An Innovative Approach to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health Through Housing

Project Description Narrative:

Unsafe and inadequate housing conditions not only jeopardize physical health, but also exacerbate stress, trauma, and social inequities among residents.

This project will integrate the Pathways Community Hub model into Jackson County's Public Health Department to improve housing conditions and health outcomes. By pairing a community health worker (CHW) with the environmental health sanitarian (EHS), the project partners seek to address immediate housing issues, such as unsafe living conditions and health hazards, while also providing upstream support to prevent future challenges.

By enhancing collaboration between CHWs and EHSs, the project aims not only to mitigate housing-related health risks, but also to improve overall health outcomes for residents facing housing challenges.

Community partners: Great Rivers United Way, Servant Led Community Coalition, Black River Falls School District