirees, persons with disabilities, high school dropouts, etc.).

The environments children encounter in and out of the home largely Child care and determine the health, happiness, and success of children. There family support are currently approximately 20,342 children under age 10 living in McLean County; approximately equal numbers of these children are in the 0 to 4 and 5 to 9 age ranges. Together, children in these two groups account for 14 percent of the total McLean County population. The number of McLean County’s young residents will continue to grow over the next 20 years. Numbers of children in both age ranges are expected to increase by 10 percent between 1990 and 2010; and by an additional 6 percent by 2020. 5.66 (See Figure 5.11.)

Although most McLean County children under age 6 and between ages 6 and 17 live with two parents (85% and 81% respectively), large percentages live with only a mother heading the household (13% of children under age 6 and 16% of children between ages 6 and 17). 5.67 At any given time, between

5.66 Treadway, R., and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (309) 438-5946. 5.67 U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census Detailed Tables—Sample Data (STF3), [Internet], http://factfinder.census.gov/, (De- cember 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 69 5. Needs and Resources: Child care and family support

Figure 5.11: Population by Age in McLean County for 0 to 4- and 5 to 9-Year-Olds, 1990 to 2020

Projected 0 to 4 year olds Projected 11,967 11,728 12,000 5 to 9 year olds 11,260 Projected 11,160 10,214 10,128

8,782 9,000 8,682

6,000

Number

3,000

0 1990 2000 2010 2020 Year Source: Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State Univer- sity, (309) 438-5946.

1,627 and 2,238 children under the age of 10 are estimated to be in poverty in McLean County (that is between 8 and 11 percent of the population of children under age 10). 5.68 The largest percentages of McLean County’s school-aged children (Kindergarten through 12 grade) living in poverty are within Bloomington’s District 87. 5.69 (See Figure 5.12.)

5.68 The number of children living in poverty was calculated from poverty estimates using multiple sources. From 1979 to 1995, the estimated percent of all persons in poverty has ranged from 8 to 11 percent. This range was based on information from multiple sources: Treadway, R., and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997); U.S. Census Bureau, Model-Based Income and Poverty Estimates for McLean County, Illinois in 1995, [Internet], http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/estimate/cty/cty17113.htm, (December 1999); U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys (1989, 1993, 1995); U.S. Census Bureau, USA Counties [CD-ROM], (1996). U.S. Census Bureau poverty estimates are based on Current Population Survey data and calculated using linear regression techniques. Definitions and estimation techniques can be found from the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Esti- mates Overview, [Internet], http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/overview, (December 1999). 5.69 U.S. Census Bureau, Model-Based Income and Poverty Estimates for McLean County, Illinois in 1995, [Internet], http:/ /www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/estimate/, (December 1999). School district poverty criteria are based on Title I criteria. For a detailed explanation of school district estimates see U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 1995 Overview of School District Estimates, [Internet], http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/school/sd95over.html, (December 1999).

70 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Child care and family support

Figure 5.12: Percent of McLean County’s School-Age Children (Kindergarten Through Grade 12) Living in Poverty by School District

Heyworth Community Unit School District 4 4.8%

Tri Valley Community Unit School District 3 5.4%

Gridley Community Unit School District 10 5.4%

McLean County Unit District 5 7.2%

Olympia Community Unit School District 16 7.3%

Lexington Community Unit School District 7 7.8% School district

Chenoa Community Unit School District 9 8.3%

LeRoy Community Unit School District 9.2%

Bloomington School District 87 13.1%

0% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% Percent Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Model-Based Income and Poverty Estimates for McLean County, Illinois in 1995, [Internet], http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/estimate/cty/cty17113.htm, (December 1999).

Poverty and living in single parent households are factors that affect children’s quality of life and successful transition to adulthood. In a healthy community, it is the responsibility of both parents and the wider community to raise children; this is an issue that concerns some Assessment 2000 key informants and Household Survey participants who perceive a decline in parent and civic responsi- bility in McLean County.

A large number of McLean County’s health and human service organizations offer programs and services to develop, support, and protect children and provide services to their families. These ser- vices and programs will be discussed below within the broad categories of child care and child pro- tection and family support services.

Child care Good quality affordable child care is a growing need in a society where most parents are employed. Women are primary caregivers, but increasing numbers of mothers are in the workforce. 5.70 In Illi- nois, 59 percent of women with children under the age of 6 and 76 percent of women with children between the ages of 6 and 17 work outside the home. 5.71 With welfare-to-work legislation, public

5.70 State of Illinois, Final Report of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women in Illinois, (Springfield, IL, December 1998), 28. 5.71 Children’s Defense Fund, Child Care Basics, [Internet], http://www.childrensdefense.org/child care/cc_basics.html, (December 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 71 5. Needs and Resources: Child care and family support

policy places increasing pressure on mothers to work. According to Voices for Illinois Children, “Quality early childhood education programs—including child care, Head Start and Pre-Kindergar- ten [Pre-K]—can provide young children with important skills and encouragement, and can increase their chances of success in school.” 5.72 In fiscal year 1998, ten percent of McLean County children between the ages of 3 and 5 were enrolled in Head Start and Pre-K programs. 5.73

Several Assessment 2000 key informants recognized a positive County trend over the last five years toward increased emphasis on early childhood issues and day care. This trend may have been stimu- lated by the 1995 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs report, which highlighted problems with child care accessibility and affordability and child abuse and neglect statistics. 5.74 Even so, many McLean County residents perceive a need to enhance and improve early childhood programs and care.

Sixteen percent (236) of Assessment 2000 Household Survey respondents needed or used child care in the last year. Respondents needed care for disabled children or care during a second or third work shift the least. Yet for respondents who need care for a disabled child or for second or third work shifts reported these types of care the most difficult to find. 5.75 Figure 5.13 indicates the degree to which Household Survey respondents have difficulty finding needed child care.

Assessment 2000 focus group participants, key informants, and Health and Human Service Provid- ers’ Survey respondents identified additional gaps in McLean County’s provision of child care in- cluding needs for rural child care services, child care for older children (ages 12 to 15), and afford- able child care for families with low incomes. One Service Provider Survey respondent commented that there are, “Not enough funds to offer the amount of services needed by those who are unable to pay the full cost of the program.” This sentiment was echoed in the 1999 Heartland Head Start Community Assessment, which emphasized the need for affordable child care.

Considering that the average annual cost of child care in the U.S. for a pre-school child is $4,921—40 percent more than the $3,535 average annual cost of public university tuition—affordability is likely to remain a major challenge. 5.76 Although the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Depart- ment of Children and Family Services provide help with child care costs for families meeting income criteria, many McLean County families are not eligible for assistance and struggle to deal with child care expenses. 5.77

5.72 Illinois Kids Count 1999-2000: Communities Helping Families, (Chicago, IL, 1999), 6. Kids Count data was compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation for Voices for Illinois Children. 5.73 Heartland Head Start, Community Assessment, Spring 1999, (McLean County, IL, 1999), 14. 5.74 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 28 and 48-51. 5.75 Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 48, (Bloomington, IL, 2000). Respondents rated the difficulty of finding 11 child care related items. The scale ranged from one to five-from “very easy” to “very difficult.” 5.76 Children’s Defense Fund, Child Care Basics, [Internet], http://www.childrensdefense.org/child care/cc_basics.html, (December, 1999). 5.77 Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, “How to Pay,” Child Care Choices, [Internet], http:// www.aces.uiuc.edu/~IL CARE/CCC/, (December 1999).

72 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Child care and family support

Figure 5.13: Percent of Households Finding it “Difficult” or “Very Difficult” to Find Child Care

80% The n is the total number of households that indicated 72.6% 72.0% a need for a particular type of child care.

62.2% 60% 56.9%

45.7% 40.1% 40% 35.0% 34.9% 33.6%

24.5% 20.1% 20%

0% Child care child (n=177) Care for sick care (n=185)

Percent who found it "difficult" or "very difficult" (n=215) conveniently Back-up child care (n=209) care (n=217) located (n=207) Affordable child High quality child Child care for 2nd Transportation to Infant care (n=88) or 3rd shift (n=37) child care (n=132) disability (n=25) Child care provider after school (n=110) Child care before or Care for a child with Child care issues Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 2,” Household Survey, question 48, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

A few key informants also discussed a shortage of high quality child care in the County, although one person indicated that to some extent the development of after-school programs in all public elemen- tary schools and before-school programs in some schools has helped address the issue. Low wages offered to child care workers affect both availability and quality of staff. One day care provider commented, “The full cost of human service programs is subsidized by staff who are willing to accept low wages and minimal benefits. When my staff are working at the poverty level, there is something wrong with the system!”

Child protection and family support Almost all of McLean County’s health and human service providers offer support for children and families; thus, it is difficult to limit this section’s discussion. In addition to services discussed in this report, primary and specialist health care providers, educational institutions, and religious organiza- tions operate individually and collaboratively to meet the needs of children and families.

Notwithstanding this disclaimer, some types of services can be identified. The Child Care Resource and Referral Network provides information, referral, training, and other services to providers and community members. In addition, County organizations provide specific child protection and family support services ranging from adoption and fostering to abuse and neglect prevention programs. McLean County is also rich in youth programs that offer recreational and character building opportu- nities, including Boy and Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a wide range of groups run by

Health and Human Services in McLean County 73 5. Needs and Resources: Child care and family support

religious organizations. Publicly funded programs offer services within categorical income and eligi- bility guidelines. Nonprofit and private agencies are able to be more flexible. (See, in particular, sections on “Abuse and neglect” and “Youth issues and services” of this report for more information about child and family support services in McLean County.)

Service providers who participated in the Assessment 2000 project offered suggestions for improving the system supporting health and human service needs of young children in McLean County. Recom- mendations included: • Better case management services-not dependent on categorical eligibility-linking child care, home, school, and religious organizations; • Coordinated and centralized child care and support service system with a single point of entry; • Provision of services outside of regular business hours and in places where parents can access services; • Removal or blending of categorical eligibility; • Improved and regular communication among service providers to foster collaboration and refer- rals and minimize duplications and gaps in services; • Improved and regular communication between service providers and other organizations that interact with children and families (e.g., schools, physicians, faith-based organizations, etc.); • Ongoing training for early childhood staff and service providers; • Improved cultural diversity training for health and human service staff members and hiring of staff members with diverse backgrounds; • Support and training for parents of infants and young children; • Delivery of a full range of services to rural residents in their own communities; and • Communication and partnership with employers to provide information and services in the work- place.

Providers call for the system to be preventive, not reactive. They suggest involving parents in service design and implementation. They also suggest reducing cultural and spatial barriers to access and utilization by providing information and services in a place people go anyway. Several Assessment 2000 focus group participants suggested offering a one-stop family support center in or near a retail center such as Wal-Mart or K-Mart. Finally, they suggest that the community demonstrate the value it places on health and human service workers by paying them better.

Implications for health and human services: • With growing numbers of parents in the workforce, availability of affordable, accessible, high quality child care will be increasingly necessary. Child care services must reflect the diverse needs in the community—particularly, needs for infant care, care for children with disabilities, care for sick children, and back-up child care. • Workers whose child care and family-support needs are met are more productive and reliable in the workplace. Thus, it is in employers’ best interests to work with service providers to offer information and services in the workplace and facilitate workers’ use of support services during working hours.

74 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Youth issues and services

• Providers of family support and child care services should collaborate with each other and part- ner with other organizations in the community to improve referrals and offer more comprehen- sive approaches to meeting the diverse needs of McLean County children and families.

There are currently about 23,137 McLean County residents be- Youth issues and tween the ages of 10 and 19—16 percent of the total population. services By 2010, the number of adolescents is expected to increase by 10 percent to 25,538. Most of these young people participate in and contribute to the County’s general prosperity. The majority is in full-time education. About half of County residents between the ages of 15 and 19 are employed.5.78 Assessment 2000 focus group participants indicated that many young people volunteer for religious and service organizations and provide informal help to family mem- bers and neighbors.

However, many McLean County young people do not have a good quality of life. More than one- tenth of residents under age 18 live below the poverty line—a number that is rising despite the County’s increasing prosperity.5.79 An unacceptable number drop out before completing high school.5.80 McLean County teenagers gave birth to 171 babies in 1997, of whom 65 (38%) were born to girls aged 17 or younger.5.81 Between 1995 and 1998, the McLean County Juvenile Court Services re- ceived referrals for an average of 234 adolescents per year on the charge of being a runaway. Since 1995, the Youth Impact program has served approximately 200 young people considered “at risk” for gang involvement.5.82

Minorities represent a larger percent of the young population (aged 18 or less) compared to older population groups. According to the 1995 Together We Can report, people under age 18 are more likely to be members of minorities than are older County residents.5.83 Racial, cultural, and language issues contribute to the challenges faced by McLean County teenagers. Assessment 2000 key infor- mants referred to a perception that service providers and police are less sympathetic to Blacks or Hispanics than to Whites who need services or are suspected of offenses. One key informant indi- cated that for all young people, but particularly for minority youth— due to cultural and language factors—application procedures and red tape create barriers to accessing services.

Every problem affecting McLean County families—poverty, divorce, neglect, violence, substance abuse, physical and mental illness, and lack of access to necessities including housing, transporta- tion, health care, and child care—disproportionately affects adolescents. However, the very nature of their developmental stage makes young adults hard to help. They are not as small, helpless, and cute as younger children. By the time they come into contact with the health and human service delivery

5.78 U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing Summary Tape File 3A, (1990); Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (309) 438-5946. 5.79 See this report’s discussion of “Income and poverty” in section 5. 5.80 See this report’s discussion of “Educational attainment” in section 4. 5.81 Illinois Department of Public Health, “Teen Births by County, 1997,” Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs, [Internet], http://163.191.194.35/, (November 1999). 5.82 Simpson, K., “A Look at Youth Impact,” (Bloomington, IL: The Pantagraph, 5 December 1999). 5.83 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 28.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 75 5. Needs and Resources: Youth issues and services

system, they are often angry and sometimes dangerous. One respondent to the Assessment 2000 survey of service providers commented that as a community, “We focus a lot on younger children and are getting better at dealing with needs of [the] elderly, but for junior and senior high youth, we don’t seem to be engaging them in supervised activities that they will willingly participate in. [Existing activities are] mostly related to at-risk youth or those already in ‘trouble.’” Another wrote, “More emphasis should be put on prevention and early intervention efforts. It’s hard to change behaviors and attitudes at 13, 14, 15 . . . Prevention is more cost-effective than intervention. Let’s make better use of dollars.”

Service provision and needs Many local organizations offer youth services.5.84 These providers support hundreds of adolescents with problems ranging from family violence and substance abuse to mental illness and homelessness. However, because of their dependent legal status, adolescents have difficulty getting support ser- vices. Housing is a particularly severe problem for young people who leave their families’ house- holds, either voluntarily or involuntarily. One respondent to the Assessment 2000 Service Provider Survey identified as a category of people served, “At-risk runaway and locked-out youth, and home- less youth.” Another commented, “The biggest gap in service exists for youth 16 to 17 years of age (primarily 17 years old) who are not living at home, and are effectively ‘Couch Homeless.’ These youth become eligible for a variety of services when they turn 18.” A third identified as a gap in McLean County’s health and human service delivery system, “Housing for disenfranchised young people under 18 and for those youth with poor credit history.”

Young workers encounter barriers to service in the form of categorical eligibility. One Service Pro- vider Survey respondent indicated that the main gap in McLean County’s health and human service delivery system consists of “Rules and regulations on services, such as, ‘I’m sorry, but since you work for a living, even though you only make $7.00 an hour you are over the monthly income to receive any assistance.’” In addition, young people share other problems of the working poor. A service provider commented, “Our youth have babies, unreliable or no transportation, and if they work they can’t make ends meet, but make too much money to receive assistance.”

Education As indicated in section 4 of this report, McLean County’s 1997 high school dropout rate (5.6%) is low compared to the State of Illinois as a whole (6.8%). Considering the County’s prosperity and the predominance of white-collar occupations, which employ approximately half of all adult residents, this is not surprising. During the years between 1990 and 1997, the average dropout rate for White students was 4.5 percent. However, in the same period the average rate for Black students has been 10.4 percent. The rate for other minority students varied between 0 in 1991 to 10.9 percent in 1997.5.85

Rates indicate percentages of total populations represented in the community. Actual numbers offer a somewhat different perspective. By far, the largest number of high school dropouts in McLean

5.84 Fourteen of these organizations responded to the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey. Others are listed in PATH (Providing Access to Help), Directory 2000, (McLean County, IL, 1999). 5.85 The Pantagraph, Market Profile 2000, (Bloomington, IL, 1999); Illinois Department of Public Health, “IPLAN Data System Report, High School Drop-outs,” Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs, [Internet], http://163.191.194.35/, (November 1999).

76 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Youth issues and services

County are White. In 1997, 289 White students quit school, compared to 51 Blacks and 5 “Other” minority students. Low educational attainment is linked to poverty, crime, and many other social problems. Keeping young people in school is a community-wide challenge.

This is a challenge that is inextricably linked to community culture and social class makeup. Accord- ing to key informants, middle-class students from traditional two-parent families are most likely to stay and succeed in school. A recent local report indicates that the stigma of poverty and nontradi- tional families follows children into classrooms, marginalizing and alienating them.5.86 Furthermore, youth services are geared to help students determined to be “at risk” due to specific factors—vio- lence, disruptive behavior, substance abuse, pregnancy, etc. Schools and communities focus little attention on the underachiever or the alienated young person who fails to participate in any except peer activities. These teens’ failure to thrive impoverishes and endangers the entire community.

Crime The 1995 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report identified juvenile crime and gang activity as a major concern of McLean County residents and key informants. Therefore, Assessment 2000 research collected information about these issues. Between 1995 and 1998, the largest number of referrals the McLean County Juvenile Court Services received was for running away from home—an average of 234 per year. This referral was followed in order of incidence by curfew violation (151), retail theft under $150 (137), and battery (132). The only offense for which girls were more likely than boys to be referred was running away; 64 percent of runaways were female. Fifteen- and 16-year-olds were more often referred to McLean County Juvenile Court Ser- vices than other young people. 5.87 (See Figure 5.14.)

Most juvenile referrals to the justice system were made from Normal (590 per year), followed by Bloomington (481 per year). Of rural communities in the County, only Chenoa reported more than ten referrals per year. It is noteworthy that a higher percentage of the youth population of Normal is referred to Juvenile Court Services in any given year than in any other community in the County. Since these figures include only people under the age of 17, the presence of large numbers of univer- sity students in Normal does not affect this analysis.5.88 (See Figure 5.15.)

McLean County’s Juvenile Detention Center has 26 beds, most of which are used by County resi- dents between the ages of 10 and 17. If beds are available, they are used for juvenile offenders from other counties; at present, two inmates are from Livingston County.5.89

5.86 Schools and Faith Communities Engaged Together for Youth, Report of Discussions from a Community Dialogue: Defining Success for Our Children, (McLean County, IL, 1999). 5.87 McLean County Juvenile Court Services, “Intake Referrals,” [interim report for 1995-1998], (Bloomington, IL, Law and Justice Center, 1999). 5.88 Ibid. 5.89 McLean County Juvenile Detention Center, [personal communication with Assistant Director], (Normal, IL, December 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 77 5. Needs and Resources: Youth issues and services

Figure 5.14: Average Number of Annual Referrals to Juvenile Court Services by Age and Sex, 1995 to 1998

Average male 400 Average female Average total 359

328

300 258 262 240

201 200 176 167

Number of referrals 127 100 119 95 53 83 46 42 23 11 0 10 or 11 to 13 14 15 16 17 younger Age *The average number of males and females do not sum to the total average due to rounding. Source: McLean County Juvenile Court Services, “Intake Referrals” [interim report for 1995-1998], (Bloomington, IL, 1999).

Urban and rural youth The Assessment 2000 project conducted focus group discussions with urban and rural high school students living in McLean County to learn more about their quality of life. Most focus group partici- pants were 17 or 18 years old. Their comments indicate that life is different for young people in rural and urban communities.

Rural students were more likely than urban students to have lived for most or all of their lives in the same community. While they reported little or no incidence of some problems (gang activity, teen pregnancy, drug abuse), like urban teens they mentioned problems with drinking and tobacco use, particularly among boys. Rural students were unaware of much depression among their peers, al- though one student mentioned that young people in her community suffer from eating disorders and compulsiveness. Rural students indicated that the very thing they like best about their community— the fact that everyone knows everyone—creates problems for residents. Family and community expectations for young people are high. One student said, “Embarrassment and shame are stronger than the law. We don’t want people whispering.” Local resources are limited. Students and their families travel to larger communities for goods, services, and jobs. Yet, approximately one-quarter of focus group participants said they intend to spend the rest of their lives in their community.

78 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Youth issues and services

Figure 5.15: Average Annual Number of Persons Aged 5 to 17 Living in Police Jurisdictions and Percent of Those Persons Referred to Juvenile Court Services, 1995 to 1998

Number in police jurisdiction 12,000 11.1% 12% Percent referred

9,733

9,000 9%

5.8% 6,000 5,302 6% 4.8% 4.9%

police jurisdiction 3,000 3% 2.0% 1.7% 1.0% 0.6% 1.6% 0.2% 303 0.9% 627 Total number of 5 to 17-year-olds in 139 339 360 467 141 268 304 Percent of 5 to 17-year-olds referred - 0% Colfax LeRoy Gridley Hudson Chenoa Danvers Heyworth Saybrook Lexington Bloomington State University Police jurisdiction Normal & Illinois Source: McLean County Juvenile Court Services, “Intake Referrals” [interim report for 1995-1998], (Bloomington, IL, 1999).

Urban students had greater knowledge and experience than their rural peers of problems including pregnancy, drug abuse, depression, and violence. Most were aware of the services provided by Planned Parenthood. None were aware of services offered by PATH. Despite the resources offered by an urban community, urban students complained that there is not enough for them to do and talked about the attractions of a teen club offering music and food. Perhaps most noteworthy were the comments made by two male students that young people have a poor image in the community. One skateboarder said that in his neighborhood, teenagers are “the black sheep.” Another student said he believes the police target young people for special attention, particularly in Normal.

Both rural and urban teens are generally positive about the quality of life in McLean County. They make significant contributions to that quality of life. Most teenaged focus group participants have paid jobs. They help with housework and outdoor chores, take care of younger children and older relatives, and participate in school activities. They also volunteer for community and religious orga- nizations. They indicated interest in community issues and would be useful participants in planning and implementing community programs.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 79 5. Needs and Resources: Youth issues and services

Conclusions A recent report on focus groups conducted in August 1999 for Schools and Faith Communities En- gaged Together indicates that a young person’s success is composed of factors including academic performance, participation in community activities, absence of negative behaviors, presence of posi- tive attributes, and development of positive relationships.5.90 The report describes Bloomington- Normal’s efforts to foster childrens’ success, including teaching and affirming, providing a wide range of opportunities for youth development, and nurturing a family-friendly culture. However, it also identifies “constraints that impede success” of these efforts including negative attitudes and behaviors encouraged by peer pressure, fragmentation and competition among community organiza- tions, and intolerance of social and cultural differences on the part of the dominant society. The report expressed concern that, “Community solutions, communication means, and behavioral patterns are based on white collar, middle class values at the exclusion of other important community voices . Constraints to success include the reality that many diverse individuals are not invited to take part in resolving the community’s problems. By not including these individuals, the community is losing out on potential contributions and solutions.”

Implications for health and human services: • Because of their dependent status, young adults lack access to services provided to older County residents. County service providers must continue to push for transitional housing and other resources necessary to support an acceptable quality of life for needy adolescents. • Low-wage young workers must be given encouragement and appropriate support to obtain the education and qualifications they need to transition out of poverty. • Discussions of juvenile crime tend to demonize the young; yet with the prevailing problem in McLean County being running away, County leaders and service providers should examine the reasons teens leave home and address these problems before they result in truly “criminal” be- havior. In addition, police should avoid targeting young people for special attention. • Prevention is better than the attempt to cure. Efforts directed at improving the quality of life for younger children in the community may help to prevent problems when these children become teenagers. However, the community should also focus on developing effective prevention and support programs for current adolescents. • This is a bad time for the nation’s adolescents and their communities. The lesson to be learned from recent school violence is that communities must work harder than ever to nurture and in- volve all their young people. Inclusion makes better citizens than exclusion.

5.90 Schools and Faith Communities Engaged Together for Youth, Report of Discussions from a Community Dialogue: Defining Success for Our Children.

80 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Senior services

Population and income Senior services The elderly are the fastest growing segment of the American popu- lation. There are now approximately 19,118 people aged 60 and older living in McLean County—about 14 percent of the total population. This number is expected to increase by 16 percent to 22,176 by 2010 and by an additional 15 percent to 25,450 by 2020. The majority of these older adults (63%) are currently among the “young old,” between the ages of 60 and 75. Of this “young old” group, most are healthy, retired, and self-sufficient. The “old old,” over age 75, tend to require increasing support from both informal and formal sources. In this age group, health status declines and need for health care and other services increases. Because women, on average, live longer than do men, the “old old” are more likely to be female. Women comprise 60 percent of the total McLean County population aged 60 and older, and 76 percent of the 80+ age group.5.91 (See Figure 5.16.)

Older women are more likely to live alone than are older men. This situation is affected by marital status. In Illinois, women are four times more likely to be widowed than men. Among respondents to the Assessment 2000 Household Survey, 82 percent of men, compared to 58 percent of women, were

Figure 5.16: Percent of Females and Males in Senior Age Groups

female male

85+ 79% 21%

80+ 76% 24%

75+ 70% 30%

Age 70+ 66% 34%

65+ 63% 37%

60+ 60% 40%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Percent Source: Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State Univer- sity, (309) 438-5946.

5.91 Treadway, R. and D.J. Ervin, Illinois Population Trends 1990 to 2020, (Springfield, IL: State of Illinois, 1997). For further information, contact the Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, (309) 438-5946.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 81 5. Needs and Resources: Senior services

married; 3 percent of men, compared to 18 percent of women, were widowed. Statewide, 34 percent of older women live alone compared to 15 percent of older men. The proportion of women living alone rises as women age. According to the Illinois Department on Aging’s Profile of Illinois’ Elderly, published in 1994, 40 percent of women over the age of 85 live alone and 30 percent live in group living situations (nursing homes, boarding homes, etc.), compared to 25 percent and 18 percent respectively, for men in the same age group.5.92 Nationwide, 70 percent of residents in nursing homes are women.5.93 Thus, issues surrounding aging in general, and long-term care in particular, are highly gendered.5.94

Assessment 2000 Household Survey respondents were somewhat more likely to be older and have higher incomes than McLean County’s population as a whole.5.95 Nonetheless, survey findings indi- cate that household income declines with age, with people aged 75 to 84 being twice as likely to have annual household incomes of less than $20,000 than people between the ages of 65 and 74. No survey respondents over age 85 reported a household income of over $50,000. Older residents are more likely to live on a fixed income than their younger neighbors. Thus, rising costs of necessities such as prescription medications, home maintenance, and property taxes present a greater challenge to se- niors.

Resources, services, and needs The senior population is extremely diverse, incorporating a huge range of resources, interests, per- spectives, and needs. Older adults make important contributions to the community. Many continue to work; in McLean County, one-quarter of men and one-fifth of women aged 65 to 69 are employed. Eighteen percent of men and 9 percent of women between the ages of 70 and 74 participate in the County’s workforce.5.96 As property owners, seniors contribute to the tax base. They invest in local financial institutions and spend on local goods and services. They are active volunteers; nearly half (43%) of the 743 Household Survey respondents who volunteer for local religious organizations are retired. Several local service programs, including the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), are designed specifically to put the talents and experience of older adults to work for the community. Seniors also provide informal help to relatives, friends, and neighbors.

However, not all seniors are able independently to meet the needs of themselves and others. Many McLean County elders require support ranging from help with home maintenance and getting to and from medical appointments to residential nursing care. A variety of services, programs and organiza- tions—many of them funded through the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging—support se- niors’ nutritional, transportation, housing, legal, and long-term care needs. In addition, there are 1,234 skilled, interim, and sheltered nursing home beds in McLean County.5.97 Assessment 2000 partici-

5.92 Illinois Department on Aging, Profile of Illinois’ Elderly, (Springfield, IL, 1994), 9. 5.93 Illinois Department on Aging, “Facts on Aging: A Look at Nursing Homes,” [Internet], http://www.state.il.us/aging/ onage06.htm, (1 June 1999). 5.94 See, e.g., Administration on Aging, “Older Women: A Diverse and Growing Population,” [Fact Sheet], (Washington, DC, 1998); Beier, L.M. and M. Spring, “Who Will Remember Mama?” Illinois Issues, XXII:1 (1996), 30-31. 5.95 See “Research activities and methods” at the beginning of section 5 of this report. 5.96 U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing Summary Tape File 3A, [Database], (1990). 5.97 Illinois Department of Public Health, “Nursing Homes in Illinois,” [Internet], http://www.idph.state.il.us/healthca/ nursinghm2.htm, (December 1999).

82 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Senior services

pants—Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey respondents, focus group participants, and key informants—frequently mentioned providers’ inter-organizational communication and willingness to collaborate as major strengths of human service provision in the County. However, Assessment 2000 research identified additional needs for senior opportunities and services including: • Enhanced coordinated recruitment and management of volunteer responsibilities for seniors; • More services and outreach for seniors living in rural areas; • Door-to-door and through-the-door non-emergency medical transportation for seniors with mobil- ity limitations; • Dependable, affordable, and accessible transportation for both rural and urban seniors; • In-home help with medication management to supplement support funded by Medicare and Med- icaid; • Mental health assessment, treatment, and counseling providing coordinated care between hospital, home, and long-term care facility for older adults; • Integration of affordable and accessible housing and community-based long-term care; • More well-trained and reliable home care providers; • Affordable, but not subsidized, assisted living facilities; • Regular review of congregate meal locations and greater flexibility of meal scheduling to meet the social and nutritional needs of the diverse senior population; • A conveniently located “One-Stop Senior Center” providing information and referrals for older adults and their care givers; and • An on-line database to aid referrals for senior services.

All of these issues are associated with the goal of helping seniors to maintain independence and an optimal quality of life. They will be discussed at greater length in this section within the categories of assisted living, transportation, and information provision.

Assisted living As people age, they need safe and accessible living environments and services to support health and independence. Sometimes these needs can be met in the homes where people have lived and raised families over the course of many years. Sometimes purpose-designed housing units are more appro- priate. Regardless of housing, assisted living also requires aid with a wide range of activities and functions from caregivers.

In Bloomington there are 424 public housing units designated for the use of low-income older adults and persons with disabilities.5.98 Many seniors living in these units are eligible to receive in-home services through the Community Care Program. As indicated in this report’s section on housing, judging by current vacancies, there may even be an over-supply of public housing for seniors. How- ever, there is a continuing need among McLean County’s older adults for affordable appropriate housing that is not government subsidized. While there are a few assisted living facilities available for

5.98 Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, Illinois, Draft Agency Plans for the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, (September 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 83 5. Needs and Resources: Senior services

high-income seniors, there are no facilities for people of limited means. According to an Assessment 2000 focus group participant, “Elderly who can no longer live in their own homes aren’t necessarily ready for a nursing home. Existing assisted living places suit their needs, but are too expensive for low-income elderly. The result is they are stuck and isolated in their homes. This is especially true of rural people.”

In addition to appropriate housing, provision of assisted living services depends on availability of reli- able, qualified staff. According to key informants and focus group participants, recruitment and reten- tion of such workers presents an increasing challenge to senior service providers. One focus group participant commented, “There is a shortage of home care providers. Nursing homes send more people home now than in the past, but if the staff aren’t available, it doesn’t work. Good staff are overworked, which leads to burnout. High turnover reduces reliability of workers and is hard on senior citizens.” Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and other care-giver positions are low-paid and often without benefits. Workers are usually women who face the same child care and transportation challenges as other employees with low incomes. Furthermore, employers of CNAs compete with other service employers, such as Wal-Mart and McDonald’s, but have less flexibility regarding the wages and benefits they offer.

This situation is exacerbated by what one expert identifies as a crisis in home care. “Providers of Homemaker services under the Community Care Program are having difficulty recruiting and retain- ing workers due to low reimbursement rate. Due to staffing shortages, homemaker clients are not receiving the hours of service authorized in their care plans.” Furthermore, “The federal government has reduced Medicare payments to home health care agencies. More than 2,000 home health agen- cies have gone out of business nationwide. Home health agencies in rural areas have been especially hard hit. Payments must be increased to assure continuity of home health care to older and disabled persons with long term chronic illnesses.”5.99

Meals provided at neighborhood locations (Congregate Meals) and in seniors’ homes (Home Deliv- ered Meals) are important components of assisted living. The Home Delivered Meals program serves elders living in all parts of McLean County except a few rural areas.5.100 Although the Home Deliv- ered Meals program is currently serving close to the maximum possible number of clients and expects increasing demand in the future, attendance at Congregate Meals has dropped off in recent years. Local providers intend to review current service provision and develop approaches to increase utiliza- tion of the program.

Transportation McLean County residents depend on household automobiles for transportation. Assessment 2000 Household Survey findings indicate that County residents continue to drive into their eighties, with 63 percent (n=19) of respondents aged 85 and older indicating that they get to medical appointments in the family car. However, as people age they become less comfortable and safe behind the wheel.

5.99 East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, “Summary of Recurring Issues from 1999 Public Forums,” (Bloomington, IL, 1999). 5.100 According to the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, these un-served areas include Stanford, Arrowsmith, Bellflower, Hendrix, Padua, Twin Grove, Funks Grove, Hudson, Clarksville, Shamrock, Towanda, Sabina, Carlock, and Weston.

84 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Senior services

Ability to drive, physical mobility, and other factors including vision and mental state affect seniors’ access to goods and services and their transportation needs.

Although older adults living in Bloomington-Normal can use public buses and rural seniors can use SHOW Bus services, transportation remains a challenge for elders—particularly people living in rural areas or at a distance from urban bus routes. A key informant identified a need on the part of physically challenged seniors for help getting from home to the bus or van and from the bus or van to the destination. Another key informant called for availability and coordination with health care provid- ers’ schedules for non-emergency transportation for medical appointments.

Information provision Recurring themes of Assessment 2000 research are the needs for improved provision of information to people who need services and sharing of information among service providers. Nowhere are these needs more pressing than among seniors, their family members and caregivers, and the diverse orga- nizations offering support services. Older adults’ service needs develop and change rapidly. With McLean County’s human, financial, and technological resources, there are real opportunities to im- prove provision of information: • about service availability; • to improve referrals; and • to enhance service quality.

Focus group participants praised PATH’s Directory, but indicated that this resource is used only by service providers—not by people needing services. Furthermore, PATH’s Directory lacks specific information about eligibility for and current availability of specific services. Thus, it is imperfect as a referral resource. There was general agreement that a well maintained on-line service would en- hance referrals and minimize the time and frustration involved in accessing services.

It is difficult for seniors, their family members, and caregivers to identify appropriate services. Al- though information is available from PATH and the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, general awareness of these resources is limited. Focus group participants praised the “One Stop Shop for Senior Citizens” located in downtown Quincy, Illinois, which is visible, accessible, and offers a wide range of information and services under one roof. There was general agreement that a similar facility in downtown Bloomington would be used well. Focus group participants also called for re- inclusion of a social services section in the local telephone directory.

Implications for health and human services: • The projected increase in McLean County’s older population offers an opportunity for employers and organizations depending on volunteers. In a period of full employment and declining volunteerism, seniors will be needed as never before to support the good quality of life sought and valued by all County residents. • At the same time, growing numbers of seniors needing health and human services will place increasing pressure on community services and amenities. Communities planning to meet the needs of families with children will increasingly need to include the housing, transportation, recreational, and other support requirements of older adults. In addition, the need for all types of senior support services will grow.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 85 5. Needs and Resources: People with disabilities

• Because there are more older women than older men, services should be planned and delivered in gender-appropriate ways. • Rural seniors have more difficulty accessing services than do their urban counterparts. Emphasis should be placed on providing appropriate outreach and transportation services in rural parts of McLean County. • As the use of in-patient hospital and nursing home beds declines, the need for in-home care will increase. Meeting this challenge demands cooperation and coordination of services among pro- viders. It also requires new approaches to attracting and retaining home care staff including increased wages, family-friendly support services (e.g., child care, flexible hours, transportation, etc.), and community recognition of the importance of this type of work. • Affordable assisted living facilities are needed throughout McLean County.

National and local data People with disabilities A significant number of Americans suffer from physical disabili- ties. In 1995, 15 percent of the U.S. population experienced limita- tions of physical activity due to chronic health conditions. Older people are more likely to be disabled than are younger people; 38 percent of Americans aged 70 and over report activity limitation com- pared to only 10 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 44. The prevalence of visual impair- ments was 33 per 1,000 people and the prevalence of hearing impairments was 86 per 1,000 people. In 1990, 1,564,000 people were using wheelchairs. 5.101

In addition, many Americans suffer from mental disabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Every year, more than 51 million Americans experience diagnosable mental disorders. Of them, more than 6.5 million are disabled by severe mental illnesses, including as many as 4 million children and adolescents . . . . Yet only one in four affected adults receives treatment. And only one-third of children and adolescents who need mental health services get them.” More than 10 million children under age 7 grow up in homes where at least one parent suffers from significant mental illness or substance abuse. Approximately one percent of the total population is affected by a developmental disability such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. 5.102

An estimated 2.3 million adults living in U.S. communities have severe disabilities and require help from another person with everyday activities. According to one authority, “Different forms of disabil- ity can pose different challenges. For example, individuals with physical disabilities often require significant help with daily activities of self-care. In contrast, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or chronic mental illness may be able to perform everyday tasks and may need supervision more than

5.101 Centers for Disease Control, Frequently Asked Questions—Disability (updated 11/4/98), [Internet], http://www.cdc.gov/ nchs/faq/disable1.htm, (December 1999); “Current Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey,” Table 67, Vital and Health Statistics, 10:199, (1995), 101. 5.102 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “The Department of Health and Human Services on Mental Health Issues,” [Internet], http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/1999pres/990607.html, (December 1999).

86 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: People with disabilities

hands-on assistance.” People with severe disabilities are less likely to work, have less education, and have lower incomes than the general population.5.103

Nine percent of respondents to the Assessment 2000 Household Survey report having a disability. McLean County’s IPLAN reports that 33 percent of respondents to a 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey indicated that their activities are limited due to physical or mental health problems.5.104 Eight percent (n=19) of Household Survey respondents who needed child care in the last year, have children with disabilities or special needs.

Resources and services People with disabilities do not always ask for or obtain services. However, McLean County offers support services for the disabled ranging from accessible public housing and transportation to employ- ment assistance and personal care services. Seventy-five organizations listed in the PATH Directory provide one or more services to disabled adults or children.5.105 The local Office of Rehabilitation Services currently serves 664 area residents, of whom approximately two-thirds have mental disabili- ties (including emotional illness, retardation, and learning disabilities) and one-third are physically dis- abled. An additional 120 clients are university students.5.106 Twelve other organizations, besides the Office of Rehabilitation Services, responding to the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey either exclusively serve people with disabilities or identify the disabled among the categories of clients they serve.

Providers responding to the survey and participating in key informant interviews identified as strengths of McLean County’s services to people with disabilities: dedicated and professional staff, strong programs, and good will among organizations. Providers identified challenges to service provision including insufficient operating funds, transportation for clients, too much paperwork, lack of volun- teers, not enough staff, and lack of community awareness of services. Regarding gaps in the County’s health and human service delivery system to the disabled, providers mentioned: • Transportation, including volunteer drivers, transportation for rural clients, evening and Sunday transportation, and door-to-door and through-the-door transportation for non-emergency medical appointments; • Housing, including affordable accessible housing for people with disabilities, housing with training and support for independent living, and affordable housing for low-paid human service employees; • Personal assistance and training, including orientation and mobility coaching and cane training for people experiencing low vision or blindness, especially older adults; • Employment for people with disabilities, which one provider linked to negative employer attitudes; and

5.103 U. S. General Accounting Office, Adults with Severe Disabilities: Federal and State Approaches for Personal Care and Other Services, GAO/HEHS-99-101, (1999), 4, 7. 5.104 McLean County Health Department, McLean County Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN): Commu- nity Health Plan and Needs Assessment, (June 1999), 5. 5.105 PATH (Providing Access to Help), Directory 2000, (McLean County, IL, 1999), 237-239. 5.106 The local Department of Human Services’ Office of Rehabilitation Services serves McLean, Ford, and Livingston Counties. The number and categories of customers served applies to this service area as a whole, rather than just McLean County.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 87 5. Needs and Resources: People with disabilities

• Categorically funded, narrowly focused programs that make it difficult for some people with disabilities (cross-categorically-labeled people or people not fitting neatly into a category) to obtain services.

A major emphasis in McLean County services for people with disabilities is workforce development and support. With current low levels of unemployment, employers are increasingly aware of the po- tential labor pool represented by people with disabilities. Service providers work with area employers to help them develop accessible work environments and train employees about disability etiquette, interviewing, and hiring practices. Providers link disabled workers with jobs and provide financial support and services for both employers and clients. Assessment 2000 key informants and focus group participants called for employers to be flexible and understanding of the capabilities and needs of workers with specific types of disabilities. They observed that job discrimination occurs-employers differ in their willingness to employ people with various types of disabilities. Focus group participants also discussed the stigma attached to mental illness.

People with disabilities say . . . Assessment 2000 focus group participants recognized that there are many resources for disabled people in McLean County, but say it is hard to get accurate information about services and how to access them. Participants shared frustration about being referred from one agency to another; they called for better communication and coordination among agencies. They also suggested that agencies learn from each other’s successes and emulate or replicate model programs and organizational char- acteristics.

People with disabilities indicated a local need for services for adaptive equipment. One focus group participant needed the brakes fixed on a wheelchair. S/he reported no service center exists in McLean County; that Peoria and Springfield are the closest places. Another participant needed to get a switch fixed on a lift. The company through which the part was ordered required that a certified dealer make the repair. This participant traveled to Champaign three times for the repair.

Children with disabilities have some special needs. Parents of disabled children who provided infor- mation for a 1998 study conducted by OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and the Easter Seal Rehabilita- tion Center identified local need for day care, developmental preschool, physical therapy, and occupa- tional therapy for their children. They called for more in-home respite services. They also identified a need for education in school systems and in the general public about disabilities affecting chil- dren.5.107

Assessment 2000 focus group participants call for all services to be extended to rural areas. Many people with disabilities cannot drive or cannot afford to purchase and maintain an appropriate vehicle. Thus, disabled people living in rural areas face special transportation challenges. Other types of amenities and services (affordable and accessible housing, personal attendants, in-home medical care) are also hard to obtain in rural areas.

5.107 OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center, Community Health Plan, (Bloomington, IL, June 1998).

88 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: People with disabilities

Finally, focus group participants recognize the need for people with disabilities to organize and advo- cate for themselves. They point out that the disabled community itself is fragmented; there are many organizations, each of which tends to center on a specific disability. Yet, according to one participant, there are basically four or five issues common to all people with disabilities—housing, medical care, employment, transportation, and adaptive devices. Another pointed out that the needs of individuals among the disabled vary; thus, they need a place or organization that has ideas for everyone. Other participants called for an organization—perhaps a union—to advocate for persons with disabilities.

Participants agreed there is a need to educate County residents and government officials about dis- ability issues. Attitudes about persons with disabilities are changing—especially since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, additional change is necessary. Participants sug- gested strategies for organizing and advocacy including meeting together visibly in public places, going to City and Town Council meetings, and working with local media to generate stories about people with disabilities.

Conclusion In the process of preparing this report, it became apparent that although a great deal of public money is spent on programs for persons with disabilities, little public data about them is available. Although Federal, State, and local reports provide other types of health information (e.g., mortality, incidence of certain diseases and risk factors) and information about other specific population groups (e.g., older adults), it is difficult to obtain information about the incidence of the wide range of disabilities known to be present in our communities. Furthermore, the disabled are rarely featured in news stories. Thus, despite general awareness of the American with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities are more or less invisible. This creates insensitivity and lack of understanding. It also undermines the extent to which the County can benefit from the contributions of its residents who have disabilities.

Implications for health and human services: • Service providers should work together to improve information provision facilitating referrals and access to services. In an information age, people who need services should not have to shuttle from one agency to another in search of the individual who knows the answers to their questions. • People with disabilities and service providers should work with area media outlets to develop informational materials and stories to improve public understanding various types of disabilities. • Community development planning for all amenities and services and new construction (e.g., hous- ing, transportation, recreation, workforce development, etc.) should incorporate and integrate the perspectives and needs of people with disabilities.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 89 5. Needs and Resources: Abuse and neglect

Abuse and neglect take place within families. Although anyone Abuse and neglect can be abused, children, older adults, and women tend to suffer this experience more often than do adult males. Abuse is often hidden and produces shame in both abuser and victim. It is frequently related to other problems such as substance abuse and emotional illness. Abuse and neglect have been identified and defined differently by different cultures at various times; current legislation, reporting, and enforcement indicate a height- ened regard for the rights of the powerless in our society. This section will discuss abuse and neglect within the categories of child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence.

Child abuse The 1995 Together We Can report identified child abuse as an increasing problem in McLean County.5.108 According to a report published in 1999 by Voices for Illinois Children, in 1997, there were 544 cases of child abuse and neglect in McLean County, representing a rate of 14.5 per 1,000—somewhat higher than the rate of 10.7 per 1,000 for the State of Illinois as a whole. In 1998, there were 626 cases of child abuse and neglect in McLean County, yielding a rate of 16.4 per 1,000, compared to the State rate of 9.7 per 1,000.5.109 Notwithstanding issues associated with reporting and community culture, these figures are worthy of concern.

One important way to identify child abuse and neglect is through teachers’ observations; school staff are legally required to report suspected cases. A 1998 survey of certified staff in McLean and Livingston County schools sponsored by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council collected information about current awareness of this reporting obligation and the degree to which it is carried out.5.110 Survey findings indicate a lack of awareness of mandated reporting re- sponsibility and a need for training about child abuse and neglect for school staff members. The Council is now in the process of taking a 14-minute video into schools to train staff about their report- ing responsibilities.

In recent years, McLean County service providers have devoted special attention to the issue of child abuse and neglect, focusing on early childhood and parenting skills development. The Healthy Start program initiated in 1998 is intended to provide support to families at risk of violence and other prob- lems.5.111 The Crisis Nursery offers a “safe haven” for children up to age five who may be at risk of abuse or neglect due to a family crisis. A Success by Six Initiative is currently in the planning stages. Other family support programs, including pre-kindergarten education, adult literacy, mentoring, and affordable child care, provide services that may reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect .5.112

5.108 Together We Can: Community Assessment of Needs: Final Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 28. This document does not cite a source for the very high 1992 to 1994 rates it reports. However, it is noteworthy that the reported 1983 to 1984 rate of 15.5 per 1,000 is very close to current rates, thus raising some questions about the reported 1992 to 1994 rates reported in 1995. 5.109 Illinois Kids Count 1999-2000: Communities Helping Families, (Chicago, IL, 1999), 81. Kids Count data was compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation for the Voices for Illinois Children. 5.110 Survey results were provided to the Assessment 2000 research team by State Representative William Brady’s office. 5.111 Community Advocacy Network, CAN Annual Report, May 1998-June 1999, (McLean County, IL, 1999), 5-6. 5.112 Providing Access to Help (PATH), Directory 2000, (McLean County, IL, 1999) is published annually by PATH’s Business Office, (309) 827-4005. The Directory provides a full listing and description for a wide range of family support programs.

90 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Abuse and neglect

It is noteworthy that these and other social service programs are located in Bloomington-Normal. According to Assessment 2000 focus group participants, rural residents must travel to obtain services during business hours; this limits both access and acceptance of services by people in need of help. A focus group participant said, “Rural communities are different from Bloomington-Normal. Access to services is minimal. There is no public transportation. Not everyone works or has a car. Some don’t have phones or running water. There is a need to link with schools, churches, or other organizations in rural communities that people relate to or don’t fear. Rural residents do not contribute to United Way or know about United Way agencies because services tend to be restricted to Bloomington-Normal.”

Elder abuse According to the Illinois Department on Aging, Many older persons are the victims of mistreatment by their family members, caregivers, neighbors or friends. Victims of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation are most likely to be women who are over age 75 and have several health impairments. Abusers are usually the victim’s relatives, most often adult children with substance abuse and financial problems. The most frequent type of mistreatment is financial exploitation, followed by emotional abuse and neglect of the older person’s care, and then by physical and other types of abuse.5.113

In 1998, there were 94 reports of elder abuse in McLean County. In 1999, there were 120 reports of elder abuse, of which 100 cases were substantiated.5.114 Due to mandated reporting legislation that went into effect in January 1999, reports of elder abuse are expected to increase. PATH administers McLean County’s Elder Abuse program, which currently has 92 clients.

Domestic violence In the State of Illinois, domestic crimes are those committed by “family or household members includ- ing spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren and other persons related by blood or marriage, persons who share or formerly shared a common dwelling and persons who have or alleg- edly have a child in common.” Statewide reporting of domestic violence began in Illinois in 1996. Thus, it is too early to identify trends over time. Current data indicate that most domestic crimes in Illinois (67%) are simple assault/battery. Half of domestic crimes within families are committed by spouses or ex-spouses; the vast majority (81%) of non-family domestic crimes are committed within the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. Between three and four percent of domestic crimes in Illinois are committed in violation of Orders of Protection. In McLean County, 531 crimes of domestic violence were reported in 1998.5.115

McLean County offers a variety of resources to people involved with domestic violence situations. These resources include: police and court response to domestic violence complaints; Victims’ Advo- cate and Medical Advocate support; the Neville House shelter for women who are abused; free legal service for low-income and elderly abused persons; and counseling and training for both abused and abusers. Public and nonprofit agencies help address the needs of children and people (mainly women)

5.113 Illinois Department on Aging, Elder Abuse and Neglect Program: FY1998 Annual Report, (Springfield, IL, 1998). 5.114 Information provided by Providing Access to Help (PATH). 5.115 Illinois State Police, Crime in Illinois 1998, 140-141, 150. Available from Illinois State Police, Division of Administra- tion, Crime Studies Section, (217) 782-3310, (Springfield, IL).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 91 5. Needs and Resources: Abuse and neglect

emerging from abusive domestic situations. Organizations including the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council and the McLean County Domestic Violence Task Force provide op- portunities for County-wide planning and coordination of prevention and support services. Projects such as the effort to establish a domestic violence court (to streamline court decisions), the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence (to muster employers’ influence against abuse), and evaluation of the Bloomington Police Department’s Community Oriented Policing (COPS) grant (to identify strengths and deficiencies in local management of domestic violence cases) address different but related issues associated with domestic violence.

Assessment 2000 focus group participants who have experienced domestic violence praised some local support services—in particular, Neville House and BroMenn Healthcare’s program for abusers. However, there was general agreement that, if possible, people experiencing domestic violence were better off handling their problems through informal support systems (e.g., churches, family members, friends) rather than by becoming involved with formal service organizations. All focus group partici- pants reported negative experiences with both public and nonprofit agencies. Categories of negative experiences include: • Punishing the victim. Focus group participants talked about agencies recording information inaccurately, mentioned trouble dealing with bureaucracies and paperwork, and described being forced to comply with unrealistic or inconsistent rules that are not explained in a clear and timely fashion. • Using children to compel maternal behavior. Several focus group participants have had chil- dren (either their own or their abuser’s) removed from their care by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). They resent the official assumption that the children are better off in foster care. They also believe that in domestic violence cases, agencies deliberately break up families. • Offering little protection from abusers. Despite Orders of Protection, all focus group participants had been beaten or otherwise abused by partners after the partner’s release from custody. They did not believe the police could protect them from the “repercussions” of having reported domes- tic violence to the authorities. One participant said, “When they get out of jail, what happens? They go to jail for 24 hours. Then they come home and they are pissed. There is no counseling until found guilty.” Another said, “It doesn’t matter that you have an Order of Protection; they can still come after you. It’s only a paper. All it does is cause you to have to go in front of the court and tell your story—humiliating.” • Failure to provide counseling and support for children. One focus group participant objected to a child being pressured to provide evidence against parents. Several others protested children being handed over to strangers. One participant commented, “Kids have feelings too.” • Offering no hope to abusers and families. Focus group participants agreed that abusers need help and that some families affected by domestic violence can be saved. An Assessment 2000 House- hold Survey respondent commented about this issue, “My major concern is domestic violence— the hidden social problem and crime. But what is the greatest concern is the attitude about the men and women who abuse their spouse. They are looked at as hopeless (the way we once looked at ‘drunks’) rather than human beings who can change. And if we do not help people change, no number of shelters will eliminate the domestic violence problem.” A key informant indicated that there is a local need for subsidized services for domestic violence offenders.

92 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Criminal justice

• Failure to recognize racial, class, and ethnic components of both family violence and the ways the community deals with this problem. Domestic Violence focus group participants agreed that the social class and race of the abuser and abused affect the way they are treated. Participants in the focus group dealing with the Hispanic community reported that, “DCFS is removing Hispanic children from their homes without first providing parent education and without understanding the different cultural concepts of what constitutes discipline and abuse.” Several Black focus group participants reported similar experiences.

Implications for health and human services: • Most McLean County households are not abusive. Nonetheless, they face many pressures. National figures report that approximately half of all marriages now end in divorce. More than 7 percent of Assessment 2000 Household Survey respondents indicated that they had experienced serious parent-child or family conflict during the past year. It is more important than ever to educate both children and adults about conflict resolution and anger management. • The shame and secrecy surrounding abuse and neglect keep people—including family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, teachers, and health care providers—from getting involved. The community must recognize this problem as its own and use all appropriate methods to reduce its incidence and impact. • With the projected growth in the older population, elder abuse is likely to increase. Seniors— particularly the poor and frail who are most vulnerable to abuse—are less visible to the wider society than are younger people. The community must become more sensitive to the signs of elder abuse and focus the same attention on this problem as it does on child abuse and domestic violence. • A strong message from the focus group discussion of domestic violence was that all people who become involved with public and nonprofit agencies—abusers, abused, children, and extended families—lose their privacy and independence. This insight may, perhaps, be extended to other situations where people in need become clients. There is an apparent need for service providers to consider innovative ways of empowering service consumers. • Service providers and the community at-large must continue to evaluate the way abuse and ne- glect are dealt with, identify best practice, and discontinue doing things that do not help or make situations worse.

Crime and punishment in McLean County Criminal justice Americans are justly concerned about crime. U.S. homicide rates are the highest in the developed world. Our prisons are bulging; indeed, construction of correctional facilities has become both a major industry and an economic development strategy for many communities. Nonetheless, crime rates are beginning to decline na- tionwide, providing Americans with the opportunity to review strategies for prevention, rehabilitation, and punishment.5.116

5.116 Macionis, J.J., Society: The Basics, (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1999), 149-155.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 93 5. Needs and Resources: Criminal justice

The crime rate in Illinois dropped between 1994 and 1998. Violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault, decreased from a rate of 1,067 per 100,000 in 1994 to a rate of 831 per 100,000 in 1998. During the same period, property crimes including burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson declined from a rate of 4,605 per 100,000 to a rate of 4,218 per 100,000. In 1998, the overall crime rate in Illinois was 5,048 per 100,000.

In 1998, McLean County’s crime rate was 4,435 per 100,000. While this rate is slightly higher than the 1995 figure of 4,150 per 100,000, it compares favorably with both the State rate and rates for other downstate metropolitan areas in Illinois. (See Figure 5.17.) As might be expected, crime rates are higher in Bloomington and Normal than in smaller County communities, with the exception of Chenoa, which had a high incidence of burglary and theft given the small population. Theft and burglary are the most commonly reported crimes in McLean County.5.117 (See Figure 5.18.)

As indicated in the section on “Youth Issues and services” in this report, each year from 1995 to 1998 an average of 1,308 people under age 18 were referred to McLean County Juvenile Court Services

Figure 5.17: Crime Rate per 100,000 for McLean County, State of Illinois, and Illinois MSAs, 1995 to 1998

McLean County 8,000 State of Illinois All Illinois metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) 6,047 5,876

6,000 5,699 5,572 5,447 5,432 5,280 5,048 4,435 4,329 4,150 3,999 4,000

Crime rate per 100,000 2,000

- 1995 1996 1997 1998 Year Source: Illinois State Police, Crime in Illinois 1996, 1997, 1998. Available from Illinois State Police, Division of Administration, Crime Studies Section, (217) 782-3310, (Springfield, IL).

5.117 Illinois State Police, Crime in Illinois 1996, 1997, 1998. Available from Illinois State Police, Division of Administration, Crime Studies Section (217) 782-3310, (Springfield, IL).

94 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Criminal justice

Figure 5.18: Number of Crimes Convicted by Type and Year in McLean County, 1996 to 1998

5,000 1996 1997 1998 4,060 4,000 4,019 3,635

3,000

2,000

Number per year 1,188 1,053 1,000 1,000 565 501 476 198 163 161 110 103 98 82 84 81 44 36 31 4 3 - - Theft Arson Murder Burglary Robbery theft assault Aggravated Motor vehicle assault/battery

Criminal sexual Crime Source: Illinois State Police, Crime in Illinois 1996, 1997, 1998. Available from Illinois State Police, Division of Administration, Crime Studies Section, (217) 782-3310, (Springfield, IL).

for various offenses. The largest number of young offenders were referred for running away from home (234), battery (132), retail theft under $150 (137), and curfew violations (151).5.118

The McLean County Jail has 205 beds. According to an Assessment 2000 key informant, the County’s average daily inmate population in 1999 was 224. Of this number, 64 had been sentenced and 160 had not been sentenced. Another key informant indicated that many prisoners are in jail not because they have been found guilty, but because they have been unable to make bail. Prison over-crowding has stimulated plans to expand the County Jail by at least 108 beds, since housing McLean County inmates outside the County is more expensive than the monthly $1,756 price tag of imprisoning them here. An Assessment 2000 key informant reported that an average of 12 prisoners at any given time need to be transported and housed in other counties’ correctional facilities. If current trends continue, McLean County will spend up to $200,000 per year on housing its prisoners outside the County.5.119

5.118 McLean County Juvenile Court Services, “Intake Referrals” [interim report for 1995 to 1998], (Bloomington, IL: Law and Justice Center, 1999). 5.119 Holliday, B., “Along with Jail, Law and Justice Center Also Short on Space,” The Pantagraph, (Bloomington, IL, 17 October 1999). See also Illinois Department of Corrections, “Financial Impact Statement,” received by the Circuit Clerk, (McLean County, IL, 15 November 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 95 5. Needs and Resources: Criminal justice

Not only is the McLean County Jail over-crowded, but the McLean County Juvenile Detention Center is almost always fully occupied. The Juvenile Detention Center has 26 beds. At present, 24 inmates are from McLean County and 2 are from Livingston County.5.120

In addition to its prison population, McLean County is home to a large number of ex-offenders. Ac- cording to a key informant, each year approximately 300 people from McLean County get out of prison and come home. An Assessment 2000 focus group participant reported that at any given time about 1,000 McLean County residents are on probation.

Experience and perceptions Assessment 2000 Household Survey findings indicate that McLean County residents are worried about crime. More than one-quarter of survey respondents consider crime (29%) and juvenile delin- quency (30%) “serious” or “very serious” problems in the County. More than two-fifths (42%) consider gangs a “serious” or “very serious” problem in the County. (See Figure 5.3) Only five percent of survey respondents reported that they or members of their households had been the victim of a crime during the past year (down from 7% in 1995) and only two percent reported having trouble with gangs.5.121

Nevertheless, Assessment 2000 key informants reported that crime continues to have a negative impact on community quality of life. One interviewee reported “Drug trafficking on Market Street [Bloomington] and at the truck stop.” Another commented that several families moved off West Jefferson Street (Bloomington) because of shootings last April and that there are several drug houses on West Monroe. This key informant indicated that gangs, drugs, and prostitution continue to be problems in West Bloomington.

In addition to crime, McLean County residents are concerned about police coverage. One key infor- mant called for more police officers in Bloomington, saying, “Police beats are so much bigger than they used to be. [We] now have 99 officers working three shifts; officers are spread thin. There used to be the same officers patrolling the same areas—they knew the areas. They are rotating now, or at least it seems they are, so they don’t know the area.” Law enforcement and security are also challenges for rural areas, where some small communities lack 24-hour police coverage and residents living outside of communities depend on the County Sheriff’s department.

In addition to numbers, McLean County residents are concerned about the quality and equity of law enforcement personnel. As indicated in this report’s section on “Youth issues and services,” there is a perception among at least some teenagers that police (particularly in the Town of Normal) are especially vigilant and strict with young men. Furthermore, a 1997 survey on Community Percep- tions of Local Police conducted by the Minority Advocacy Council found that although most County respondents have a generally favorable opinion of local law enforcement, there are significant differ- ences in experience and perception among White and Black respondents.5.122 Whites were much

5.120 McLean County Juvenile Detention Center, [personal communication with Assistant Director], (Normal, IL, December 1999). 5.121 Community Assessment of Needs: Community Survey Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 38. 5.122 Minority Advocacy Council, Community Perceptions of Local Police Study, (Bloomington-Normal, IL, 1997).

96 Assessment 2000: 5. Needs and Resources: Criminal justice

more likely than Blacks to report that they had been respectfully treated by local law enforcement professionals. Blacks were much less likely than Whites to agree that when local law enforcement professionals approach a situation, they treat all parties equally, regardless of race or ethnicity. An Assessment 2000 key informant commented that Hispanic residents of Bloomington feel unfairly targeted by both Black and White police officers for traffic stops. Furthermore, if a Hispanic person is stopped and cannot understand English, s/he will be taken to the police station and held until a translator can be located. Key informants identified a need for multi-lingual law enforcement and court personnel to assist people who do not speak English, particularly speakers of Spanish.

Finally, McLean County residents are concerned about the related issues of a largely punitive justice system and the lack of coordinated support services for ex-offenders once they are released into the community. Assessment 2000 focus group participants discussed alternatives to incarceration that help maintain an offender’s links with the community—electronic surveillance and work release. They talked also about offenders’ needs for services at various stages—pre-trial, during sentence and probation, and after release. Provision of the services necessary to help an ex-offender become self- sufficient and reduce the chance s/he will re-offend requires specific resource allocation and coopera- tion among organizations that are not accustomed to working together.

McLean County lacks a coordinated system to support ex-offenders. Several Assessment 2000 key informants mentioned faith-based approaches to providing services. One model, the “One Church, One Offender” program, which has reduced recidivism in Fort Wayne, Indiana, uses intensive mentoring and supervision to motivate and support ex-offenders. Another approach being developed by Pastor John Brown at the Joy Full Gospel Community Church in Bloomington is to provide sustained after- care for up to nine months after a prisoner’s release. The program helps the ex-offender to develop job skills, study for the G.E.D., and find a job. It also works with employers to increase their confi- dence about hiring ex-offenders. One key informant commented, “If these people [ex-offenders] don’t get a job, they will get back into trouble.”

Implications for health and human services: • McLean County residents’ fear of crime may be exaggerated and may divert their attention and resources from more significant problems. For example, youth poverty is more widespread than juvenile delinquency or gang activity. A focus on addressing major community problems will bring crime rates down. • Community policing and neighborhood residents’ involvement in law enforcement through pro- grams such as Neighborhood Watch helps increase security, discourage crime, and fosters a sense of community. • McLean County’s law enforcement personnel should review current ways of dealing with young people and members of the Black and Hispanic communities. Steps should be taken to improve relations between police and these groups, both to improve local services and to avoid marginalizing and alienating County residents. • Due to prison over-crowding, McLean County must continue to explore alternatives to incarcera- tion—particularly for non-violent and “victimless” crimes. The County should also implement alternatives to imprisoning people who have not been sentenced.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 97 5. Needs and Resources: Criminal justice

• Ex-offenders face huge challenges when they return to the community, including social stigma, lack of resources and credit, and trouble getting housing, transportation, and work. If ex-offend- ers fail to overcome these challenges, they are likely to re-offend and go back to jail. It is in the community’s self interest to provide counseling and training to prisoners and offer coordinated support services to ex-offenders when they are released.

98 Assessment 2000: Organization and Management of Health 6 and Human Services

The Assessment 2000 project identified McLean County needs and resources with information pro- vided by residents, health and human service providers, County and community leaders, and previ- ously collected data and reports. Project information can support planning and coordination of ser- vices, information, and resources within and among organizations. More than 400 health and human service organizations (including hospitals, agencies, churches, schools, governmental units, support groups, protective service organizations, associations) exist in McLean County. These organizations have many commonalities. For instance, they may have similar missions (e.g., protect, educate, heal, rehabilitate, provide for basic needs, advocate); consumers, clients or populations (e.g., all residents, residents with particular experiences or health conditions); or services. They also share similar chal- lenges in providing services, obtaining funding, and sharing information.

Health and human service providers, clients, and other County residents provided general evaluative statements about health and human service delivery. Their responses about how well the system works ranged from “very well” to “sluggish and ineffective.” Some compared McLean to other counties or states saying McLean County’s system of health and human services, with its many pro- grams and dedicated staff and volunteers, is better. Others described the network of services as “complex” and suggested that the County would benefit from increased coordination, collaboration, outreach, education, and help for persons accessing services. Some providers and clients referred to the system overall as reactive versus preventative in nature. One key informant perceives the hospi- tals are taking a greater role than ever before in reaching out to the community.

Both consumers and providers experience challenges in the County’s Main challenges to network of health and human services. As noted elsewhere in this providing and accessing report, consumers experience challenges finding, affording, and services obtaining child care, transportation, housing, health care, and other specific types of goods and services. Language barriers, fear, com- plicated paperwork, pride, embarrassment, shame, and others’ fears and prejudices also challenge consumers. Providers, too, experience these and other challenges in providing effective and efficient services. Through the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, 122 providers identified their organizations’ three greatest challenges to providing services or programs from a list of 15 challenges and an option for “other.” 6.1 (See Figure 6.1.) Assessment 2000 key informants and focus group participants also articulated these challenges and others.

The following narrative discusses in greater detail some of these challenges and others because they were recurring themes raised by Service Providers’ and Household Survey respondents, focus group participants, and key informants.

6.1 Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 50, (Bloomington, IL, 2000). Six of the 122 respondents indicated four “greatest challenges”; one respondent indicated six “greatest challenges.”

Health and Human Services in McLean County 99 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Staffing, training, and operations

Figure 6.1: Health and Human Service Providers’ Greatest Challenges in Providing Services or Programs (n=122) Greatest challenges Percent

Insufficient operating funds 38.5% Not enough staff 30.3% Other (e.g., communication/awareness about services, misconceptions about issues or services, attitudes, parental involvement, doing 30.3% more with fewer resources, government regulations and reimbursement, lack of vehicles, unresolved client issues, location) Lack of volunteers 19.7% Too much paperwork 18.0% Inability to attract/retain qualified staff 16.4% Not enough facility space 15.6% Transportation issues 15.6% Client resistance 13.9% Eligibility requirements for clients 6.6% Clients can't afford costs 5.7% Child care issues for clients 5.7% Hours not convenient for clients 4.1% Inaccessible for persons with disabilities 1.6% Language barriers 1.6% No major challenges 7.4% Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 50, (Bloomington, IL, 2000). Six of the 122 respondents indicated four “greatest challenges”; one respondent indicated six “greatest chal- lenges.”

The County’s health and human service system is built on its work- Staffing, training, and ers who vary by occupation, income, education, training, and loca- operations tion within the County. With a growing population, an aging workforce, and growth in jobs, providers will find it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified workers for all health and human service occupations. The Assessment 2000 project, especially the Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, addressed organizational staffing, training, and operations

100 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Staffing, training, and operations

issues (e.g., hours, accessibility for persons with disabilities, number of sites) to determine chal- lenges to service provision.

Staff recruitment and retention Illinois Department of Employment Security projections for 2005 indicate increases in job positions for nearly every health and human service-related occupation including: • psychologists; • social, recreation, and religious workers; • teachers and counselors at all education levels; • health diagnostic and treatment occupations such as opticians, pharmacists, physicians and sur- geons, registered nurses, and therapists (occupational, physical, recreational, respiratory, speech pathologists and audiologists); • health technician and technology occupations such as dental hygienists, emergency medical tech- nicians, licensed practical nurses, medical and clinical laboratory technicians, medical records technicians, and radiologic technology and technicians; • health service occupations such as dental assistants, medical assistants, nursing aides and order- lies, social welfare service occupations (home health aides, human services workers, and per- sonal and home care aides); and • protective service occupations. 6.2

Figure 6.2 shows the health and human service occupations anticipated to have the most yearly open- ings between 1992 and 2005.

While the demand for workers in health and human service occupations is increasing, workers are in short supply. Health and human service organizations currently are finding it difficult to recruit qualified staff for open positions. Of 112 Service Providers’ Survey respondents, 42 percent indi- cated they have difficulty employing qualified staff. The four most common reasons for their diffi- culty include: “salaries not competitive,” “not enough qualified people available,” “long [working] hours,” and “benefits not competitive.” 6.3 Health care management staff, participants in an Assess- ment 2000 focus group, said that manpower issues—both labor shortages and turnover—are among the biggest challenges facing health care providers. They are beginning to see shortages in profes- sional, technical, and support staff including geriatric specialists, home health care workers, and nurses. One participant said the Balanced Budget Act cut reimbursement for rehabilitation therapy causing [rehabilitation] therapists in nursing homes to be laid off. One provider, an Assessment 2000 key informant, has a hard time filling positions for masters-level clinicians with backgrounds in social work, psychology, and clinical psychology. This provider said turnover and difficulty finding good staff have created a waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services. Consumers are also aware of organizational staffing issues. One Household Survey respondent was concerned about under-staffing in long-term care facilities and felt that patient care suffers as a result of under-staff- ing. Other consumers talked about the long wait for services. Several other participants including

6.2 Illinois Department of Employment Security, 1992-2005 Occupational Projections, (Springfield, IL, 1996). 6.3 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 14- 15.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 101 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Staffing, training, and operations

Figure 6.2: Health and Human Service Related Occupations with the Most Average Annual Openings in McLean County, Projected 1992 to 2005 Average Occupation annual openings Health Diagnostic and Treatment Occupations R1egistered Nurses 5 T2herapists 1 Health Service and Related Occupations N5ursing Aides and Orderlies 2 Social Welfare Service Workers (Home Health Aides, Human Services Workers, and Personal 23 and Home Care Aides) Health Technicians and Technology Occupations L2icensed Practical Nurses 1 Protective Service Occupations P1olice Patrol Officers 1 Social, Recreation, and Religious Workers S4ocial Workers 1 Teachers, Librarians, and Counselors P4reschool and Elementary Teachers 6 S3econdary School Teachers 4 C3ollege and University Faculty 7 O7ther Teachers and Instructors 5 Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security, 1992-2005 Occupational Projections, (Springfield, IL, 1996).

providers, consumers, and an employer commented that case workers are “over-worked” and “under- paid.”

Turnover negatively affects both service organizations and clients. Assessment 2000 participants said high turnover forces the organization to spend more time, money, and human resources on re- cruiting, selecting, and training new workers—resources that could be spent on serving clients. High turnover of case workers can negatively affect the quality of care and treatment that clients receive. Low salaries and high stress levels for social service positions fuel turnover rates, create a less expe-

102 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Staffing, training, and operations

rienced and able workforce as agencies lower qualifications to attract personnel, and don’t provide incentives for new workers to enter the field.

Community attitudes about health and human service professions may affect the numbers of people entering these occupations. Some social service workers said that the public, organization board members, and government employees tend to think that social service workers are in their roles strictly for altruistic reasons; therefore, compensation is not an issue. They said that although the public attitude may be, “It is really good that you do what you do,” this attitude does not translate into monetary support and non-monetary recognition for persons in health and human service occupa- tions. Some participants said the social worker profession is not well respected.

Also important to County health and human service organizations, and viewed as an under-recog- nized resource, are volunteer workers. Of 114 responding providers, one-third have difficulty attract- ing or retaining volunteers with the most prevalent reasons being “public unaware of opportunities,” “lack of recruiting resources,” and “other” reasons such as the time commitment volunteers must make. 6.4 For more information about volunteerism in McLean County, see “Overall strengths, con- cerns, challenges, and opportunities” in section 5 of this report.

Training Ongoing training and networking opportunities are necessary to build an experienced, collaborative, and communicative workforce. Most Service Providers’ Survey respondents (77% of 97 providers) said they provide adequate training for new employees. The remaining providers said that training for new employees is provided but inadequate (14%), not needed (7%), or needed but not provided (1%). According to providers, established employees receive training in 80 percent of responding organizations. 6.5 Assessment 2000 participants talked about the need for additional training and in- formation sharing but recognized organizations’ limited financial resources. Training, communica- tion, and awareness needs included: • Sensitivity and awareness of diversity issues. Key informants and focus group participants talked about the need for more respect and tolerance for personal and cultural differences among health and human service workers, including teachers. One provider said that with large caseloads, it is sometimes difficult for workers to remember to treat each person individually, not just as another client. One informant is concerned about teachers’ and the school system’s apparent lack of awareness of cultural issues, especially related to needs of children learning English as a second language. This individual perceives that teachers expect children of other cultures to pick up on North American values very quickly; although children need to learn American cultural rules and values, their own cultural values and rules must also be affirmed. Diversity training is becoming more important as the minority population grows. • Training and support for computers and software. When asked about their need for additional resources, Service Providers’ Survey respondents who indicated “staff training” most often speci- fied computer training. Assessment 2000 focus groups also expressed need for computer techni- cal support.

6.4 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 16-17. 6.5 Ibid., question 18.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 103 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Staffing, training, and operations

• Information sharing and awareness about services and programs. Many Assessment 2000 par- ticipants expressed the importance of provider and public awareness of services and programs and information sharing among health and human service organizations. By having information about organizations, providers are able to refer consumers more efficiently and effectively. See “Information provision and sharing” below. • Funder and management awareness of social service workers’ issues. Human service workers suggested in a focus group that funders and managers should seek input from “front-line” work- ers. They expressed desire to provide input about such things as suggestions for change, what would make their work more effective, which criteria and rules should be used for their clients, and what changes would make their working conditions better both for themselves and for their clients. Also, the community should be aware that health and human services staff, especially those with low incomes, face some of the same issues as the individuals and families they serve. For instance, health and human service workers may experience difficulty finding affordable housing, child care, or health care, or lack adequate transportation. • Specific subject matter training. Many focus group and Service Providers’ Survey participants expressed a need for continuing education and training related to their occupations and services. Examples include: HIV/AIDs basic and advanced issues, conflict resolution, office procedures, medical records and billing, counseling techniques, fetal development, child welfare and devel- opment, interpersonal skills and customer service, and fundraising.

Diversity in staffing, training, and service provision As noted in section 4, “McLean County Profile,” the County’s population is growing rapidly; the numbers of people in each age and racial/ethnic group are also growing. Because of this, there is an increasing need for services delivered in ways and places that are sensitive and appropriate for indi- viduals. This sensitivity is not reserved for any particular group, but applies to all residents regard- less of their location, gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, primary language spoken, ability or disability, age, working hours, income, and culture. To serve an increasingly diverse population’s needs, many Assessment 2000 participants see need for and benefits of: • Health and human service organization, business, and civic leadership that is diverse; • More diverse health and human service staff members; • Training for service providers and teachers about diversity issues (e.g., disabilities, differing cultural concepts, socioeconomic status) to increase patience, understanding, and appropriate delivery of education and services; • Recognition of, respect for, and inclusion of all persons regardless of personal characteristic or experience; • Providers or translators who can speak Spanish, particularly in health, employment, and criminal justice settings; • Identification of and outreach to leaders in neighborhood, community, and minority groups to invite persons to participate in organizational, community, and regional planning; • Materials published by local government and civic organizations that show the diversity of the community;

104 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Staffing, training, and operations

• Training to educate community members about the cultural issues from many perspectives—e.g., in the schools, churches, city; • Recognition that everyone does not have the same service access issues; • Providing services in residents’ “comfort zones” or convenient locations—i.e., in rural commu- nities, businesses, and the home; • Staff in agencies with diverse experience and training; and • Continued recognition and celebration of County diversity.

Operations: location, hours, and accessibility Staff supply and service demand affect timely service provision, as do factors such as organizations’ hours of operation, location within the County, and facility accessibility for persons with disabilities. The majority of health and human service organizations are located in Bloomington-Normal; 123 respondents to the Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey provided information for a total of 188 sites, more than four-fifths (86%) of which are located in Bloomington-Normal. Most providers listed their sites as being within walking distance of public transportation (84% or 153 sites) and as being accessible for persons with disabilities (91% or 174 sites). Hours of operation (time of day and day of week) varied; Figure 6.3 shows the percentage of sites that are open at particular times and days of the week. 6.6

Figure 6.3: Percent of Service Providers’ Sites Open During Specific Time Periods (n=188)

100% 95% 91%

80%

60%

47%

Percent 40% 38%

26% 19% 20%

0% During week Evenings Saturdays Sundays Holidays Do your hours meet clients needs? Open Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, questions 21-24, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

6.6 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, questions 21-23.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 105 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Funding decisions and categorical eligibility

Implications for health and human services: • Funding organizations and health and human service organizations must recognize the costs of turnover—recruitment, selection, training costs—that could be spent on providing higher sala- ries to better qualified providers with the result being higher quality services. • Increases in pay levels, benefits (e.g., health, dental, child care), paid time off, and training op- portunities for health and human service workers may help reduce turnover and attract new work- ers into health and human service occupations. • Health and human service organizations can help to change attitudes about social service occupa- tions by providing community service opportunities for students, communicating positive ser- vice outcomes, and recognizing employees in non-monetary ways. Social service workers sug- gested starting a “Social Service Day” on a national level to help change the public’s attitude. A “Social Service Day” would both educate the public about what social service workers actually do and provide recognition for the social service worker. • Organizations could consider developing interagency training programs to create opportunities for information sharing, cost sharing, and skills development. • Although many sites are open throughout the week, some providers and clients suggested that health and human service organizations could better accommodate a large working population. By extending operating hours and taking services or information to the home, to rural areas, or to the workplace, service providers may be able to better meet consumer needs.

Providers and consumers participating in Assessment 2000 referred Funding decisions and to “categorical eligibility”—that is eligibility for funding tied to categorical eligibility personal or family characteristics such as income level—as a bar- rier to providing and receiving needed services. For instance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Fami- lies (TANF) work requirements—i.e., welfare-to-work—have produced both problems and successes. Although welfare-to-work has increased the number of people who are working, it has also increased the number of people with less access to needed services because their low wages surpass income eligibility requirements. With TANF, the “social problems in the County have shifted from the non- working poor to the working poor,” according to one informant. Yet, to remain employed, people making the transition from welfare to work must maintain supportive services such as child care, transportation, and health care. The decreased access to some services and programs has been par- ticularly detrimental for some; for example, one informant said, “For workers with low wages and no benefits, a health care crisis or mental health crisis can put them on the street pretty quickly.”

In addition to being exclusionary, one agency director said that government-mandated eligibility requirements “strap agencies by not allowing the agency to determine need; [that is], need isn’t determined locally.” Community retention of planning and decision-making for resource allocation is important to ensure the widest range of residents has the chance of being served through services and programs.

Local human service organizations obtain funding from a number of sources including public sources (i.e., Federal, State, and local governmental units and agencies); private foundation grants; individual donations; the United Way of McLean County or other similar entities; and client fees. Increasingly,

106 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs

to obtain funding, agencies are required to demonstrate they are working with a network of providers to plan and deliver services and demonstrate outcomes of their programs based on objective measure- ment of program goals and objectives. Some participants discussed local funding decision-making and said improvements can be made to better coordinate various streams of funding to support com- munity-based projects.

According to Assessment 2000 key informants and focus group participants, the United Way of McLean County encourages collaboration among local service providers, offers training on outcomes evalua- tion and measurement, and provides funding for innovative projects and necessary services. How- ever, study participants also suggested a variety of ways the United Way could improve or enhance its current activities including: • Involving representatives of provider organizations in project development and funding deci- sions; • Facilitating innovation by conceptualizing projects and services according to documented com- munity needs and encouraging proposals from all interested organizations; • Minimizing the perception that the United Way funds agencies on the basis of long-term relation- ships; and • Expanding outreach, service delivery, and resident participation in rural areas.

Implications for health and human services: • Health and human service organizations must continue to collaborate to identify and prioritize community issues and to develop innovative approaches to addressing issues. More local plan- ning and decision-making can result in services and programs that offer a balance to those pro- vided to specific populations to the exclusion of persons in need. • Local funders should regularly examine and evaluate their own systems and processes to maxi- mize their benefit to the community. • Health and human service providers must communicate regularly with local, State, and Federal elected officials to inform them of local issues and needs. Area legislators can draft and influ- ence legislation to help ensure that the widest range of residents is served without exclusion.

Collaboration is a strength Collaboration, resource Health and human service organizations, each working to obtain sharing, and resource scarce resources and utilize them efficiently, have options for in- needs creasing their scope of influence, effectiveness, resource base, etc. Among their options is the choice to work with other organizations to plan and deliver services and share resources. Generally, Assessment 2000 participants’ evalua- tions of the extent to which County health and human service organizations collaborate with one another were positive. Many participants who completed surveys or participated in interviews ex- pressed collaboration or teamwork among County organizations as a strength. Some provided spe- cific examples of how their and other organizations are working together to plan, deliver, and make efficient use of resources. One such provider said that collaboration has allowed for the sharing of ideas and responsibilities and has allowed for more flexibility in serving clients.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 107 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs

Barriers to collaboration and resource sharing Participants expressed that collaboration is about building relationships and determining how both organization and community interests can best be achieved. A few key informants perceive that collaboration among agencies has increased over the past five years, possibly as a result of the 1995 Community Assessment of Needs. Yet, some factors continue to work against collaboration and re- source sharing. Participants said that although agencies are trying to collaborate, there are barriers to overcome such as: • “turf building,” “turf protection,” “territorialism,” or “competition” to ensure agency continua- tion, to gain power, or to gain clients; • non-standard data collection by each agency; • non-networked computers; • non-standard language for talking about services and client populations; • agency goals that do not allow for collaboration; • politics—how groups interact (or don’t interact) for solutions; • political policy and procedure, individual controlling boards and/or policies, and categorical eli- gibility; • lack of communication among agencies, not networked, lack of awareness of resources, and no formal sharing process; • community grants leave out key players and networks hard to enter; • liability; • contractual obligations; • time constraints to share resources and collaborate, time allocation for staff, and limited profes- sional staff; • budget constraints, costs, and limited resources; • no recognition of collaborative efforts; • little systematic accountability for resources; • lack of innovative thinking and resistance to change; • confidentiality; and • rural organizations’ distance from agencies based in Bloomington-Normal.

One key informant perceives there are problems with government units not communicating with one another and not having a genuine sense of wanting to solve problems. Without their communication and commitment to solutions, the change process moves slowly. Other examples of providers’ com- ments about barriers to collaboration and resource sharing include: • “Ignorance of such sharing is the greatest problem. After countless hours and hours of sharing, referring and collaboration without any recognition of such good stewardship of funds, the effort becomes tiresome.” • “In some cases, feels like there are cliques that are hard to break into. Some networking meetings are so poorly organized it is a huge waste of time for many.”

108 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs

• “Most of the barriers have to do with state and/or federal rules and regulations that make sharing difficult or impossible.” • “Turf issues—some social service agencies do not want to go to others for training—make them look like their agency is lacking.” • “Staff resource sharing has greatest potential. Difficulty with space and equipment (liability/ cost).” • “Numerous opportunities. McLean County is rich with resources, but often our knowledge of what each other offers is limited or staff turn over is high therefore follow through is a barrier.”

Resource sharing Providers’ responses to the Assessment 2000 Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey demon- strate the level of collaboration and resource sharing among County organizations. A total of 120 providers reported participating with other organizations to support one another’s service provision in these ways: meetings/programs (71%); project collaboration (61%); referral (62%); facilities or resource sharing (38%); and other support (9%). 6.7 Providers indicated whether they made specific resources available to other organizations, whether they utilized resources of other organizations, and whether they would make resources available in the future. (See Figure 6.4.) They also indicated whether they paid and charged fees for shared resources. 6.8

The resources providers most often shared and the resources they are most willing to make available in the future include “rooms for meetings/program activities,” “staff expertise,” and “training.” Fewer providers responded to questions about fees, but in most cases, the majority (more than 50%) of those who responded indicated no fees are associated with resource sharing. Some providers said fees depend on the type of organization (i.e., charges for for-profit organizations). Fees are primarily charged for office space and training.

When asked on the Service Providers’ Survey for written comments about resource sharing opportu- nities in McLean County, many providers gave examples of resources they currently share or would be willing to share (e.g., facility space, information, staff expertise, health supplies and equipment, volunteers, technology and technology support, and training costs). They also made other comments about the need for and spirit of collaboration, such as: • “There are many opportunities for resource sharing within McLean County—Human Service Council, MCLIC, LAN, ABC, etc. It’s a matter of getting involved.” • “Among human service agencies, there is a lot of sharing and collaboration. It is one of the little unknowns in the community. A lot of dollars are saved by agencies that shoulder a great amount of weight, especially in such areas as United Way campaign participation.” • “Good relationships/collaborative spirit among most providers, help each other out, feel like a team.” • “Resource sharing is easy in McLean County.” • “We are almost certain we have only topped the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in community resources.”

6.7 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 34. 6.8 Ibid., questions 26-28.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 109 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs

Figure 6.4: Percent of Service Providers Sharing Resources

80% Used others' resources (n=118) Shared own resources with others (n=114)

65% Would share own 62% 62% resources in future (n=115) 60% 55% 54% 48% 41% 40% 35% 33% Percent 32% 31% 30% 25% 23% 20% 17% 17% 16% 15% 14% 13% 13% 12% 9% 4%

0% Rooms for Office Equipment Equipment Staff Volunteers Training Other meetings, space (used in (used in expertise etc. loaner's borrower's facility) facility) Resource Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, questions 26-28, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

• “Agencies need to get together to hire a board certified child/adolescent psychiatrist.” • “Mental health cooperation sorely lacking.” • “Open-minded attitudes could lead to creative solution. If a facility would become available for a satellite service center for multiple agencies to use/share, human resources could be shared through cross-training, utility costs and rent could be shared, delivery of a variety of services could be offered at reduced administration overhead costs.”

Resource needs Through collaborating to plan and deliver services, working to overcome barriers to collaboration, sharing resources, and increasing communication about services and resources, organizations may find they are better able to meet their own needs to maintain, enhance, or expand their services. In addition to providing information about resource sharing, providers responded to questions about their resource needs on the Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey. The majority (61%) of 105 responding organizations indicated they have need for new or additional resources to maintain cur- rent service levels. Their greatest needs are technology related—i.e., to replace computers and up- date software. Their greatest staff training need is for computer training. 6.9 Figure 6.5 lists the number of organizations indicating types of resources needed to maintain services.

6.9 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 10.

110 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs

Figure 6.5: Resources Needed to Maintain Services

Number of Need Further description* organizations

Replace 21 out of 30 who specified the number, 38 computers indicated a need for four or fewer computers Update 27 Such as "Office," specialized software software Facilities More than 40% of those who described their 26 improvement need listed "expansion" Replace other 22 Such as fax machines, copiers, printers equipment Such as computer skills, money for, required, 2g0 Staff trainin office skills Such as volunteers, money, vehicles, medical 1r6 Othe equipment, chairs *Not all respondents who indicated a need described the need. Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 10, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

More than two-thirds (69%) of 115 respondents also indicated there is a current need to enhance or expand their organizations’ services or programs with additional staff, facility space, and computers being the primary resources necessary to enhance or expand. Providers wrote reasons for their need to enhance services. Most providers stated there are increasing demands for services due to the County’s population growth and current waiting lists. Other providers want to provide more educa- tion and outreach, especially to rural communities in McLean County. Figure 6.6 lists the number of organizations indicating types of resources needed to enhance or expand services. 6.10

Duplication Most Assessment 2000 participants agree there are many health and human service organizations in McLean County that work together in a collaborative manner. With some exceptions, they also agree that duplication of services is not an issue in the County; rather they see “needs” as significant enough to require all agencies to meet them. One provider, referring to potential duplication in services, wrote on the Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey: This is mythical. There are no services being duplicated, not affordable ones. There may be empty classrooms or counselors’ offices, but only those who are charging high rates. To me, those are not similar services. There is great need for all of our health and human services at reasonable prices.

6.10 Assessment 2000: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 12.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 111 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Collaboration, resource sharing, and resource needs

Figure 6.6: Resources Needed to Enhance or Expand Services Number of Need Further description* organizations 21 out of 28 who specified the number, indicated a 5f6 More staf need for four or fewer new staff 8 out of 16 who specified the square feet, indicated a 3e3 More spac need for 2,500 square feet or less 15 out of 25 who specified the number, indicated they 3s0 More computer need four or fewer computers Such as educational, fax, copier, printer, vehicles, 2t2 More equipmen medical exam

2y2 Uypdate technolog More than half indicated computer technolog

1g9 Mnore staff trainin Job specific training was mentioned most ofte

Funding (e.g., capital funds, financial resources, more 1r7 Othe money, etc.) was mentioned most often *Not all respondents who indicated a need described the need. Source: Assessment 2000: Health and Human Services in McLean County: Final Report, “Appendix 4,” Health and Human Service Providers’ Survey, question 12, (Bloomington, IL, 2000).

This provider, continuing comments on efforts to improve health and human service delivery, also wrote: Perpetuating the myth of duplication is a great disservice to our agencies! Funding decisions are made based on the results of surveys such as this. It is frustrating to think that we are not doing enough, but it is even worse to pretend that the cut-backs do not have an effect on our population. The delivery system will be improved by open, realistic dialogue AND by every possible effort to increase funding.

In some cases where duplication potentially exists, a participant commented that various organiza- tions working in a similar area had a different focus, approach, or criteria for services, e.g., homeless shelters, groups working to address diversity issues. Another potential duplication, client intake and assessment procedures, is not related to organization mission but is seen as duplicative effort across agencies. Clients, in focus groups, talked about the amount of paperwork that each agency requires, the duplication of this paperwork, and the difficulty of maintaining records to satisfy each agency’s criteria.

Implications for health and human services: • Organizations must continue to look for ways to communicate their resource availability and seek to increase the level of resource sharing among service providers. • Funding organizations should consider increasing funding for innovative projects and programs that could be planned and delivered collaboratively; health and human service organizations can

112 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Information provision and sharing

also increase their funding by developing grant proposals for innovative and collaborative projects and programs. • County-wide coordination of volunteers and resource sharing may foster collaboration and in- crease awareness of organizations, services, and capacity. • Opportunities for networking among health and human service organizations should be planned, increased, and support exchange of information about specific topics. • Interagency coalitions or task forces addressing specific County issues should continue to be fostered. • Organizations should advise funders of the reporting challenges they encounter and encourage funders to develop standardized reporting requirements and procedures. This may also allow for comparable information from which to evaluate programs and services. • Organizations could develop standardized client intake and assessment procedures and share client data among agencies, i.e., an interagency client-tracking mechanism (see section 7 mod- els). Clients suggested that agencies provide to them a simple folder in which to store records with a checklist of required documents. • A technology support staff position could be developed for multi-agency use.

Many Assessment 2000 participants also noted as a County strength Information provision the variety of services available to address residents’ needs. They and sharing are concerned, though, that residents, health and human service providers, and others in the County don’t know that particular organizations or services exist. Being referred from agency to agency frustrates health and human service consumers. Assessment 2000 participants discussed—as did Community Assessment of Needs participants in 1995—health and human services information sharing and provision. 6.11

They expressed concerns that: • Organizations don’t know what other organizations do; there is a lack of regular and open lines of communication between and among agencies. More communication is needed between social agencies and families, between social agencies and churches, between schools and the commu- nity, and between social agencies and the criminal justice system. Some criminal justice profes- sionals didn’t know about the Children’s Foundation Crisis Nursery. Faith-based organizations don’t know what other faith-based organizations are doing. Government units don’t talk to each other. • There is a lack of awareness about how to find out if a service exists, how to enter or access the system, or where services are located. The health and human services system is complex and difficult to navigate. People need help to access the system. In particular, young people, rural residents, rural communities, older adults, people with mental illness and their families, persons with disabilities, and businesses need more information about available services. • Organizations don’t make themselves visible. Some agencies are reluctant to provide informa- tion.

6.11 Community Assessment of Needs: Focus Groups Report, (Bloomington, IL, 1995), 2.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 113 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Information provision and sharing

• The Human Resource Service directory was not in the 1999 GTE phone book. • There is a need for more general understanding of community needs. There is a need to recog- nize what the real problems are. • Service providers recognize the need for improved information sharing, yet their large caseloads prevent them from making this a greater priority.

With regard to information provision and sharing, many key informants, focus group participants, and survey respondents referred to the PATH (Providing Access to Help) organization and PATH’s Directory 2000. Study participants described the PATH Directory as an “excellent tool” containing a “wealth of information.” PATH also received praise for the services it provides, although there was general agreement that County residents are less aware than they should be about the nature and range of these services. Several key informants identified PATH as under-recognized and under- utilized.

Assessment 2000 participants suggested the following ways of enhancing or improving PATH’s ser- vices: • Marketing both the PATH Directory and PATH to individuals and groups that are not currently aware of their existence or the resources and services they offer (employers, local government officials, religious organizations, school teachers and students, and residents); • Expanding information about organizations included in the PATH Directory to foster more accu- rate referrals; • Creating an on-line version of the PATH Directory that could be frequently updated and used by residents and service providers with Internet access; and • Enhancing PATH’s volunteer recruitment, training, and coordination function.

Implications for health and human services: • The public, of all ages and in all health conditions, needs multiple exposures to information about health and human services. Health and human service providers, libraries, local governmental units (e.g., township, city, town, village, etc.), media (newspapers, radio, television), legislators, churches, and businesses can help to publicize availability of services and inform consumers of cost-saving measures such as services offered by the McLean County Health Department. • Organizations must provide training within their own and other organizations (other agencies, hospitals, businesses, churches, schools, libraries) about the services they provide. • Health organizations, social agencies, schools, businesses, churches, libraries, and the general public should have greater access to information provision sources. Providers in the health and human service system should consider establishing or expanding existing (e.g., PATH, Pantagraph’s Community Zone) sources for information that would allow for up-to-date infor- mation about services including eligibility, remaining funding, and multiple sources for a par- ticular service. Such an information source also may include information about granting bodies and other types of assistance opportunities. Agencies could be responsible for providing updates to information provision sources.

114 Assessment 2000: 6. Organization and Management of Health and Human Services: Information provision and sharing

An information source could be electronically based via email and Websites. For instance, an electronic version of the PATH Directory may provide more opportunity for public access and would allow PATH to update the Directory on an ongoing basis with regular communication from agencies. Other information provision sites could be located in retail centers (e.g., Wal- Mart, Kmart, or an empty store front) which would allow access by families and young people.

Social service providers, in a focus group, articulated potential benefits of having up-to-date, accessible information including: √ Increased accessibility of services for clients and reduced client frustrations by making refer- rals to appropriate agencies. Appropriate referrals may also lead to increased follow-through by clients. √ Increased efficiency of service delivery that would save time for both clients and providers. (Social service providers said it is not unusual to make 10-12 calls to find one resource for a client.) √ Increased efficiency would improve providers’ attitudes and job satisfaction and reduce their level of frustration and burn-out. √ Improved image of social services due to accurate and timely information. Increased sensi- tivity of social service providers to individual needs. √ Clients would not be as likely to lose their jobs due to absenteeism to find social services they need.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 115 116 Assessment 2000: 7 Best Practices and Models

An important part of the Assessment 2000 research was learning from the diverse experiences of McLean County residents who plan, provide, need, and use health and human services. Many asset and need assessment studies stop at that point, limiting the scope of research to community bound- aries. However, such an approach misses out on the benefits that can be gained from the experiences and insights of others—other communities, health and human service organizations, and researchers. Thus, one component of Assessment 2000 research is review of literature on best practices and col- lection of information about model projects and programs implemented elsewhere. The idea is to identify practices or projects that could be adapted and emulated in McLean County—to build on the knowledge and experience of others and avoid wheel re-invention.

There is a wealth of information about best practices and models regarding health and human ser- vices of all kinds. It is beyond the scope of this project to review the literature on all topical areas with which this report is concerned—housing, transportation, health care, family support, senior services, services for people with disabilities, abuse and neglect, criminal justice, and other issues. Thus, Assessment 2000 project planners opted to confine inquiry to general systemic issues surround- ing ways organizations can work together to improve the quality and cost-efficiency of services.

McLean County health and human service organizations have demonstrated their willingness and ability to work together on many types of initiatives. Indeed, the Assessment 2000 project itself is an example of a collaborative effort to which many individuals and organizations have contributed. Nonetheless, for the most part, County health and human service organizations still operate in tradi- tional agency- and program-driven ways. An important goal of Assessment 2000 is to inform plan- ning that will, in turn, drive development of collaborative programs and services. Sections 4, 5, and 6 of this report provide information about a range of conditions, needs, and resources that are present in McLean County. This section focuses on ways of designing collaborative approaches to local health and human service issues.

History of interagency collaboration Communication, The history of attempts to get health and human services to work cooperation, coordination, together dates back at least to the 1960s, beginning with federally- and collaboration funded War on Poverty programs including Head Start, Commu- nity Action Agencies, and the Model Cities program, and continu- ing in the 1970s when the Federal Department of Health, Education, and Welfare tried to generate greater coordination and accountability among the multiple organizations serving the same children and families. While authorities agree that the goal of service integration was not achieved, and that fragmentation of services remained the norm throughout the 1980s and ’90s, there is also consensus that interagency collaboration would meet the needs of service consumers more effectively and eco- nomically.7.1 Indeed, many public and private funding organizations now require proposed projects

7.1 See, e.g., Kagen, S.L., Integrating Services for Children and Families: Understanding the Past to Shape the Future, (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1993), 3-27; Waldfogel, J., “The New Wave of Service Integration,” Social Service Review, 71:3, (1997), 465; Bruner, C., L.G. Kunesh, and R.A. Knuth, What Does Research Say About Interagency Collaboration? [Internet], http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/stw_esys/8agecycol.htm, (Oakbrook, Illinois, NCREL, 1992).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 117 7. Best Practices and Models: Communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration

to include collaborative elements. However, as is true of many good ideas, the devil is in the details. With continuing federal emphasis on devolution of planning and decision-making to states and lo- calities, coordination of services and collaboration among service providers have increasingly be- come local responsibilities. Furthermore, with the decline of federal funding for social programs, communities have an increasing obligation to plan, fund, and administer support services that specifi- cally address local needs. Combined with the strong economy and new resources offered by com- puter and communication technologies, this obligation creates an unprecedented opportunity for col- laboration—in McLean County as elsewhere in the United States.

Advantages of collaboration What is “collaboration?” One authority uses the following working definition: Collaboration is a mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals. The relationship includes a commitment to a definition of mutual relationships and goals; a jointly developed structure and shared respon- sibility; mutual authority and accountability for success; and sharing of resources and re- wards.7.2

Collaboration is different from coordination, on the one hand, and integration, on the other. Collabo- ration allows organizations to retain their individual identities while, at the same time, creating some- thing new to which each partner makes a substantial contribution.

Why should health and human service organizations collaborate? This question should be addressed from both the service provider’s and the service consumer’s perspective. Advantages to service providers include: • Reducing administrative costs; • Diversifying and sharing resources; • Enabling planning and community need to drive service provision; • Facilitating innovation; and • Meeting demands for collaboration made by government and nonprofit funders.

Advantages to service consumers include: • Improving access to the range of services necessary to address complex family and individual problems; • Matching real needs with appropriate services; • Minimizing confusion, frustration, and the time it takes to identify and access appropriate ser- vices; and • Fostering case management and continuity of service provision.

7.2 Mattessich, P.W. and B.R. Monsey, Collaboration: What Makes It Work, (St. Paul, Minnesota: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 8th printing, 1998), 7.

118 Assessment 2000: 7. Best Practices and Models: Communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration

In the current fragmented human service system, where individual agencies manage specific pro- grams and referrals are haphazard and not always well informed, “Clients must act as their own case managers, piecing together a package of services that meet their multiple needs.”7.3

Barriers to collaboration Barriers to collaboration include: • Categorical funding and eligibility requirements for services; • Competition for scarce resources; • Incompatible organizational cultures; • Turf issues; • Failure to allocate resources to planning, staff training, and other costs associated with change; and • Inertia.7.4

Categorical funding and eligibility requirements are challenges encountered particularly by publicly funded service providers and their clients. However, these restrictions inevitably influence local planning and the development of services to address issues not met by government-funded programs. Competition for scarce resources occurs in public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors of health and human service provision. The challenge for communities, funders, and organizations is to develop strategies for resource allocation and service provision that offer incentives for collaboration that out-weigh the disincentives. Incompatibility of organizational cultures undermines the chance of successful collaboration, regardless of the degree to which organizations serve a similar clientele or offer complementary services. If staff members do not respect, trust, or understand each other, they will not be able to work together productively. Turf issues are often bread-and-butter matters to service agencies that compete for continued funding on the basis of the number of services they provide and the number of clients they serve. Turf issues are also related to power and influence in communities and with funders. Turf protection is inherently conservative, since it discourages the introduction to the community of new providers and approaches to service provision. Failure to allocate resources to processes involved in developing a collaborative effort is shortsighted. Change is expensive. Without investment in time spent planning collaborative initiatives, staff training for new responsibilities, reconfiguration of administrative space, and purchase of any necessary new equipment, collaboration is hampered before it starts. Inertia is the greatest enemy of innovation. Social agency staff tend to have done things in the same way for a long time. It is understandable that some have the attitude, “If we drag our heels, we can just wait for this new initiative to pass.”7.5

7.3 Waldfogel, J., “The New Wave of Service Integration,” Social Service Review, 71:3, (1997), 467. 7.4 See, e.g., Kagen, S.L., Integrating Services for Children and Families, 124-137; Sandfort, J., “The Structural Impedi- ments to Human Service Collaboration: Examining Welfare Reform at the Front Lines,” Social Service Review, 71:3, (1997), 314-339. 7.5 Waldfogel, J., “The New Wave of Service Integration,” 467.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 119 7. Best Practices and Models: Making it happen

Factors influencing the success of collaboration According to a recent publication, the following factors influence the success of collaboration: • Factors related to the ENVIRONMENT: √ History of collaboration or cooperation in the community; √ Collaborative group seen as a leader in the community; √ Favorable political and social climate. • Factors related to MEMBERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS: √ Mutual respect, understanding, and trust; √ Appropriate cross-section of members in the collaborative group; √ Membership that view collaboration as in their organization’s best interest; √ Ability to compromise. • Factors related to PROCESS/STRUCTURE: √ Members share a stake in and have a sense of ownership of both process and outcome; √ Multiple layers of decision-making; √ Flexibility and adaptability; √ Development of clear roles and policy guidelines. • Factors related to COMMUNICATION: √ Open and frequent communication; √ Established informal and formal communication links. • Factors related to PURPOSE: √ Concrete attainable goals and objectives; √ Shared vision; √ Purpose that differs in some key characteristics from that of any member organization. • Factors related to RESOURCES: √ Sufficient funds; √ Skilled and respected convener.7.6

These factors suggest existing conditions that may or may not be favorable for development of col- laborative initiatives and elements that can be built into plans for collaboration. The more of these elements that are present in the collaboration, the likelier it is to succeed. Thus, this list of factors can be used as a checklist to plan a collaborative initiative.

One authority identifies four primary ways funders, administra- Making it happen tors, and providers can work together to improve health and human services:

7.6 Mattessich, P.W. and B.R. Monsey, Collaboration: What Makes It Work, 12-14.

120 Assessment 2000: 7. Best Practices and Models: Making it happen

• Client-centered collaboration which “works within the fragmented delivery system to link indi- viduals with needed services from disparate programs,” primarily through case management; • Program-centered collaboration which “includes co-location, developing shared information systems, sharing staff, joint programming and planning, and fiscal linkages”; • Organizationally-centered integration which creates umbrella human service agencies at state and local levels; and • Policy-centered integration at federal and state level which supports a service integration infra- structure, refinances publicly funded programs, and decategorizes human service funding.7.7

All approaches are within the scope of community-based organizations. The following guidelines may aid the process of choosing and planning a collaborative strategy for health and human service management and delivery. 1. Involve all key players in the planning group, including both decision-makers and service con- sumers. 2. Identify roles and responsibilities of planning group members. 3. In the planning process, take care not to perpetuate traditional power structures and antago- nisms.7.8 4. Develop communication strategies for sharing information and accomplishing group objectives. 5. Develop a shared vision of desired outcomes of health and human service provision. During inevitable tensions and frustrations, continue to focus group attention on that vision. 6. Choose a realistic strategy to achieve these outcomes that reflects community needs, the limits of collaborating organizations, and available resources. 7. Set attainable objectives for group activities. 8. Establish a time-line or schedule for accomplishment of objectives. 9. How will you know it’s working? Develop strategies for process and outcome evaluation. 10. Encourage buy-in of participating organizations’ staff members by sharing information about proposed changes in service delivery, soliciting suggestions, and offering training. 11. Institutionalize change by incorporating the collaboration’s objectives into member organiza- tions’ mandates and budgets. 12. Work with legislators to influence policy development at state and national levels. 13. Work with local organizations to embrace policies favoring collaboration. 14. Celebrate and publicize successes. “Well-publicized results that consistently meet reasonable objectives will go far to attract the funding necessary to replicate and expand innovation.”7.9

7.7 Kagen, S.L., Integrating Services for Children and Families, 138-157. The Assessment 2000 report altered the author’s identification of client-centered and program-centered integration to identification of these approaches as collaboration. 7.8 At the December 1999 Transforming Communities: Improving Health and the Quality of Life conference, Dick Davidson, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association, referred to hospitals as the “thousand-pound gorilla” in commu- nity health planning. He and other conference speakers agreed that hospitals must review their traditional role in the planning process and take a seat at the table without dominating decision-making. 7.9 Bruner, C., L.G. Kunesh, and R.A. Knuth, What Does Research Say About Interagency Collaboration? 8-9; Mattessich, P.W. and B.R. Monsey, Collaboration: What Makes It Work, 13-14. This list also includes recommendations gleaned from the Transforming Communities: Improving Health and Quality of Life conference sponsored by the Health Forum and Health Research and Educational Trust, (Chicago, Illinois, December 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 121 7. Best Practices and Models: Making it happen

Using space One effective way to inform consumers about available services and facilitate service provision is to house providers under the same roof. According to an authority, “Co-location attempts to coordinate programs by eliminating the geographic fragmentation of service providers, uniting them within a single, all-purpose facility. The proposed benefits of co-location are many, though the actual effects often fall short of expectations if co-location is not implemented in conjunction with other linkage strategies.”7.10 Advantages of co-location include: • Increasing service visibility to consumers, agency staff members, and community members who make referrals; • Minimizing scheduling and transportation problems for service consumers; and • Reducing overhead and administrative expense to service providers by sharing space, adminis- trative staff services, and equipment, and reducing staff travel and communication costs.

Co-location can work for certain categories of services (e.g., senior services, health services for low- income and uninsured persons, early childhood development and child care services, etc.) or for health and human services generally.

Model: Fort Howard/Jefferson Neighborhood Family Resource Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin The Resource Center opened in 1995, the creation of inner-city, primarily low-income residents who wanted a central place to support and strengthen neighborhood families. Located in one neighbor- hood elementary school and providing satellite programs in another, the Resource Center is a one- stop shop for local residents who need help with school, jobs, transportation, baby-sitting, and other services. It receives financial support from the City, the Green Bay School District, Schrieber Foods, ShopKo, and other benefactors. Programs housed by the Resource Center include: • the family-centered Early Childhood Program that recognizes and supports parents as their children’s first teachers; • the Blockbuster Program that breaks down barriers of neighborhood isolation and brings a sense of unity across economic and cultural lines; • a cooperative program with neighborhood beat police officers to curtail crime and drug-related activities; • a partnership with the NEW Community Clinic to provide neighborhood health fairs, free screen- ings, and a neighborhood nurse practitioner for children; and • English as a second language classes. Resource Center staff members provide services both on-site and in residents’ homes. A Center staff member is on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Resource Board and a neighborhood resident is on the board of an inner-city revitalization project.7.11

7.10 Kagen, S.L., Integrating Services for Children and Families, 143. 7.11 For further information, contact Donna Freeman, Resident, Organizer, Fort Howard/Jefferson Neighborhood Family Resource Center, 520 Dousman Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54303, (920) 448-2256. Model description available from http://www.ncl.org/anr/stories/greenbay.htm.

122 Assessment 2000: 7. Best Practices and Models: Making it happen

Using technology Computer and Internet technologies offer powerful tools for collaboration and service provision. According to one authority, “By establishing a centralized network for gathering, processing, and sharing data on clients, programs, and management issues, information systems can contribute to- ward the service integration goals of improved program management and increased accessibility, accountability, and service capability.”7.12 Information systems can be used for two important pur- poses: 1. Informing people who make referrals, caregivers, family members, and potential consumers about types of services in the community, eligibility criteria, current service availability, and processes for accessing services; and 2. Enabling service providers to share program and client information to improve services and fa- cilitate data management, reporting, and evaluation.

A well-designed and routinely maintained Website can accomplish the first purpose. One possible way of approaching the second is described in the following model.

Model: Pathways Community Network, Atlanta, Georgia A coalition of 28 Atlanta social service agencies joined forces in 1999 to form the Pathways Commu- nity Network. This Internet-based information system allows participating agencies to share client information and maintain program data. According to a recent report: With client’s consent, his or her data is entered into the network by caseworkers at Path- ways agencies. The data is then made available to different agencies on a need-to-know basis. For example, a caseworker who does job screening will see only data relevant to employment, and because each page is custom-created, users don’t know that they’re not seeing all the information in the file. There are currently some 110,000 client records in the system, and three levels of data are contained in each. The first includes demographic and household information such as a client’s age, race, address, and family information. Be- cause this basic information is needed by all agencies that work with a client, it can be accessed by all caseworkers. This provides an immediate benefit to clients of Pathways. Instead of completing an intake form for each agency, they can now complete just one. The second level of information includes employment, income, and residence history; job skill and readiness data; and the types and quantities of social service assistance the client has received. Level three contains information about a client’s medical and mental health sta- tus, history of drug use, and specifics about prior financial assistance. This level of data is never shared outside of the agency in which it originated. The Pathways system complies with all federal regulations for confidentiality of medical and drug treatment records. The issue of security is paramount at Pathways. All information that is transferred between the agencies and the main database is encrypted, using the same technology that financial insti- tutions use.7.13

7.12Kagen, S.L., Integrating Services for Children and Families, 144. 7.13 Lyttle, J., “Interagency Network Boosts Atlanta Social Services,” Philanthropy News Network Online: Technology, [Internet], http://www.pj.org/technology/pathways1105.cfm, (November 5, 1999).

Health and Human Services in McLean County 123 7. Best Practices and Models: Additional resources for best practices and models

Benefits to clients include convenience and better service integration. Benefits to providers include: • The case notes section, which allows caseworkers to share strategies and goals for clients; and • The system’s reporting capability, which enables production of customized reports to funders and internal evaluation of services.

There is a large and growing body of information about best prac- Additional resources tices and models for organization and delivery of health and hu- for best practices man services. The above discussion barely scratches the surface. and models The following list will help readers identify additional information resources.

Selected Websites 101 Brilliant Ideas for Local Partnerships, http://www.state.oh.us/odhs/owf/101ideas/index.htm

Annie E. Casey Foundation, Child Care You Can Count On, http://www.aecf.org/publications/ child/access.htm

Anne E. Casey Foundation, Publications, http://www.aecf.org/publications

Alliance for Renewal: Community Stories Index, http://www.ncl.org/anr/comindex.htm

Pew Partnership for Civic Change, Best Practices from Fourteen Cities, http://www.pew- partnership.org/bestpract/index.html

Best Practices in Information Technology, http://www.civic.com/ref/toolkit/best.htm

U.S. State and Local Gateway, Families and Children: Best Practices, http://www.hhs.gov/ families/bestprac.htm

HUD’s Best Practice Awards, http://www.hud.gov/bpawards/toc.html

We Do It Best! Public Workers Create Innovative Programs for Low-income and Working Families, http://www.afscme.org/pol-leg/nobodtc.htm

Family Resource Coalition, Family Support Projects, http://www.frca.org/projects.htm

National Governor’s Association, Center for Best Practices, http://www.nga.org/CBP/Center.asp

Welfare Information Network, Identified Best Practices, http://www.welfareinfo.org/bestprac.htm

Program Development Associates, Best Practice: Strategies That Enhance Supported Employ- ment, http://pdassoc.com/bpse100.htm.

124 Assessment 2000: 7. Best Practices and Models: Additional resources for best practices and models

Selected publications Administrative Data for Policy-Relevant Research: Assessment of Current Utility and Recommenda- tions for Development, a Report of the Advisory Panel on Research Uses of Administrative Data of the Northwestern University/University of Chicago, Joint Center for Poverty Research (1996-1997). Available at http://jcpr.org/report.html.

Best Practices for Coordinating Transition Services: Information for Consumers, Parents, Teachers, and Other Service Providers, California School to Work Interagency Transition Partnership (1997). Available from http://www.sna.com/switp/bestprac.htm

Churches at Work in the Community: Strategies to Improve Local Job Opportunities, Washington, D.C.: World Vision (1996). To order, call (206) 815-1000.

Debord, K., M. Martin, and T. Mallilo, “Family, School, and Community Involvement in School-age Child Care Programs: Best Practices,” Journal of Extension, 34:3, June 1996.

A Generation of Challenge: Pathways to Success for Urban Youth, Policy Issues Monograph 97-03, Sar Levitan Center for Social Policy Studies, Institute for Policy Studies, Johns Hopkins University (1997).

Health System Change in Twelve Communities: Baseline Case Studies of the Community Tracking Study, Washington, D.C.: Center for Studying Health System Change, The Lewin Group (September 1997).

Increasing Affordable Housing Options for Rural Citizens (Iowa) (1996). Available from http:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/ideas/case64.html

Liddell, S. and D. Ashley-Oehm, Adult Workers: Retraining the American Workforce, Investing in People Project, A joint project of National Conference of State Legislatures and Jobs for the Future, Issue Paper No. 4 (January 1995).

Mattessich, P. and B. Monsey, Community Building: What Makes It Work: A Review of Factors Influencing Successful Community Building, Saint Paul, MN: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (1997).

Recommendations to Address Urgent Need for Affordable Housing, City of Albuquerque (1997). Available from http://www.cabq.gov/family/afford.html

Some Things Do Make a Difference for Youth: A Compendium of Evaluations of Youth Programs and Practices, American Youth Policy Forum (1997).

Timely Opportunities: What Works in Community Care for the Elderly. Lessons Learned from W.K. Kellogg Foundation Programming (no date). Available from http://wkkf.org

Transforming Health Care: Lessons from Community Partnerships, Chicago: National Community Care Network Demonstration Program (1999). To order, call (800) 141-2626.

Health and Human Services in McLean County 125 126 Assessment 2000: 8 Conclusions and Recommendations

McLean County is rich in many ways. It enjoys a strong industrial, Facing the new century employment, and economic base. It has abundant amenities and services. Its people share a diverse wealth of intelligence, experi- ence, skills, spiritual strength, and good will. Its many health care and social agencies offer a wide range of programs and services. McLean County has more than enough of everything necessary to support the needy, empower the powerless, include the marginalized, and develop innovative ap- proaches to challenges. Its leaders, service providers, and residents are in the enviable position of merely having to agree on the health and human service goals they wish to achieve and combine their considerable resources and energies to accomplish these goals.

The greatest challenge for McLean County’s health and human service delivery system during the early years of the 21st century is working poverty. Despite general prosperity, many employed County residents earn too little to afford the rising cost of living in the County. This combination of low incomes and high costs creates problems for which people need help. Yet, their earnings often make them ineligible for categorically funded support programs. By providing affordable housing, public transportation, child care, health care, education, and counseling, communities and service providers will help to reduce job loss, crime, abuse and neglect, substance abuse, and a variety of physical and mental illnesses. Low-income workers are an unrecognized and under-utilized resource. By spend- ing their wages in the County’s economy, they already make a large contribution. They are active members of religious and community organizations. Rather than being regarded as a needy and passive service-consuming population, their energies should be harnessed to plan and develop the amenities and services they will use. The resulting increase in quality of life will enable low-income workers to become more productive and involved in community activities, thus benefiting County residents overall.

Another continuing challenge for McLean County’s health and human service delivery system is providing services to rural residents. Service organizations are concentrated in Bloomington-Nor- mal. Rural residents perceive that service organizations, including the United Way, focus attention on urban programs and clients and devote little interest or energy to rural needs. A variety of strate- gies including outreach, mobile facilities, and use of computer and Internet technologies for commu- nication and service provision could be used to improve services to rural parts of McLean County.

Finally, McLean County’s health and human service system faces the challenge of maintaining ele- ments of the system that are strong and effective, jettisoning elements that have outlived their useful- ness, and incorporating new organizations and approaches to service provision. Assessment 2000 project participants have been most generous with their praise for new collaborative projects (e.g., the Community Health Care Clinic, the Community Cancer Center, the Healthy Start program) that have been designed to address specific community needs. The lesson to be learned is that planning for health and human services must be driven by needs of residents, rather than by the existence of longstanding programs and service organizations. Where possible and appropriate, planning should be collaborative and involve participation of funders, service providers, and service consumers. Lo- cal allocation of funds should also be driven by this type of planning, and should encourage and facilitate development of innovative approaches to design and delivery of services. Funded pro-

Health and Human Services in McLean County 127 8. Conclusions and Recommendations

grams should be evaluated on a regular basis—if possible, by an external evaluator—to determine whether programs are meeting their objectives and to identify elements of best practice. To facilitate funding decisions and evaluation, appropriate and comparable program data should be collected and maintained.

Information emerging from research activities suggests the follow- Recommendations ing recommendations for improvement and enhancement of health and human services in McLean County:

• Improve information provision and communication among service providers and between ser- vice providers and residents. This could be done by: √ Co-housing information and services; √ Establishing and maintaining a health and human services Website providing complete and up- to-date information about services, eligibility requirements, and current availability of resources; and √ Developing an interagency information system to aid data collection and client-tracking.

• Improve attraction, retention, and support of health and human service workers. This could be done by: √ Raising wages; √ Offering flexible, family-friendly working conditions; and √ Providing on-going training and as-needed professional support.

• Provide up-to-date computer equipment, software, and technical support for health and human service organizations. This could be done by: √ Local business donations of new computers, software, and peripheral devices; √ Development of a network of technical support professionals available to service-providing organizations on an “on-call” basis. √ Creation of a full-time technical support position collaboratively funded and used by health and human service organizations.

• Incorporate consideration of health and human service needs in community development plan- ning by: √ Addressing needs for affordable housing, public transportation, family support services, and recreation in plans for new housing developments, revitalization of older neighborhoods, and downtown redevelopment.

• Fill gaps in provision of mental health services including: √ Psychiatric care and non-emergency counseling for children and adolescents; √ Coordinated mental health care for older adults between hospital, home, and nursing home;

128 Assessment 2000: 8. Conclusions and Recommendations

√ Care for people who suffer from both mental illnesses and substance abuse; and √ Medical detoxification for uninsured people.

• Improve prevention and support services for youth. This could be done by: √ Developing a collaborative holistic approach involving schools, churches, and social agen- cies to identify young people with one or more risk factors (e.g., low income, single-parent households, family violence, substance abuse) and providing as-needed support; √ Enhancing community support for young people who are already in trouble and lack access to formal services due to their dependent legal status; √ Reducing the number of high school dropouts by improving support in schools and enhanc- ing alternatives to traditional education; and √ Reducing youth alienation by greater community recognition of the contributions young people make and deliberate inclusion of young people in community planning and service activities.

• Enhance workforce development and support. This could be done by: √ Developing community-based affordable health insurance; √ Enhancing adult education and training to meet employers’ needs for skilled workers and residents’ needs for good jobs; √ Developing imaginative and flexible solutions to transportation and child care challenges; and √ Enhancing partnerships between health and human service organizations and local employ- ers to provide information and services in the workplace, identify workers in need of ser- vices, and facilitate workers’ access to services.

• Enhance information links and collaboration between health and human service organizations, schools, and religious organizations. This could be done by: √ Improving information sharing among these three types of organizations; √ Enhancing and developing topic-focused taskforces composed of representatives from all three types of organizations; and √ Developing collaborations to deliver services.

• Improve recognition and inclusion of diverse County residents: This could be done by: √ Providing training and support for service providers (including police) who deal with an increasingly diverse population; √ Increasing the number of minorities in leadership and agency staff positions; √ Providing translation for Spanish-speaking residents, particularly in health care, law enforce- ment, and job services; and √ Including young people, low-income workers, and members of minority groups in commu- nity planning and service provision.

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Health and Human Services in McLean County 135