Evansville’s citizens are rightfully concerned about the rising costs of utilities, including water. We must make sure that we provide support for people who cannot pay, including continuing assistance programs like payment plans and a bill relief program.

Affordable housing reduces poverty rates, increases a person’s economic mobility, and allows for a person to be a contributing member of the community. This interrupts the cycle of generational poverty, a root cause of crime. And yet, we do not have the number of low-income housing units we need in our community.

We also have food deserts in our city, areas where there is no grocery store for many miles. That needs to change. The County Council just awarded $300,000 to United Caring Services, a homeless shelter and services agency, for emergency shelter and substance abuse services.

We must continue to invest in mental health for everyone, including access to substance abuse treatment. We are making strides in mental health for our youth and I am proud to have supported funding to place social workers in all of our schools, a goal we are working hard towards. The next administration will be responsible for seeing these goals through and as Mayor, I will make this a priority.