1. Park sidewalks in Hays
1.1. Side walks are in bad shape
1.1.1. Although, this isn't a picture of a sidewalk in Hays, it's not uncommon to see this kind of sidewalk at parks in town. Clearly, this is a hazard that puts people at risk for falling. If I was discharging my patient with instructions to walk more frequently, I would want to know that they have a safe place to do so.
1.2. Many parks need sidewalks and don't have any
1.3. Parks need to be a safe place for people of all ages and abilities. If we are going to encourage people to get out there and walk, we need to make sure the conditions are reasonably safe. The link attached explains the many details of walking for the elderly, such as: increased bone density, maintaining muscle mass, better sleep, circulation, and mental clarity.
2. Affordable housing in Hays
2.1. Many of the available homes are older than 1970 and don't have adequate ducting systems or insulation
2.1.1. Older housing may likely be at a higher risk of having pluming leaks. Mold increases respiratory problems, and one city found a large correlation between it's poor housing and the frequency of ER visits for asthma attacks.
2.2. Attached is a link to the Hays housing study that was a topic of focus during the city council meeting
2.3. A large number of people are forced to spend more than 30% of their income on housing to find something of quality
2.4. There's an inadequate amount of suitable housing for low income families
2.4.1. The attached website lists the income-based housing available in Hays. This is an important resource to know about because buying a house isn't always feasible or the best option for people. And I don't want people to be forced into paying more than they can afford for housing.