Wake County, in partnership with the Live Well Wake initiative, has launched an ambitious plan to improve community health over the next three years, informed by the latest 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment. The assessment, detailed in a report released by Wake County, highlights key areas of concern that are shaped by local residents' experiences and a thorough data analysis.
In a yearlong collaborative effort, spearheaded by the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, Live Well Wake and its partners engaged with the community through a 12-phase process to distill the urgent health needs facing Wake County. While the assessment spans over twelve months, residents waiting for immediate solutions have been finding their plights further exacerbated by a growing affordable housing crisis and an undermining of mental health support networks.
The top priorities identified call immediate attention to the lack of affordable housing and rising homelessness rates, continued challenges in healthcare access, and pressing mental health demands. "These aren’t just public health issues, they’re deeply personal issues that affect the day-to-day lives of our residents," Wake County Commissioner and Live Well Wake Co-Chair Vickie Adamson told Wake County in their report.
These findings underscore disparities, with the most vulnerable — including older adults and Black residents — being hit the hardest by systemic barriers within the healthcare system. Compiled with insights from various healthcare entities like Advance Community Health and WakeMed Health and Hospitals, the assessment's data reflects a stark reality. A rise in median housing costs and growing homelessness echoes through the streets of Wake County, whereby communities are left grappling with over 1,200 residents who find themselves without a home every night.
With action plans in the pipeline, Wake County staff and stakeholders are preparing to translate the priorities into tangible programs and interventions. The transparent tracking of these initiatives will be publicly available on the Live Well Wake website, ensuring that accountability remains at the forefront. The work ahead involves not just a partnership among health institutions, but a binding commitment to improve the lives of all residents within the Wake County community.
