Socio-Economic Study Consensus (1994)

1. Is there a need for more affordable housing (i.e., to meet needs of those with lower incomes) in Glen Ellyn? If so, to what extent is this need being met?

Some rental and owner-occupied housing is available in all price ranges in Glen Ellyn. Availability of "affordable housing" has improved over the last 20 years.

2. Is there a need for more temporary shelter in Glen Ellyn?

Homelessness continues to be a serious concern in DuPage County. Programs such as PADS, Family Shelter and DuPage Emergency Shelter now serve people in need of temporary shelter. PADS, heavily supported by volunteers, operates only 7 months a year and requires homeless people to travel from community to community every day. Additional year-round temporary shelter is needed in DuPage County.

3. Is employment a problem in Glen Ellyn?

Glen Ellyn has programs that assist people looking for employment; however, unemployment, the fear of unemployment, and underemployment have many negative effects on individuals, families and the Glen Ellyn community.

4. Is there a need for improved public transportation in Glen Ellyn?

The public transportation system in DuPage County needs to be better coordinate and possibly enlarged.

5. How have the needs of senior citizens changed? Are the identified needs being met? The infrastructure exists to help seniors manage everyday life and stay as long as possible in their homes. Many programs, however, are under-funded; and inadequate funding reduces the quality of help for seniors. Transportation, particularly, continues to be a problem.

6. Are childcare and support services for Glen Ellyn's young families adequate? Childcare and many support services are available, some on sliding fee scales. Lower-income families needing financial assistance to pay for preschool childcare may experience waiting lists of several months. Before and after school care and summer and vacation programs for children of families in all income categories seem to be adequate. Latchkey children may be a problem in Glen Ellyn, but there is no data available to document the numbers.

For many children in Glen Ellyn, our public schools are becoming the most stable part of their lives. Schools are being asked to provide more and more support services. But as funds for academic programs diminish, such services as social workers and counselors are being cut.

7. Are services for 6th through 12th graders and their families adequate and comparable to those offered in other communities of similar socio-economic composition? Drinking, smoking, substance abuse, emotional problems, teen pregnancy and vandalism are serious issues among 6th through 12th graders in Glen Ellyn. That these behaviors are also commonplace in the junior high and high school age group reflects the inadequacy of our response as a community.

Non-academic, "support" programs in our schools are under-funded; yet need in the community for family education, support groups and counseling is at an all-time high. Data demonstrate that junior high age is the time when drinking, smoking and experimenting with other drugs begins. The limited programming currently offered to this age group through public funded sources such as the schools and Park District must be improved and expanded.

In agreement with our 1977 consensus, we see need for improved knowledge of the availability of all services that exist in Glen Ellyn. The new computerized community database to be located at the public library is an important beginning.