Lamoille Community House Inc

RURAL NORTHERN BORDER REGION NETWORK PLANNING PROGRAM - LAMOILLE COMMUNITY HOUSE (LCH), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAMOILLE VALLEY HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COALITION (LVHHC), SEEKS HRSA-26-100 FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN RURAL LAMOILLE COUNTY, VERMONT. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE DIRECTOR WHO WILL LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS PREVENTING UNHOUSED RESIDENTS FROM ACCESSING AND MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES. PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN LAMOILLE COUNTY FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, INCLUDING LIMITED TRANSPORTATION, SCARCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND LONG DISTANCES TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. THESE BARRIERS CONTRIBUTE TO POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES, INCREASED RELIANCE ON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, AND DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING STABLE HOUSING. THROUGH DATA COLLECTION, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, AND COLLABORATION WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DEVELOPERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE INITIATIVE DIRECTOR WILL IDENTIFY SERVICE GAPS AND DEVELOP A COORDINATED ROADMAP FOR IMPROVING HOUSING STABILITY AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS. THE RESULTING STRATEGIC PLAN WILL ESTABLISH ACTIONABLE GOALS TO EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVE COORDINATION AMONG HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING SYSTEMS, GUIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, AND IDENTIFY SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR LONG-TERM IMPLEMENTATION. BY CREATING A SHARED, DATA-DRIVEN FRAMEWORK, THIS PROJECT WILL POSITION LAMOILLE COUNTY TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY, REDUCE HOMELESSNESS, IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND BUILD A MORE COORDINATED SYSTEM OF CARE FOR ITS MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.