AGENDA DATE: 7/15/2026
TITLE:
2026 Human Services Needs Assessment
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Presentation of the 2026 Albemarle County Human Services Needs Assessment
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Dimock
PRESENTER (S): Kaki Dimock
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: On June 21, 2023, the results of a human services needs assessment were presented to the Board of Supervisors. The assessment served as a review of available reports and studies on the well-being of Albemarle County community members and included broad subjects such as housing and homelessness, criminal justice, behavioral health, community safety and basic needs. Staff recommended prioritization of programs that addressed adolescent mental health, family homelessness, community safety, and senior navigation services.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Safety and Well-being: Nurture a safe and healthy community
DISCUSSION: The 2026 Human Services Needs Assessment provides updated data on many of the same categories from 2023 and has revised recommendations for prioritization.
Staff reviewed updated reports and revised data points on self-sufficiency, food insecurity, housing instability, homelessness, food insecurity, health, and well-being to understand changes and challenges in these areas. In addition, staff consulted area service providers for information on the level and acuity of community need they experience in the field.
While many indicators reflect positive changes in this community’s well-being, the number and percentage of families that are unable to make ends meet is increasing. Overall affordability is a growing concern for households with lower incomes or other forms of vulnerability including age, disability, medical vulnerability, or engagement with other systems of care. This means that there are more families who are experiencing housing instability and food insecurity. Providers in the county universally report that the people they serve have higher, more acute or compounded needs, requiring additional capacity with which to respond. This acuity marker increased significantly during the pandemic and has not returned to pre-pandemic experiences.
Households struggling to make ends meet are in all districts of the county. Household income in these households is not enough to meet the sufficiency standard based on the cost of living in Albemarle:
Jack Jouett - 3,506 households of concern
Rio District - 3,290 households of concern
Rivanna District - 2,084 households of concern
Samuel Miller District - 2,342 households of concern
Scottsville District - 2,922 households of concern
White Hall District - 2,179 households of concern
A second pervasive theme in assessing the safety and well-being of our community is related to the increased need for additional mental health support at all levels. Noted as the first priority in the regional community health assessment, this reflects a gap in the amount and type of mental health services in our community. Many individuals may be adequately served by peer support services, informal or time-limited groups, case management, and/or supportive navigation in addition to traditional, clinical therapeutic interventions.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no direct budget impact for this report.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors prioritize unmet needs and vulnerability in its funding processes, including the Human Service Funding Process and the Affordable Housing Investment Fund. Report recommendations include:
1. Prioritize funding for organizations that serve the most vulnerable members of our community including, but not limited to,
- Housing Instability and Homelessness
- Households with children age five or under experiencing poverty
- Households with members over age 65 experiencing poverty
- Households with individuals with disabilities or medical vulnerability experiencing poverty
2. Prioritize funding for programs that provide basic needs including food and shelter
3. Prioritize funding for organizations that provide direct services
4. Prioritize funding for organizations that provide community-based mental health supports including, but not limited to,
- Counseling
- Case management
- Peer support
- Groups
- Navigation
5. Continue to explore flexible, multi-disciplinary problem-solving teams such as HART to avoid deep-end system expenses and improve well-being
ATTACHMENTS:
A - 2026 Albemarle County Human Services Needs Assessment