PCHTF Awarded Grant from BUILD Health Challenge
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On June 9, PCHTF staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept a $250,000 grant from the BUILD Health Challenge! The BUILD Health Challenge is a national award program designed to support community collaborations that use non-clinical approaches to give everyone a fair chance to be healthy. PCHTF submitted a proposal to strengthen partnerships among hospitals, nonprofits, local health departments, and other community organizations to improve the health of the three East Bank neighborhoods in Des Moines. Our application was one of only 18 selected of over 300 applicants from across the U.S.
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| | Eric Burmeister and Claire Richmond of PCHTF and Cari Spear of Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa speak with Kresge Foundation VP Ariel Simon at the BUILD Health Challenge press conference at the National Press Club on June 9, 2015. |
The BUILD grant will fund a new
program called Healthy Homes East Bank, a collaborative effort that will seek to end childhood asthma in the East Bank by improving housing conditions. On average, Americans spend 70% of their time at home. If their home environment is unhealthy, risk of chronic illness increases substantially. Through Healthy Homes East Bank, households with children suffering from asthma will receive home repairs to address triggers, and hospitals will track the children to evaluate improvement. Additionally, families will receive tailored health education to self-manage asthma and keep their newly improved household environment clean.
This effort is a collaborative program supported by a large consortium of community partners including PCHTF, Polk County Health Department, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Mercy Medical Center Des Moines, Broadlawns Medical Center, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Viva East Bank, Polk County Public Works, Des Moines Public Schools, Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, and more. This inaugural year of the BUILD Health Challenge is supported by five national funders: The Advisory Board Company, de Beaumont Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The Colorado Health Foundation.
Healthy Homes East Bank will formally kick off with a public launch event held Wednesday, June 17 from 4 to 6 PM at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center at 1650 Garfield Ave in Des Moines. Join us if you're interested in meeting the partners involved and learning more about this exciting new project!
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Can I Be Your Neighbor Returns to Metro Arts Jazz in July Your opportunity to hear great music & win prizes |
For the second year, PCHTF's Can I Be Your Neighbor campaign will sponsor the Neighborhood Passport program at Metro Arts Jazz in July. Come to any of the 17 free concerts throughout the metro and stop by the Can I Be Your Neighbor booth for a chance to win prizes from local businesses. Come more often and you'll get more chances to win our fabulous grand prize - last year's was worth over $500! We hope you'll come out to enjoy a summer evening with us to celebrate great music and great neighbors. Click below for the full schedule, and look for more information in next month's eNewsletter! |
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Eric Burmeister Receives GDMLI Community Vision Award PCHTF Executive Director recognized at luncheon |
At its annual Honors Luncheon on May 21, the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute recognized PCHTF Executive Director Eric Burmeister with a Community Vision Award. Burmeister, a 1986 graduate of GDMLI's Community Leadership Program, received the "Challenging" award for his work challenging our local leaders to take action on affordable housing issues. Join us in congratulating Eric, and read more about the award below! |
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Spotlight on Snyder & Associates Longtime donor shares why they give to PCHTF |
This month we are delighted to focus our well-deserved attention on long time donor, Snyder & Associates, Inc., a company rich in its own dedication to quality of life projects throughout the Midwest. Some of their noteworthy services include pubic development projects such as recreational parks and sports complex facilities, transportation improvements for safe trails, streets and walkways and environmental priorities for improving the water quality. The ten years of contributions made by Snyder & Associates to the Trust Fund totals $44,000 and signifies a major source of support for the programs that serve families with housing needs.
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New Report Addresses Cost of Housing and Transportation MPO: Housing is less affordable without transit |
More than a third of housing in Greater Des Moines is considered unaffordable when transportation costs are factored in, though the region is still more affordable than national average, a new report finds.
These are among the findings of a newly released housing-affordability report by the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Click below to read the full report.
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Rick Kozin Has the Floor
A New Yorker finds his place and passion for health In Polk County
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We recently talked with Rick Kozin, Director of the Polk County Health Department and he shared the highlights and insights about his life, our community and the BUILD Health Challenge grant.
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Read Past Issues of this eNewsletter
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To read past issues of our monthly eNewsletter, click here.
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Contact Us 108 3rd Street Ste. 350 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515) 282-3233 Fax: (515) 282-8444
Please make sure that you add info@pchtf.org to your address book to ensure delivery of email communications from Polk County Housing Trust Fund.
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