Greenwich United Way CEO David Rabin says rising housing costs, childcare expenses and mental health needs are squeezing families across the town's income spectrum.

The nonprofit released three Deep Dive Reports on housing affordability, mental health and early childhood education. The findings are part of the organization's 2025 Needs Assessment, a five-year evaluation of local human-service demands. Greenwich United Way engaged Fairfield University's Center for Social Impact to conduct the research, which for the first time includes a neighborhood-level data dashboard where residents can explore findings for their own part of town.

The reports grew out of roundtable discussions, Greenwich Free Press reported. The three topic areas first emerged as critical needs in a 2020 assessment and have continued to surface through community engagement.

Housing costs hit long-timers and newcomers alike

Housing affordability remains one of the most persistent barriers in the community, the reports found. Long-term residents said that under current economic conditions, they could no longer afford to move into Greenwich. Newer residents unanimously reported that housing costs are the largest strain on their household budgets.

"There is a common misconception that a community as affluent as Greenwich is immune to these kinds of hardships," Rabin said in a release, according to Greenwich Free Press. He added that the reports reveal escalating costs of housing and childcare, combined with rising mental health needs, are creating a crisis for Greenwich families.

Substance use, autism services draw concern

Nearly one in six community members identified substance use as a critical concern. Participants also emphasized an urgent shortage of autism spectrum-related services.

Higher-income residents were more likely to flag mental health as an unmet need. Researchers suggest that trend may reflect greater mental health literacy and diagnostic awareness in those neighborhoods, according to the reports.

Childcare costs strain families at every income level

Across all income levels, respondents agreed that the cost of early childhood programs is a primary strain on families. The reports rated the quality of Greenwich's early childhood education highly, but parents and caregivers cited childcare as a major expense alongside housing, transportation and groceries.

The full 2025 Needs Assessment, including the new neighborhood-level dashboard, is available on the Greenwich United Way website.