Archive for August 2016

Our regional 2-1-1 received more than 10,000 calls in 2015 for utility assistance alone. Assistance with obtaining basic needs continues to be within the top five unmet needs in our community. 2018 data report Having a strong safety net in the region allows low-income and homeless people and their families move past crisis situations. Furthermore,…

Babies of color are up to 4.5 times more likely to die before their first birthday. In the Battle Creek-Kalamazoo Region, the infant mortality rate for black babies are up to 4.5 times higher than the rate for white babies. Our community goal is to improve infant mortality rates in families of color and low-income…

56,200 households (41%) have annual income at or below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold—people who are working but struggling to make ends meet. The median annual household income is $43,291(State of Michigan median is $48,411). On average, Black & Hispanic households have 63% the median annual income of White households. 2018 data…

4 out of 10 African-American students drop out each year. 3 out of 10  low-income students drop out each year. 2018 Data Report Interventions in early childhood—such as the provision of high-quality childcare, early grade reading supports, and programming to improve social emotional health­—are cost effective ways to impact the educational trajectory and graduation rates…