TYPES OF SERVICE CATEGORY HIGHLIGHTS

1.    BASIC NEEDS, HOUSING & TRANSITIONAL SHELTER SERVICES: (TOS 1,2,3) The 1990 Needs Assessment and Funding Emphasis for San Mateo County indicated that the needs of the homeless and hungry of the county are increasing. Current figures suggests that the problem has not diminished and continues to be critical. For example, it is conservatively estimated that 8,665 men, women and children experienced an episode of homelessness in San Mateo County between March 1989 and February 1990, an increase of 57.5% of the estimate of 5,500 homeless persons in 1989. Between July 1989 and March 1993, the county has seen significant increases in people receiving Food Stamps, AFDC and General Assistance. In addition, the number of persons living below the poverty level in the county has gone up from 35,321 in 1980 to 40,405 in 1990 representing 6.3% of the total population.

San Mateo's housing costs are among the highest in the nation and federal funding for low income housing construction and subsidy programs has drastically been cut during the past decade. The inadequate supply of low income housing in San Mateo has had the most severe impact on low and very low income households. 35,000 low income households are paying an excessive amount for housing and 12,140 lower income households are identified as needing rental subsidies. These facts indicate that nothing has changed or the problem is closer to being solved.

2.    EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: (TOS 4) The unemployment rate in San Mateo has gone up since the 1990 United Way Needs Assessment Report from 2.5% in 1989 to 4.2% in 1990. Moreover, the latest figures (September 1990) suggest the general unemployment rate in the State is starting to climb. San Mateo County will continue to have one of the lowest unemployment rates of any county in California. The 1990 United Way Needs Assessment Report findings of employment related needs in the cities of northern San Mateo, county which have a higher unemployment rate than the county as a whole and in South county especially for minorities in the North Fair Oaks area of Redwood City and in East Palo Alto, continues to be critical.

3.    LEGAL SERVICES: (TOS 5) Only 15.2% of the legal needs of the poor are being met and only 20% of legal problems of  poor are addressed. Census and other easily obtainable statistical data do not suggest any particular changes in the needs for this service.

4.    PHYSICAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND PREVENTION SERVICES, HEALTH SUPPORT & HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICES: (TOS 6,12,13)

Nothing in the census and other statistical data currently available suggests that the needs in these areas have particularly lessened. Access to health care is still limited by classic barriers of poverty, homelessness, unemployment, language and culture. Minorities, immigrants and refugees, women and the elderly are a few of the populations who are the most vulnerable to illness and who have the least access to medical care.

5.    MENTAL HEALTH: (TOS 7,8,9) A patient may receive fewer than 28 days in a psychiatric hospital because of the limits of insurance coverage even though they may require longer care and 1/3 to 1/2 of all mentally ill have dual diagnosis. In the county, there are an estimated 500 to 600 homeless, mentally ill persons. Geographically, the area reported to have the highest over utilization of residential mental illness services is East Palo Alto. This area contains over 50% of the county's board and care homes for the mentally ill.

The 1990 Needs Assessment Report findings of lack of accessibility to mental health services as a result of physical barriers such as, transportation and physical disability; language and cultural barriers, and financial barriers (such as too few places accepting Medi-Cal and no sliding fee for people without insurance) has not changed. Documented stresses such as physical, economic and social stresses which still play a critical role in mental health place many ethnic minorities at high risk for mental health problems. Current information suggest that the need for Mental Health Services continue to be critical.

6.    ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE: (TOS 10) In San Mateo County, cocaine is the most widely used, illicit drug but alcohol continues to be the biggest drug problem. Among young adults, the greatest need in San Mateo County is in Coastside where the use of alcohol and drugs exceeds the national average. Although, obtainable data is limited, nothing suggests that the needs or problems have diminished or are any closer to being solved since the 1990 United Way Needs Assessment Report.

7.    ADULT DAY HEALTH SERVICES: (TOS 11) There are no Adult Day Health programs available in northern and southern San Mateo County and no center caters to the Black, Asian or Hispanic communities. During the current decade, Alzheimer's patients, within the county, are expected to increase by almost 27.8% (1990, 15,722 persons to 2000 with 20,106 persons). These figures suggest that the need for these services has not diminished in any way since the 1990 United Way Needs Assessment Report was prepared.

8.    CHILD CARE: (TOS 14) San Mateo County childcare costs are among the most expensive in the state. For the 1992-93 year there were 6,676 child care request, with 64 % for infant care, compared to 51 % in 1989-90. In the county, there are 53,133 females in the workforce with children. Of these, 29.2% have children under the age of 6 years. There are 98,622 children under 18 years with mothers in the workforce. Moreover, the prevalence of critical problems of homelessness, unemployment and single parent households in other areas highlight the need for such supportive services, such as child care.

9.   ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE: (TOS 15) Caseloads of foster care children have steadily increased due in part to the lack of available homes. In 1991, there were 733 cases and only 284 (38.7%) available homes. In San Mateo, Black children account for 53.4% of children in the foster care system. San Mateo currently carries the fourth heaviest caseload in the Bay Area.  Between 1985-1991, the number of foster care cases increased 19% in San Mateo alone. The number of Caucasian children within the county system has decreased by 15%. Among the ethnic minority children, the Asian population has shown the largest increase (up 87% since 1990). The population of Hispanic children has shown an increase of 5 %

10.    YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: (TOS 16) The need for youth development services is on the rise nationwide. Soaring teen pregnancy, substance and alcohol abuse, violence and single parent families all suggest the need for improved and strengthened youth leadership, after school support and dropout prevention in all neighborhoods. The San Mateo school system has a drop-out rate of 12.8% (state 18.2%). This issue is heightened by the increases in homeless children and refugee and immigrant population whose numbers are disproportionately young. These figures alone suggest a significant increased need for these services.

11.    COMPANIONSHIP SERVICES: (TOS 17) Increases in poverty, single parent households, seniors living alone, high school drop-out rates and other major indicators demonstrate important needs for this service. Nothing in the current, available data suggests that needs in this area have lessened.

12.    ELDER ADULT DAY CARE/DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: (TOS 18) The fastest growing population is the 65 and over group. NEED LOCAL FIGURES.

13.    ADULT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: (TOS 19) The population aged 1854 years in San Mateo of 369,948 people accounting for 56.9% of the county's population (1990 census), are in need of these services in instances of divorce or widowhood, loss of employment or other situations leading to isolation and depression.

14.    TUTORING SERVICES/ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING/LITERACY TRAINING: (TOS 20) The need for this service is generally associated with other "deprivation" or disadvantaged indicators: low income, . unemployed and minority. Nationally, it is estimated that one out of every five adults is functionally illiterate. By and large, the need for this service has significantly increased with the increases in poverty, unemployment and the emergence of significant non-English speaking populations in the county.

15.    ADVOCACY/PUBLIC EDUCATION/ACCESS/COORDINATION AND ORGANIZATION/VOLUNTEER SERVICE: (TOS 21,22,23,24) These services continue to be very important as the human services system continues to deteriorate in the face of the recession, public sector cuts and the dramatic increase in service needs among our citizens. There is every indication that the demographic and service indicator trends only heighten the need for a strengthened human services infrastructure which these services help to provide.

(Revised: 2/22/94)