Avery-Stoss
WILKES-BARRE — The social services landscape in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties reflects the needs of the region’s population.
These services, ranging from healthcare and food assistance to childcare and senior support, are vital safety nets for individuals facing physical, economic, or social challenges.
Government programs, nonprofit organizations, and private donors collectively work to provide these essential services to those in need.
Jill Avery-Stoss, president & CEO of The Institute, says that many people who benefit from social services are older adults, living on fixed incomes, or managing disabilities or chronic health conditions.
“Older adults comprise more than 20% of the region’s population, and that share continues to grow,” Avery-Stoss said. “There is a significant network of support available to these individuals. Senior centers provide social and wellness programming, for example, and there were 27 active centers in the four-county region as of 2024. The demand for services will increase alongside the demographic.”
Avery-Stoss said families with limited incomes also rely on social services as they navigate rising costs for necessities such as housing, utilities, and food. These challenges extend to working families. Although wages have risen somewhat, Avery-Stoss said they often fall short of covering basic living expenses.
Additionally, parents seeking employment often struggle to access childcare. They face high costs and lengthy wait-lists due to a shortage of care providers.
“The quality of early childhood education in NEPA is high,” said Avery-Stoss. “The Keystone STARS program rates childcare centers from one to four stars. From 2024 to 2025, the number of STAR 3 and STAR 4 centers increased slightly in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.”
Avery-Stoss said childhood poverty remains a concern for social service organizations. Among Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, Luzerne reports the highest percentage of children living below the poverty level, while Lackawanna, Wayne, and Wyoming show fluctuating rates.
Statewide, Avery-Stoss said there has been a gradual decline since 2020. These conditions contribute to long-term cycles of poverty, affecting educational access, housing stability, and future employment opportunities.
Nutrition assistance through SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — supports more than two million Pennsylvanians. From 2020 to 2024, Avery-Stoss said the number of SNAP recipients increased across the region, except for Wayne County. Luzerne County consistently has the largest share of households receiving food stamps.
Cash assistance, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), serves fewer households but plays a meaningful role in providing for basic needs. Numbers have remained stable over the last several years across the region, with Wayne County seeing a steady decline since the spike in households receiving assistance in 2020.
“Together, these indicators paint a detailed picture of the region’s ongoing social service need,” Avery-Stoss said. “Some trends show progress, but challenges related to affordability and accessibility remain front and center.”
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.