County health assessment finds high housing and financial stress among Yolo County farmworkers; board directs staff to pursue housing options

Yolo County public‑health staff presented a county farmworker health assessment on Jan. 28 that documented low incomes, high housing costs, food insecurity and work‑related health risks, and supervisors directed staff to work with board liaisons and partners to develop housing solutions.

Rebecca Tryon, manager of the Healthy Communities Initiative at the county health department, said the assessment used 301 in‑person surveys and 10 focus groups with 54 farmworkers conducted between fall 2023 and March 2024. The report found that 96 percent of respondents live in Yolo County permanently and that the median annual income reported was about $20,000.

Key findings - Housing and income: 81 percent of surveyed farmworkers rent, and 41 percent of renters said housing cost exceeds half of monthly income. Tryon said the cost of rent and utilities was the top reported stressor. - Health and services: 70 percent reported receiving regular medical checkups and 72 percent reported having health insurance; however, 63 percent reported at least one chronic condition (the most common were high blood pressure, type‑2 diabetes and anxiety), and many reported financial barriers to some health services. About 44 percent reported traveling to Mexico for medical care and 43 percent for dental care. - Environmental/occupational risks: 46 percent of respondents reported at least one symptom consistent with heat‑related illness; most respondents reporting heat symptoms were age 40 or older.

Representative testimony from focus groups emphasized both pride in agricultural work and serious material hardship: “We need low income housing, housing that we can buy,” said one farmworker; another said, “The biggest stress right now is not earning enough for rent and food.” Tryon and staff posted the full report, executive summary and data on healthyyolo.org in English and Spanish.

Board direction on housing Following the assessment, County Community Services staff led a discussion of farmworker housing options. Staff outlined potential paths including: updating the Capay Valley area plan (and considering an agricultural district overlay), pursuing targeted community‑plan updates (for example, Esparto), partnering with Yolo County Housing and community land trusts, and exploring use of county surplus land.

Supervisor Reza Barajas moved to direct staff to continue work with Supervisors Frerichs and Barajas (board liaisons) and report back with options; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Board members emphasized a multi‑pronged approach: pilot studies in priority areas, coordination with housing and community land‑trust partners, examining permit and fee barriers, and exploring federal/state grant opportunities for infrastructure and permanent affordable housing.

Clarifying details - Survey sample: 301 in‑person interviews and 10 focus groups (54 participants). (Rebecca Tryon.) - Median reported annual income: approximately $20,000; over half of respondents reported food insecurity. (Assessment report.) - Housing: majority rent; 41 percent of renters spend more than half their income on housing. (Assessment report.)

Ending: Staff will work with the designated supervisors and partners and return to the board with a recommended set of options and an implementation path for farmworker housing, including potential pilot projects and funding strategies.