Health
LISC’s approach to improving health in underserved places is holistic: we promote affordable and environmentally sustainable housing, safety, good education, job opportunities and financial stability — all of which factor into the health and wellbeing of a community.
We also target our work to shore up three fundamental resources every neighborhood needs to keep residents well:
- Easy access to primary health care
- Affordable, nutritious food
- Safe recreational spaces
In DC, LISC works to improve health care outcomes for lower-income residents and communities of color in Washington, DC by improving access to high-quality health services and investing in the social and physical environments that support good health.
Investments in Neighborhood Resources
Using a range of resources, including loans, grants, equity, and technical assistance, LISC has supported the formation of Federally Qualified Health Centers and Community Health Clinics in targeted neighborhoods. Our current portfolio includes investments in primary medical care, dental care, and mental health, closely integrated with affordable housing development. In Wards 7 and 8, investments include The Conway Center, Bread for the City’s southeast expansion, The Commons at Stanton Square, and THEARC’s expansion.
Healthy Housing
LISC DC helps lead the DC Healthy Housing Collaborative, a new multi-sector coalition seeking to address poor housing conditions that contribute to significant inequities in asthma and other health outcomes in DC. The Collaborative emerged out of discussions between a stakeholder group of health care, legal, advocacy, service, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations committed to improving healthy housing.
In 2018, the Collaborative began convening on a monthly basis to plan policies and programs which facilitate housing improvements in DC, and launched an initial pilot demonstration project, offering housing remediation services to families with housing-related health conditions. As a founding member of the Steering Committee, LISC provides technical assistance and strategic guidance to strengthen the Collaborative. Beyond our work with the Collaborative, LISC DC has also invested in programs that support the development of healthy housing, including both home repairs for lower-income homeowners and support for tenants in addressing poor building conditions.
