Cook County PHHS and HRA aim to improve existing housing stock for community members in need

Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), along with the Cook County Housing Redevelopment Agency (HRA) are convening a coalition of groups and individuals with a goal to improve existing housing stock for community members in need. Specifically, they are looking to better understand needs and identify resources related to:

• Energy-efficiency

• Housing rehabilitation

• Healthy homes assessments and mitigation

PHHS has received grant funds to support healthy housing in the community. Currently public health staff are working on developing assessment, referral, and mitigation tools as they prepare to pilot this project. They would like to explain more about the project, and broaden the scope of the conversation to include other work that shares the overarching goal of improving existing housing stock and, by extension, the health of those already living here. They are also hoping that community members can serve as advisors to the public health team as they prepare to pilot a Healthy Homes project with the goal of successfully meeting the needs of those most impacted by housing instability and housing-based health threats.

PHHS and HRA are hoping to engage multiple perspectives from the community as they build the capacity to address the link between health and housing in Cook County.

The Cook County HRA wants to know what housing rehab and repair needs exist in the community.

This survey will help us determine what resources may or may not be needed to help preserve our housing stock and improve the health and safety of the homes we live in. Here is the link to the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZZH263M

The Healthy Housing Network will meet monthly through June of 2023 via Zoom to provide feedback on the health housing assessment, the referral process, as well as create a service map with local health housing support resources for homeowners, renters, and property managers.

Please contact Andrea Orest, Public Health Educator, at andrea.orest@co.cook.mn.us or 218-220-5536 by Friday, August 5th if interested in joining the Healthy Housing Network or would like more information.