October 9, 2025
ADVOCAP has released the 2025 Community Needs Assessment Report, a comprehensive study identifying the most pressing challenges facing residents of Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Winnebago Counties. Conducted every three years, the assessment gathers input from residents living with low incomes, community partners, and ADVOCAP staff to help inform programs, guide partnerships, and shape long-term community impact.
A Clear Picture of Community Needs
The results reflect a difficult reality: many local residents are struggling daily to meet basic needs. Respondents shared that they are constantly worried about housing, food, and their physical and mental health. High rates of anxiety and depression were reported, with many people forgoing needed medical or mental health care in order to cover other necessities like rent, food, or car repairs.
“This assessment gives us an honest look at what families — our friends, neighbors, coworkers — in our region are facing,” said Tanya Marcoe, Executive Director of ADVOCAP. “The data and stories shared by participants help focus our work where it matters most — removing barriers, improving access to supports, and partnering with others to create real pathways to stability and self-sufficiency.”
Key Findings
Top identified needs from survey respondents include:
- Housing Instability (68%) – especially help paying utilities (50%), rent (25%), and home repairs/weatherization (25%)
- Transportation (65%) – help with car repairs (44%) and fuel costs (44%)
- Basic Needs (63%) – support with benefits applications (30%) and financial coaching (22%)
- Food Insecurity (59%) – requests for monthly food boxes or home delivery (43%) and access to fresh produce (21%)
- Access to Services (58%) – desire for a single, central access point (53%) and clearer information (45%)
- Health & Wellness (57%) – need for affordable dental (63%), vision (42%), and mental health care (39%)
- Childcare (61% among those using childcare) – requests for lower costs (58%) and more flexible hours (47%)
Opportunities for Action
The report highlights several areas where collaboration and innovation can make the greatest difference:
- Strengthen partnerships to expand housing, childcare, and transportation solutions
- Simplify and centralize access to services
- Expand early interventions such as financial coaching and mental health support
- Advocate for affordable housing, food, and transportation
- Engage community members with lived experience to shape solutions
- “The data we’re seeing and the stories we’re hearing are clear,” Marcoe added. “People are resilient, but they need systems and programs that truly work for them. By working together, we can reduce barriers and help families build stronger, more stable lives.”
About the Survey
Every three years, ADVOCAP conducts a Community Needs Assessment to identify the most urgent needs in our service area and ensure programs and partnerships align with community realities. This process helps determine which needs are being met, what barriers remain, and where service gaps exist.
Input was collected from three primary groups:
- Residents living with low incomes
- Community partners
- ADVOCAP staff in client-facing roles
Each participant was 18 years or older. The findings inform ADVOCAP’s long-range strategic plan, strengthen community collaborations, guide funding proposals, and increase public awareness about the causes and conditions of poverty. This assessment is also a requirement of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).
Development
A Community Needs Assessment Committee — made up of ADVOCAP staff, board members, and policy council members — met biweekly from April through August 2025. The group reviewed past assessments, refined survey questions, and discussed data sources and emerging community trends. The survey was developed in three tailored versions for each audience (residents, partners, and staff) and was offered in English and Spanish.
Distribution & Response
Surveys were hosted online via SurveyMonkey from June 9 to June 30, 2025, with outreach through email, social media, partner organizations, flyers, and direct staff outreach. To encourage participation, low-income respondents were entered into a drawing for one of three $100 Walmart gift cards.
In total, ADVOCAP received:
- 476 responses from residents living with low incomes
- 85 responses from community partners
- 60 responses from ADVOCAP staff
Focus groups were also held in Fond du Lac and Winnebago Counties to gather more in-depth input.
About the Community Needs Assessment
As noted by the National Community Action Partnership (NCAP), a Community Needs Assessment “determines the underlying causes and conditions of poverty within the community and identifies available resources to address the unmet needs of the most vulnerable residents.” It is the foundation of the Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) Cycle, guiding Community Action Agencies in developing programs that truly respond to local needs.
Read the full 2025 Community Needs Assessment Report on our website.
