Spokane to join innovative, national program to improve health in low-income neighborhoods
Julie Happy, 509.625.7773, jhappy@spokanecity.org
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 10:52 a.m.
The city of Spokane has been selected by Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to take part in the new Invest Health initiative. Invest Health is aimed at transforming how leaders from mid-size American cities work together to help low-income communities thrive, with specific attention to community features that drive health such as access to safe and affordable housing, places to play and exercise, and quality jobs.
Spokane was selected from more than 180 teams from 170 communities that applied to the initiative. Cities with populations between 50,000 and 400,000 were asked to form five-member teams including representatives from the public sector, community development, and an anchor institution, preferably academic or health-related. Spokane’s team comprises representatives from Catholic Charities of Spokane, the City of Spokane, Providence Health Care, SNAP, Spokane Housing Authority, and Spokane Regional Health District and will work to effectively address quality, affordable housing issues that would improve the health disparities that exist between populations, particularly those that are homeless, low income, and minority.
“Seeing great need in Spokane every day, Catholic Charities Spokane welcomes the opportunity to work side-by-side with our wonderful partners to further transform our community,” said Nadine Van Stone with Catholic Charities of Spokane.
“Collaboration of the sort that will be supported by this project is the only way to make progress on such a complex issue,” said Rob Crow with the City of Spokane’s Community, Housing & Human Services.
“Providence Health Care is excited to partner with these great agencies in our community to help address issues that ultimately result in poor health,” said Sara Clements-Sampson with Providence Health Care. “We are working together to create a healthier community and one in which even the most poor and vulnerable individuals among us are able to experience good health.”
“At the heart of every community is a focus on whole person health,” said SNAP CEO Julie Honekamp. “SNAP is proud to be joining our local partners and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on the Invest Health Initiative.”
“Invest Health provides a great opportunity to focus on aligning community resources to address population health in a way that will transform lives,” said Pam Tietz with Spokane Housing Authority. “Local partnerships emphasizing the connections between health, housing and education align seamlessly with the Invest Health initiative and the Spokane Housing Authority is looking forward to participating in this opportunity.”
“This multi-sector team has an exciting opportunity to leverage and enhance the work already taking place in the City of Spokane. From a public health perspective, access to quality and affordable housing is the foundation for those living in poverty to be healthy,” said Spokane Regional Health District Division Director Lyndia Wilson.
Mid-size American cities face some of the nation’s deepest challenges with entrenched poverty, poor health and a lack of investment. But they also offer fertile ground for strategies that improve health and have the potential to boost local economies. The program has the potential to fundamentally transform the way Spokane improves opportunities to live healthy lives by addressing the drivers of health including jobs, housing, education, community safety and environmental conditions.
“With a long history in community development finance, we are excited to help create a pipeline to channel capital into low-income communities through public and private investments,” said Amanda High, Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Reinvestment Fund. “Our goal is to transform how cities approach tough challenges, share lessons learned and spur creative collaboration.”
Over the next 18 months, Invest Health teams will take part in a vibrant learning community, have access to highly skilled faculty advisors and coaches who will guide their efforts toward improved health, and receive a $60,000 grant. Spokane will also engage a broader group of local stakeholders to encourage local knowledge sharing. Learning from the program will be synthesized and disseminated through the project website.
“Public officials, community developers, and many others have been working in low-income neighborhoods for years, but they haven’t always worked together,” said Donald Schwarz, MD, MPH, MBA, RWJF Vice President, Program. “Invest Health aims to align their work and help neighborhoods thrive by intentionally incorporating health into community development.”
Spokane’s projects will explore a broad range of ideas from advocating for a comprehensive real-time inventory of available rentals to help those searching for affordable housing to working to address housing discrimination against those who benefit from rental assistance programs. Project teams will travel to Philadelphia for a kick-off meeting on June 7th and will meet regularly to share lessons learned throughout the 18-month project. A full list of awardees and more information is available at www.investhealth.org.
Reinvestment Fund is a catalyst for change in low-income communities. We integrate data, policy and strategic investments to improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods. Using analytical and financial tools, we bring high-quality grocery stores, affordable housing, schools and health centers to the communities that need better access—creating anchors that attract investment over the long term and help families lead healthier, more productive lives. Learn more at reinvestment.com.
For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.
