The Bowse Health Trust (BHT) committee recently announced funding for three local projects.
This is the 25 year that BHT has awarded grant funds to collaborative community programs which measurably improve the health of Rutland County residents. The 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment identified significant needs locally in housing, mental health (including substance use), and childcare and parenting. In addition, Covid-19 has further illustrated disparities for some of the most vulnerable in our community.
For these reasons, the 2021 grant recipients are: Mentor Connector, Turning Point Center of Rutland County, and Homeless Prevention Center.
Starting in January 2021, these organizations will receive BHT funding for three years and were selected because of critical need for these services within our community.
Mentor Connector
The Vermont Youth Project of Rutland County, housed within the Mentor Connector, is working to make Rutland County the best place in the nation for youth to grow and thrive. A collaborative of local agencies, school districts, community members, and most importantly youth, will work together to make system level changes to how our community supports young people. By addressing the systems that support youth, the group aims to develop physical space, programming, and parental supports that intends to create connections and strengthen young people’s resilience.
Turning Point Center
Over the next three years, the Turning Point Center of Rutland County will implement the Peer Recovery Outreach Program: PROP. This program aims to support people who are seeking or are in recovery from substance use disorder and families navigating the challenges of addiction in four rural communities within Rutland County and at an alternative city location. By providing technology with partnering locations in Fair Haven/Benson, Danby/Mt. Tabor, Brandon, Castleton, and at the Rutland Free Library, Turning Point will expand its evidenced-based services. Connecting people with trained Recovery Coaches will alleviate the elevated number of Opioid overdoses and give people much needed hope.
Homeless Prevention Center
Under the leadership of the Homeless Prevention Center, Multisite Supportive Housing Services will strengthen onsite assistance in Rutland County’s new and innovative supportive housing projects. Covid-19 has increased the health risks for many people experiencing homelessness, and simultaneously increased the number of people and families who are without housing.
Two specialized housing projects underway in Rutland will include HPC providing needed support to families and individuals utilizing temporary, transitional, and long-term housing to decrease the incidence and duration of homelessness.
