HEALTH PRIORITY 3
ECONOMIC WELLBEING
Black and Hispanic/Latino households earned 29% and 34% below the county median.
Survey respondents agreed or completely agreed with the statement that there was enough affordable housing that is safe and well-kept in their community.
Total respondents indicated that they or a member of their family had lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* data based on the 2021-2024 Somerset County Community Health Needs Assessment
OVERVIEW
Financial insecurity was reported as a priority concern in the majority of focus groups and interviews, with participants indicating that COVID-19 has exacerbated long-standing issues of inequity. There was notable income inequality among certain racial/ethnic groups in Somerset County; Asian and White households reported incomes that were higher than the median household income in Somerset County respectively, while Black and Hispanic/Latino households earned below the county median in 2015-2019.7 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate peaked at 12.8% for Somerset County in June 2020.8. And focus group and interview participants described the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential front-line workers, lower wage workers, and Latino residents, and how many lost their jobs, either temporarily or permanently.
HOW WE’RE GETTING THERE
GOAL
Address the root causes of economic disparities in Somerset County so all have equitable access to economic opportunities and sustainable financial security.
OBJECTIVES
3.1: By December 2024, increase the number of safe, energy efficient, and accessible housing options at all levels of affordability.
3.2: By December 2024, increase participation in current/existing financial literacy programs/services that are targeted across the lifespan and have an equity focus.
3.3: By December 2024, increase the percent of people who can meet their living expenses and contribute to savings.
3.4: By December 2024, increase the percent of people who rise above the ALICE (Asset- Limited, Income- Constrained, Employed) poverty guidelines in Somerset County.
- Work with partners to advocate for equitable and anti-exclusionary housing policies and models at the local, state, and Federal level to ensure all people have access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing.
- Partner with Central Jersey Housing Resource Center to assess gaps in affordable housing and provide additional educational programming.
- Explore feasibility of expanding RWJUH Somerset’s Healing Homes program and identify how partners can support expansion.
- Educate on and promote utility-based programs for energy assistance (e.g., Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSE&G), Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)).
- Promote available housing resources to identified communities that are impacted by environmental injustice to address systemic health disparities.
- Identify and engage with existing programs/services that have an equity focus and promote to key constituencies (e.g., high school students, college age, seniors, low- income) to create culturally and linguistically appropriate educational material, campaigns, etc.
- Educate health and social service providers on resources and benefits available, how to refer residents to receive assistance in applying for them, and on the importance of providing services in culturally and linguistically competent ways (e.g., translation services, literacy levels, technology access).
- Advocate for funding for new programs/services to meet identified gaps (e.g., content areas and demographics).
- Promote existing home-buyer workshops/programs.
- Work with the Economic Development Group to encourage employers to provide education and support for retirement planning/savings.
- Advocate for better benefits and wages across employment sectors.
- Partner with exemplary employers and the Somerset County Business Partnership to promote best practices and to share the fiscal benefits of providing livable wages/benefits to employees.
- Promote grant- or employer-sponsored savings match programs (e.g., Central Jersey Housing Resource Center).
- Encourage community nonprofits who work with individuals and families to incorporate the importance of financial management and savings in all programming.
- Promote workforce development programs across Somerset County (e.g., community
- settings, community colleges).
- Connect residents of Somerset County to education and workforce training programs that focus on sustainable career pathways (e.g., STEM-based careers, environmental science and clean energy careers). See also 3.4.3.
- Advocate for increased income limits for safety net programming (e.g., to support childcare costs, caregiving costs).
- Promote and advocate for maintaining pandemic-related changes made to guidelines/eligibility requirements.
- Connect residents of Somerset County to education and workforce programs that focus on sustainable career pathways. See also 3.3.6.
