Pictured left to right presenting and receiving the helmets: Stephanie Davidson, Sgt. Cory Brookshire, Cpl. Jim Lewis, Ptl. Jeremy Hollar, and C.J. Durbin-Higgins.
Bonham Police Department receives Ballistic Helmets from TCOG
May 3, 2018
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Texoma
TCOG’s ADRC Announces New Educational Series
June 6, 2018
Pictured left to right presenting and receiving the helmets: Stephanie Davidson, Sgt. Cory Brookshire, Cpl. Jim Lewis, Ptl. Jeremy Hollar, and C.J. Durbin-Higgins.
Bonham Police Department receives Ballistic Helmets from TCOG
May 3, 2018
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Texoma
TCOG’s ADRC Announces New Educational Series
June 6, 2018
Post Hoc Agency and Subject Matter Expert Focus Group

Following the determination of the county-wide and region-wide need, a focus group was assembled from agency directors and representatives, and subject matter experts. The following individuals gathered at the TCOG facility for the focus group.

  • Annette Limoges, Grayson County Shelter (Community)
  • Virginia Brooks, MasterKey Ministries (Faith Based)
  • Major Tex Ellis, Jr., Salvation Army (Faith Based)
  • Delano Smith, TCOG Client Services Director (Community)
  • Marsha Wilson, TCOG ADRC Navigator (Community)
  • Rhonda Ives, Workforce Solutions (Community)
  • Dr. Debbie Barnes-Plyler, Grayson College Trustee (Education)
  • Julie Craig, Workforce Solutions (Community)
  • Tommy Ellis, VA Representative, Grayson College (Education)
  • Judy Fullylove, Recorder (Community)
  • Dr. Randy McBroom, Moderator (Community)

The participants were provided the top regional needs as determined by the processes discussed earlier in this report. First, all participants agreed on the top five needs. Structured discussions followed on the root causes of the issues, and the complex inter-relationships between these needs (and others). The following are the major findings from the focus group.

  • The group agreed that the top six needs identified from data analysis were the top needs in the region.
  • There is a need for additional resources to address the issues of access, availability, and affordability of healthy, nutritious food. MasterKey Ministries stated that in four years they have given away one million pounds of food in Sherman alone.
  • Service agencies report that a majority of the people they serve are unemployed, people of color, single parents and elderly. (Underemployment, or the working poor),
  • It was pointed out that the poor also have to pay for proper paperwork as proof of identification such as birth certificates, photo ids, and 990s.
  • Service agencies report that other “causes” of poverty are the cost burdens of housing, rental deposits fees, and the fact that interest rates are higher for poor people because they often have bad credit.
  • There is a lack of homes in the $80,000 to $100,000 range. Renters often do not have enough money to pay for housing expenses such as utilities and groceries. Food pantries reported that clients who have been moved into stable housing still come back to the food pantry once a week because they cannot afford the cost of food.
  • Predatory renters were seen as one of the obstacles to obtaining safe, affordable housing, especially among the Hispanic populations.
  • Generational poverty was seen as a root cause of many of the issues discussed. (TCOG is addressing generational poverty through programs such as the Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency and Getting Ahead programs where clients are given case management.)
  • Availability of mental health facilities was another identified need. It was also pointed out that treatment is expensive and many of the poor don’t have insurance, and that mental despair leads to self-medication such as drugs and alcohol.
  • The cost of childcare was seen as an obstacle for single mothers’ employment. Expanded preschool and early childhood education was seen as one of the greatest needs in the region. One agency stated there are 900 children in Sherman alone without early childhood education (this statement is supported by data presented earlier).
  • Childhood poverty is seen as pervasive.
  • Lack of transportation was identified as a major need especially as it relates to employment. The Salvation Army in Sherman (serving only Grayson County), has given bicycles to people to help them get to work. Other agencies reported clients who walk to work, sometimes leaving their home at 4:00 am to get to work by 8:00 am.
Telephone Survey of Elected Officials

A telephone survey of elected officials was conducted in September 2018. The findings basically supported the community needs as shown in the qualitative and quantitative analyses, and the Post Hoc Focus Group. The results show the following ranked needs for the region.

  • Affordable Housing
  • Transportation Needs
  • Childcare
  • Job Training, Education
  • Utility Assistance
  • English As a Second Language (ESL)
Needs Summary

Although there are some county variations on the rankings, the same basic needs emerge for all three counties. These are:

  • Healthcare/medical issues, especially the lack of mental healthcare facilities and providers
  • The need for safe, affordable housing
  • Additional assistance with utility payments (electricity, gas, telephone, water, heating), and rent
  • The need to access/availability of basic transportation, especially to medical appointments, and to jobs (this is a new need category over the previous CNA)
  • Food insecurity/food deserts/hunger (ranked lower than previous CNA)
  • Childhood issues, especially early childhood issues, although not a Top 5

An area of note, underemployment, as a root cause of poverty in the region, emerged in the post hoc focus group. The Texoma region is at functionally full employment, but many of the jobs are part-time, and/or low-paying without benefits. This accounts for the working poor noted in an earlier section, with the relatively high percentage of workers earning less than $25,000.

As noted in the section on poverty, childhood poverty, especially for children under five, remains a region-wide issue. Female-headed and minority households are also much more likely to be in poverty, or at near-poverty. One disturbing trend was the rise in the percent of people ages 18 – 34 who are living in poverty – these are the primary workers, homeowners, consumers that the economy depends upon. And the overlap of age, minority, and family composition place many of the people of Texoma at considerable risk of poverty.