The 2011 Quality of Life Indicators report reveals three major recurring themes and issues affecting the quality of life in our community.  The recurring themes are present to a greater or lesser extent in each of the ten major QLI sectors.  This work clearly shows how each facet of quality of life impacts, and is impacted by, another area or series of indicators.  It is perhaps not surprising since we are still continuing to climb out of the recession that economic factors rose to the top of the list of concern in many areas.  The three recurring themes highlighted in the report are as follows:

How can we work together to create a better community and where are collaborations needed the most?

According to the 2011 Quality of Life Indicators report, Social Challenges is a category that needs work when it comes to the Pikes Peak Region.

A few points the report reveals regarding social challenges:

• Suicide in El Paso County continues to be a significant and growing health problem.
• The lack of sense of community impacts vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those dealing with mental/behavioral health issues.
• Though our large military population impacts our community by greatly contributing to our economic vitality, we see links between the deployment of our military population and impacts on divorce rates, domestic violence and children's school test scores.

There are many collaborations looking at these challenges but more help is needed. 

What is infill and what does it have to do with me and my community?

The built environment is considered the infrastructure that supports all aspects of the quality of life described by each of the ten QLI Vision Councils. Infill is the use of vacant land and property, within an already built-up area, for further construction and development.

The gaps that exist in redevelopment and infill adversely impact:

• Transportation - longer commute times and traffic congestion
• Infrastructure - deterioration of city roads, bridges and highways
• Emergency services access - longer response time and increased cost of additional emergency facilities
• Sense of unified community

On the other hand, encouragement and emphasis on infill can have a positive effect by:

• Helping to reduce urban sprawl
• Reducing demands on utilities, transportation and public safety services as the metropolitan area expands
• Providing a sense of community through a walkable, livable infrastructure

Many organizations are collaborating to address these built environment challenges acknowledged in the 2011 QLI report. Identified as a "red flag" in this year's report, this very important factor affects quality of life in the Pikes Peak Region.  

What issues throughout the community are affected by the current job crisis and local economy?

It's no surprise: while Colorado Springs has maintained a better median household income and lower cost of living compared to our benchmark cities, the 2011 QLI report indicates that our region lacks overall economic health and vitality.

The current economic situation, including unemployment and under employment, impacts:

• The ability to have and afford health care insurance
• Tendencies toward drug and alcohol abuse, crime, domestic violence and other social problems
• Foreclosures and individuals/families movement toward homelessness
• Poverty, specifically childhood poverty, which in turn impacts early development and education

On a positive note, El Paso County residents are attaining higher levels of education and earning more degrees. The effort to learn a new trade or skill should provide benefits to the region in increased productivity.  Our future success as a community is dependent upon economic development and job creation.