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We are Committed to Supporting Individuals and Families

Assisting people facing barriers to stable housing and healthcare access.

Community

About Us

At VII Foundation, we are committed to supporting individuals and families in navigating the complex landscape of housing and healthcare. Our team of Community Health Workers (CHWs) plays a crucial role in assisting individuals who face barriers to stable housing and healthcare access. By offering personalized, culturally sensitive guidance, we help people find safe and affordable housing, connect with essential services, and address health-related challenges that impact their well-being.

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Our CHWs work directly within communities to build trust, offer practical support, and connect individuals to resources such as rental assistance, housing programs, healthcare, and social services. We understand that housing is a fundamental determinant of health, and by ensuring that people have access to safe living environments, we help improve health outcomes and create stronger, more resilient communities.

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We are dedicated to advocating for systemic changes that promote equitable access to housing and health resources for all, especially those in underserved and vulnerable populations. Through our work, we empower individuals to take control of their housing and health journey, paving the way for healthier, more stable lives.

Our Services

  1. Community Health Worker

  2. Enhanced Care Management

  3. Housing Navigation Services

  4. Asthma Prevention Program

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower individuals and communities by providing accessible, accurate, and culturally relevant health information, resources, and support. We strive to bridge gaps in healthcare access, promote wellness, and advocate for health equity through the dedication of community health workers. By fostering connections, education, and collaboration, we aim to improve the overall health and well-being of underserved communities and create a lasting impact for generations to come.

Access to Resources

Housing navigators connect members to a wide range of resources that they might not otherwise know about. This can include:

Emergency rental assistance

Housing subsidies or vouchers

Legal aid for eviction prevention or landlord disputes

Financial literacy or budgeting workshops

Access to social services like healthcare, food, and employment support

Healthcare Services

Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a crucial role in bridging the gap between healthcare systems and communities, particularly underserved populations. They offer a wide range of benefits, both to individuals and to the broader healthcare system. Here are some of the key benefits of Community Health Workers:

Improved Access to Healthcare Services

  1. Outreach and Education: CHWs help increase awareness about available healthcare services, including preventive care, screenings, and vaccination programs. They often work in communities with limited access to healthcare facilities, making it easier for people to connect with care.

  2. Navigating the Healthcare System: They assist individuals in navigating complex healthcare systems, including helping with insurance enrollment, scheduling appointments, and understanding treatment options.

 

Culturally Competent Care

  1. Trust and Rapport: Because CHWs are often members of the same communities they serve, they can build trust and rapport with individuals. This cultural connection allows them to provide care that is more sensitive to cultural norms, language, and specific community needs.

  2. Language Support: CHWs can provide translation services and ensure that non-English speaking or limited-English proficiency patients understand medical instructions, which helps reduce misunderstandings and improves adherence to treatment.

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Prevention and Health Promotion

  1. Health Education: CHWs provide education on a wide range of topics, including chronic disease prevention (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), maternal and child health, nutrition, mental health, and healthy lifestyle choices (e.g., exercise, smoking cessation).

  2. Behavioral Change Support: CHWs can help patients adopt healthier behaviors by offering ongoing support, motivational interviewing, and practical guidance tailored to the individual’s circumstances.

  3. Preventive Screenings: They often educate individuals about the importance of preventive screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies, and immunizations, helping to increase participation in these services.

 

Improved Health Outcomes

  1. Chronic Disease Management: CHWs assist with managing chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease by offering education, encouraging adherence to treatment plans, and helping individuals manage lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, exercise, medication).

  2. Reducing Emergency Visits: By offering support and education to patients with chronic conditions or high healthcare needs, CHWs can help reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

  3. Mental Health Support: CHWs often provide a first line of support for mental health concerns, offering counseling, referrals, and coping strategies for individuals facing stress, anxiety, or depression.

 

Community Empowerment

  1. Strengthening Community Resources: CHWs often connect individuals with local resources such as food assistance, housing support, and childcare services. This holistic approach can improve overall well-being, which contributes to better health outcomes.

  2. Advocacy and Support: CHWs often advocate for their communities by working with local organizations and health departments to improve services, policies, and conditions that affect health. This advocacy can lead to more equitable health policies and services.

 

Improved Health Literacy

  1. Understanding Health Information: Many people, especially those from underserved communities, may have low health literacy. CHWs help explain medical terms, procedures, and treatment options in a way that is understandable, helping individuals make informed decisions about their health.

  2. Fostering Empowerment: By teaching people how to manage their health and make informed decisions, CHWs empower individuals to take an active role in their own well-being.

Asthma Prevention Services

Asthma remediation services refer to specialized interventions designed to reduce or eliminate asthma triggers in indoor environments, improve air quality, and help individuals manage their asthma symptoms more effectively. These services typically involve a combination of environmental changes, cleaning practices, and sometimes, the use of technology or products designed to improve air quality.

Air Quality Improvements

  1. Air Purifiers: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters or other air purifiers may be used to remove dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens from the air.

  2. Humidity Control: Maintaining proper humidity levels (generally between 30-50%) can prevent the growth of mold and dust mites, which are common asthma triggers.

  3. Ventilation: Improving ventilation to ensure fresh air circulation while minimizing pollutants from sources like cooking, cleaning, or smoking.

 

Education and Lifestyle Changes

  1. Asthma Management Education: In some cases, asthma remediation services may include education on how to avoid environmental triggers and manage asthma symptoms effectively.

  2. Control of Humidity and Temperature: Recommendations for temperature and humidity control to reduce the growth of allergens such as dust mites and mold.

 

Professional Assessment

  1. Home Assessments: A specialist may conduct a thorough assessment of the home environment to identify asthma triggers, such as dust, mold, poor ventilation, or pet dander.

  2. Medical Consultation: In some cases, asthma remediation may include referrals to medical professionals who specialize in asthma care for advice on medication and symptoms.

 

Benefits of Asthma Remediation Services

  1. Improved Air Quality: Reducing allergens, pollutants, and irritants in the home can significantly improve air quality and asthma symptoms.

  2. Fewer Asthma Attacks: Minimizing exposure to common triggers like mold, dust, and pet dander can reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

  3. Healthier Home Environment: The overall environment becomes safer and healthier, reducing the long-term health risks associated with asthma and respiratory conditions.

 

If you are considering asthma remediation services, it may be helpful to work with professionals who are trained in both environmental assessments and asthma management. Many companies specialize in this area and can offer customized solutions based on individual needs and home conditions.

Housing Services

Housing navigation services offer valuable support to individuals, particularly those facing challenges in securing stable housing. These services are often aimed at marginalized groups such as those experiencing homelessness, low-income families, people with disabilities, or individuals reentering society after incarceration.

 

For members, the benefits of housing navigation include:

Housing navigators work one-on-one with individuals to understand their unique needs, circumstances, and preferences. This personalized approach ensures that individuals are matched with housing options that are most appropriate for them, whether that be emergency shelter, transitional housing, or permanent housing.

1. Application Assistance

The housing process can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with paperwork, eligibility criteria, and waitlists. Housing navigators help members complete applications, gather necessary documents, and submit forms correctly, improving the chances of securing housing more quickly.

 

2. Advocacy and Legal Support

Navigators often serve as advocates for members, assisting in negotiations with landlords or housing authorities. They can also provide advice or referrals to legal services if a member faces eviction, discrimination, or other housing-related legal challenges.

 

3. Connections to Housing Opportunities

Housing navigators have extensive knowledge of available housing options in the community, including both public and private resources. They may have insider knowledge about available apartments or houses, often before they are listed publicly, and can help members access these opportunities more quickly.

 

4. Crisis Intervention

For individuals facing homelessness or housing instability, housing navigators can provide immediate crisis intervention, helping members find emergency shelters or temporary housing while they work on a more permanent solution.

 

5. Stability and Long-Term Planning

Navigators not only help people find immediate housing but also work with them on long-term stability. This might include creating a plan to ensure continued housing stability, such as budgeting, employment services, or connecting to mental health and addiction support services.

 

6. Improved Housing Retention

Many housing programs offer supportive services alongside housing placement. By linking members to these programs, housing navigators can improve retention rates, ensuring that individuals remain housed and do not return to homelessness.

 

7. Community Integration

Navigators often provide help with integrating into the community by connecting individuals to social networks, local support groups, or neighborhood resources, helping to reduce isolation.

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