Stanislaus housing cost, chronic disease, doctor shortages add up to poor health
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- High housing costs strain Stanislaus families, limiting access to basic needs.
- Chronic illness, obesity and asthma drive poor health outcomes countywide.
- Provider shortages and high uninsured rates hinder access to medical care.
Families can thrive when they have economic stability and safe, affordable housing.
Many residents of Stanislaus County struggle to pay for housing, though, and it’s one reason the county is less healthy than other communities, a new report says.
The county Health Services Agency this week released the 2025 Community Health Assessment, providing a look at the conditions and social factors that shape the health of county residents. The assessment includes topics from housing affordability to chronic disease, mental health, health care access and life expectancy.
According to the report, half of the renters in Stanislaus County spend more than 30% of income on housing, which makes it more difficult to pay for other basic essentials. Almost 30% of homeowners are barely keeping up with the cost of housing.
Single adults and senior citizens especially have limited options for finding good housing, the report says. The National Low Income Housing Coalition says the income necessary for affording a two-bedroom apartment in the Modesto area is $29.38 per hour.
The community health assessment used to be completed every five years to guide policymakers and county partners in their efforts to improve the community’s general health. But the collaborative effort including hospitals, Medi-Cal managed-care plans and other partners has shifted to a three-year cycle, said Heather Duvall, managing director of the county Health Services Agency.
In a news release, health experts said the Community Health Assessment is more than just data. “It’s a road map for meaningful change,” said Vernell Shaw, senior director and Medi-Cal regional lead for Health Net, which operates a managed-care plan for Medi-Cal recipients. “It enables us to truly understand the unique challenges facing Stanislaus County residents and align our efforts to address them.”
The numbers aren’t good
Duvall said the overall health of the county did not significantly improve in the 2025 assessment compared to the previous one. The county and Central Valley historically have higher rates of chronic disease and poorer health outcomes than healthier regions of California.
The county’s average life expectancy — 76 years — is shorter than the 79.9 years statewide.
The county still has high obesity rates among adults (33%). Nearly 50% of children in the county are overweight or obese, the health report says.
Asthma is more common here than in the rest of California, affecting 17% of children and 11% of county residents overall. Black residents have the highest rate of hospital emergency department visits due to asthma-related problems.
About 20% of adults in the county report their health is fair to poor, on par with the statewide percentage.
The county’s cancer mortality rate of 157 deaths per 100,000 population is higher than the 132.7 per 100,000 in California and the 146 per 100,000 in the nation.
Duvall said the coalition will narrow the health assessment’s areas of focus to three — chronic disease prevention, health care access and behavioral health — in order to develop a community health improvement plan. The coalition working on improving health outcomes includes Health Plan of San Joaquin, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Valley Children’s Healthcare, the county, Health Net and United Way.
Other areas of focus in the community health assessment, including affordable and stable housing, economic stability and education, are part of ongoing efforts by Stanislaus 2030, the Cradle to Career Partnership and housing initiatives, Duvall said. It’s well known that communities with higher education levels and incomes are usually the most healthy.
Mental health provider shortage
According to the 2025 report, Stanislaus County has one mental health professional for every 472 residents, and the provider shortage is especially difficult for young people and low-income residents who need help. California has one mental health provider per 300 residents.
The county’s suicide rate of 11.4 per 100,000 remains above the state rate of 10.5 per 100,000.
Apart from the stigma around mental health challenges, the assessment found that lack of follow-up care reduces the effectiveness of mental health treatment and that transportation is a barrier for poor families.
The Trump administration’s federal budget bill could increase the challenges of health care access, with Medicaid cuts affecting hospitals and enrollment in Medi-Cal.
The report says that one in three county residents needed medical care in the past 12 months but didn’t see a doctor, often because health providers were not available. About 20% didn’t receive care because their insurance was not accepted.
About 26% of Latino children in the county are uninsured. The county suffers from shortages of obstetricians, primary care doctors and pediatricians, the report says.
This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 4:03 PM.
