Trendline tells Southborough Youth Commission housing, mental health top community concerns

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 respondents ranked housing as the town's top challenge, while 45% ranked mental health as a leading concern. Presenters highlighted demographic patterns — a 40% growth in the senior population over the last decade and an unusually high share of households with children (about 44%) — that shape service needs.

Trendline also examined substance use and youth risk factors. Presenters cited MetroWest adolescent health data showing Algonquin students' past‑30‑day alcohol use at about 24%, compared with 21% across the region, and stressed that stigma, fragmented prevention efforts and lack of awareness limit access to care. "Seventy‑five percent of people said mental health is driving substance use," Kendall said, noting the studies show strong links between the two. Presenters emphasized the data are regional in some cases and therefore not a perfect one‑to‑one readout of Southborough youth.

Recommendations from Trendline focused on improving coordination and lowering barriers to care: creating a formal referral system (rather than informal staff-to-staff knowledge), developing a crisis response protocol that reduces escalation when appropriate, expanding low‑barrier options such as bridge counseling, translating materials for non‑English speakers, and convening regular cross‑sector meetings among town departments, schools, nonprofits and faith groups to break down service silos.

Presenters also urged the town to leverage and promote existing community spaces and events as low‑cost ways to reduce isolation and support youth — citing a local Rotary/Library pumpkin stroll as an example of an event that builds community connections.

The assessment's authors said they will incorporate the night's input into a final report to the Select Board on Dec. 2. Sarah Castle told the commission that comments would be included in the report without attribution.

Formal business at the start and end of the meeting included approval of meeting minutes from Oct. 14, 2025 and an adjournment vote. A vacancy on the commission was announced after Laura Chiyoko moved off the commission, and recruitment materials were included in the packet.

The presentation prompted discussion among commissioners and residents about gaps in public awareness of services, transportation and walkability concerns, and the need for affordable options for older residents. Trendline emphasized that while some positive services exist in town — including programs run by Southborough Youth and Family Services — inconsistent awareness and informal referral practices create uneven access.

Next steps: Trendline will finalize the report incorporating feedback from the Nov. 4 meeting and present findings and recommendations to the Select Board on Dec. 2. Commissioners were asked to leave any written notes on placemats provided at the meeting so the consulting team can include community suggestions in the final document.