Hobe Sound, located in the southeast corner of Martin County, has traditionally been at the end of the social service lifeline – most social services are concentrated in Stuart. As Hobe Sound has grown, the needs of our less fortunate neighbors have increased.
The Hobe Sound community has responded to this urgent need, contributing over $2 million to the Chest this past year. Many residents also serve on the Board or one of the Visiting Committees. These committees monitor the agencies we support to ensure that your dollars are prudently spent.
Health & Wellness
15.5% of Hobe Sound residents under 65 do not have health insurance • The rate of uninsured climbs to 21.5% for children •In some neighborhoods of Hobe Sound, as many as 48% of residents have no health insurance
Education
Less than 50% of Hobe Sound children under the age of five attend preschool • 44% of Hobe Sound 3rd graders are reading proficiently • This priority area contains programs that promote learning at every stage of life from early childhood onwards
Community Services
There are 14,003 residents in Hobe Sound • 3.1% are under 5 years of age • 32.9% are over 65 years of age • The priority area contains services to enhance the lives of community members, including arts, athletics, outdoor and afterschool programs
Basic Human Needs
11.3% of Hobe Sound residents live in poverty • The poverty rate climbs to 17.4% for children under 5 • In some neighborhoods of Hobe Sound as many as 34% of residents live in poverty • Food, clothing and shelter programs are supported
Strategic Initiatives
The Chest has a history of funding unique projects outside of the annual grants process. These include renovating a child care center, creating an after-school program and purchasing land for affordable housing.