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COMMUNITY <br />NEEDS IN 2025 <br />Methodology. <br />This report includes findings from two perception surveys <br />of a representative sample of.lndian River County residents that. <br />were conducted by Clearview Research in January and February <br />," 4 <br />2025. The first survey was sponsored by the Indian River County <br />f <br />Hospital District and focused gmhealthcare needs.Thesecond <br />survey was sponsored by Indian River Community Foundation, <br />United Way of Indian River County, and the Corbett Foundation <br />and focused on general community needs. The report alsosum=. <br />marizes the collection and analysis of comparative data related <br />to indicators of community health and well-being from 2010 <br />to present. Further data support and. analysis was provided by <br />the School District of Indian River County.and.the Community <br />Foundations professional staff using publicly availablesources. <br />- <br />(A complete set of data sources is available upon request.).... <br />i i <br />General Results <br />The results of both perception surveys indicate that two-. <br />thirds.of respondents believe the quality of life in,Indian River:, <br />County is headed in the right direction, including the quality of . <br />healthcare services. Despite relatively high satisfaction overall, <br />specific areas of concern include the following: <br />• Healthcare access and affordability,:especiallyamong target <br />• • • - • • • - <br />subgroups such as lower-income families, women under 50, <br />• _ <br />and parents with children living at home: <br />• • <br />•Quality childcare and early childhood education access and <br />.•-• - . • • <br />affordability. <br />• • <br />:Low wages and transportation to travel to and from and main- <br />tain,good paying jobs. <br />"A" rating for three c nsecutiveY ears, ranks 5th among Florida's <br />• Housing affordability.67 <br />school districts.- and whose chief executive was named the <br />• Public. safety, specifically concerns of Black residents about <br />2025 Florida Superintendent of the Year. <br />Violent crime, and concerns:of residents overall about infra- <br />Housing Affordability <br />structure related to traffic a.nd pedestrian safety.:Concerns <br />about. housing affordability-were high among sur- <br />outler` Observations <br />vey respondents, while-data about-homelessness was conflict- <br />ing. On one:hand, the number of homeless people recorded <br />_. <br />Infant and Maternal Health <br />in an-annual "point in time" survey required-by the United States <br />One specific area that received additional attention follow- <br />Department of Hauling and Urban Development was:thelow- <br />ing the completion of the two perception surveys described <br />The number of stu- <br />est since the :count began. <br />On the other hand,the <br />above isinfant and maternal health. After three town halls and a <br />third perception survey sponsored by the Indian River County <br />dent's iden�ed and <br />. <br />number of students identi= . <br />.: <br />Hospital District in August 2025, an overwhelming majority ofwqmriW <br />as haw <br />h0 ng <br />111@!- <br />fieri and reported as having <br />P . <br />:experienced homelessness <br />respondents emphasized maternity services as a necessity for <br />public health and safety and as an essential component of the <br />Weft@ at •ny°rime <br />'at any time during the <br />*Coup 's overall well-being. Strong support <br />*County's g.. g pport was expressedfor <br />duri _ dw :: wil r. <br />� <br />sch:ool:year was the highest <br />the use of taxpayer funds for this purpose... <br />highest et`. <br />VMS ge <br />evecTtiis contrast may re- <br />K-12 Education <br />f e' ct the combined effects <br />ofthe recently enacted HB 1365 prohibiting homeless.people <br />One specific area where negative survey responses contrast _ <br />from steeping outside, more intense "rapid=rehousing".- efforts <br />with positive performance data highlighted in the "Trends"., <br />by theTreasure Coast Homeless Services Council (especially <br />section of this report is K-12 public education, While approx- <br />those focused on helping: homeless veterans:and those who are <br />imately two-thirds of respondents were satisfied with.K 12 <br />chronically mentally ill), changes in local eviction'laws, and the. <br />public education, one-third were unsatisfied. These"unsatisfied .: <br />. <br />resilience and resourcefulness of families in preventing children <br />perceptions are irra public school district that has earned an <br />from experiencing long episodes of homelessness. <br />1. <br />