Snohomish County is one of the fastest growing counties in Washington. We are also becoming a more diverse community. Keeping communities and individuals connected is a challenge—and vital to our collective health.
Safety, Victim Support and Crime Reduction
- The juvenile crime rate decreased
20% from 1990 to 2002. However, Snohomish County still has a higher juvenile crime rate than state and national averages. - Fewer domestic violence and sexual assault reports were made, per capita, in Snohomish County than in Washington and the
United States. - There are 120 reports of elder abuse every month in Snohomish County. Also, 1 in 4 Snohomish County teenagers will experience dating violence in a relationship.
With 2-1-1, our community is better connected. Call volumes are 218% higher since United Way and Volunteers of America Western Washington launched the new 2-1-1 information and referral service line. More people are finding resources, however, barriers such as lack of transportation still exist.
Community Connectedness
- Experts have found that communities where individuals have strong social networks are likely to have higher education achievement, better performing government institutions, faster economic growth, and less crime.
- 9% of our seniors live in poverty. Oftentimes, they lack transportation and many suffer from loneliness and isolation that frequently leads to depression.
- Transportation is the number one community concern cited by the general population, community leaders, and non-English speakers. Compared to the state as a whole, Snohomish County drivers drive more than twice as many miles per lane mile of highway and only 3.2 percent commute on public transportation.
Transportation has been identified as a regional economic development issue. In addition to funding transportation for those isolated by age or disability, United Way collaborating with community leaders in efforts such as Prosperity Partnership that are working to address transportation needs.
Civic Involvement
- 45% of Snohomish County adults volunteer in their community, giving an average of 199 hours per year.
- Voting: In the 2004 election, 84.31 percent of registered voters in Snohomish County cast ballots.
While periodic increases in civic involvement have frequently been sparked by national tragedies and national disasters, these increases have yet to last more than 18 months. Encouraging volunteerism is a major focus of United Way. Our online Volunteer Center posts opportunities at 120 nonprofits. United Way’s Days of Caring is the county’s largest volunteer event.
Diversity and Multiculturalism
- According to the 2000 Census, 17 percent of Snohomish County residents do not identify as solely Caucasian and 10 percent were born outside of the United States. Of those born outside of the United States, 46 percent were born in Asia, 25 percent were born in Central or South America, 44 percent immigrated since 1990, and 53 percent were not documented citizens.
- In 2003, there were 29 reported hate/bias motivated crimes and offenses. The per capita rate of hate crimes in Snohomish is higher than in the state of Washington overall.
- Lack of information about programs is another barrier that people run into when trying to access community resources. In a 2001 telephone survey conducted in their native language, 76 percent of non-English speakers expressed some level of agreement that language differences are a problem.