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Trendline tells Southborough Youth Commission housing, mental health top community concerns
Summary
Trendline presented a community needs assessment Nov. 4 showing housing affordability and mental health as the survey's top priorities; presenters reported 345 survey responses, recommended a formal referral system, crisis protocol and better cross‑sector coordination, and will deliver a final report to the Select Board Dec. 2.
Southborough Youth Commission members on Nov. 4 heard a summary of a community needs assessment funded with American Rescue Plan Act money, with Trendline consultants saying housing affordability and mental health emerged as the most urgent community concerns.
"This community needs assessment isn't just about numbers and data," Sarah Castle, director of Southborough Youth and Family Services, told the commission as she introduced the presenters and thanked the Select Board for ARPA support. Trendline's presenters, Kendall (data analyst) and Michael (co‑founder), described the study's methods and findings.
Trendline said the analysis incorporated 345 community survey responses, 11 key‑informant interviews and eight focus groups involving 54 participants. "Three‑forty‑five survey participants — that's more than 3% of this town's population," Michael said, calling the sample "really good" for a town of Southborough's size.
Key findings: 49% of survey…
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