Community Needs Assessment

2025 Community Needs Assessment

Read the Jackson County 2025 CNA here.

As the Community Action Agency for Jackson County, ACCESS conducts a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) every three years to better understand community challenges and guide program planning, strategic priorities, and partnerships. The CNA is a tool for identifying current needs related to housing, health, education, transportation, and economic opportunity.

In the Summer of 2025, ACCESS partnered with Pacific Research & Evaluation (PRE) to collect and analyze data using a mixed-methods approach. Their research, which included surveys, data analysis, and community-based focus groups conducted across Jackson County, resulted in a 111-page report, providing a comprehensive understanding of the experiences, needs, and priorities of low-income communities throughout the county.

Key Findings:

• A lack of affordable rental housing is cited as a “big concern”.
• Transportation barriers limit access to essential services such as employment, healthcare, and food.
• Food Insecurity affects over one-third of low-income households.
• Healthcare access gaps persist across service types such as mental health care, dental care and preventative ongoing care.
• Benefit cliffs and system navigation create additional barriers for ALICE families and individuals.