From shelters to rent help: How WellSpan is backing housing fixes
The funds will be distributed among 12 organizations, each tasked with developing and implementing innovative housing solutions.
'At WellSpan, the strength of our communities lies in the partnerships we build and investment in their unique needs,' said Roxanna Gapstur, president and CEO of WellSpan Health, in the announcement. 'Our mission goes beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics to address the root causes of health issues for the people we serve in central Pennsylvania. By working hand in hand with local organizations, we are creating pathways for every individual to thrive.'
The majority of the funds, $3 million, will be distributed through WellSpan's Imagine grant funding. Each recipient will receive $750,000 over three years. The recipients include Lebanon County Christian Ministries, South Central Community Action Programs, LifePath Christian Ministries and Transitions of PA.
The remaining $333,200 will be distributed through WellSpan's Inspire grants, which are designed to create measurable impact in advancing community health. The recipients of these grants include Bell Socialization Services, Affordable Housing Advocate, New Hope Ministries, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Lebanon Lancaster Habitat for Humanity, Lebanon Rescue Mission and Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic.
Additionally, York Habitat for Humanity will receive a $200,000 trust-based grant to support phase three of the Chestnut Street Revitalization project.
'We are proud to provide this support because we know that a safe, stable home is more than shelter — it's the starting point for a healthier, more hopeful life,' said Dr. Michael Seim, senior vice president and chief quality officer of WellSpan Health, in the announcement. 'Through this investment, we're building stronger communities from the ground up.'
The funds will be used for a variety of initiatives, including street outreach, emergency housing, shelters, hotel stays, rental and utility assistance, eviction prevention, housing affordability advocacy and community assessments.
LifePath Christian Ministries, for example, will use the funds to support a transformative relocation project to the former Pewterex factory building. This initiative will co-locate critical services including the men's shelter, flex/family shelter, cold weather shelter, administrative offices, kitchen and dining services and create a shared space for community partners.
Transitions of PA will use the funds to support the Pathways to Housing Stability project, a survivor-centered initiative aimed at preventing homelessness among individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
South Central Community Action Programs will use the funds to support a regional housing initiative designed to expand impact in Franklin County and deepen engagement in Adams County.
Lebanon County Christian Ministries will use the funds to support a multi-tiered strategy to address both urgent housing needs and long-term systemic challenges.
Including these investments, WellSpan will have contributed a total of $17.65 million to address housing needs over the next three years.
Community organizations interested in learning more about WellSpan's grant program can go to WellSpan.org/CommunityHealth.
For more details on how WellSpan makes a difference in communities across central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, refer to WellSpan's annual Community Impact Report.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
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This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: WellSpan is spending $3.5M to fight housing issues in Pa. towns
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