The Health Trust invests in nine organizations to strengthen critical safety net programs and build power in communities to create lasting change.
San Jose, CA – As more residents across Santa Clara and Northern San Benito Counties feel the strain of rising costs, economic uncertainty and cuts to critical safety net programs, The Health Trust (THT) is responding with investments that help to address both immediate needs and the conditions that shape community health. Through its latest round of grants, THT is supporting organizations working to address food insecurity, housing instability and access to essential health resources, while also investing in the infrastructure, advocacy and community power needed to create lasting change. Together, these investments reflect THT’s evolving role as a philanthropic partner, supporting the people and organizations closest to the issues and helping build a healthier, more equitable region.
“We know from a current THT opinion poll that residents are hurting. Cuts to critical programs coupled with rising costs, are creating tremendous stress for our residents as they are struggling to make ends meet in one of the richest regions in the state,” said Dr. Tony Iton, CEO of The Health Trust. “These investments support the organizations working closest to the community , while building resident power that will help shape the conditions around health for generations to come.”
According to THT staff, the investments reflect the organization’s commitment to advancing health equity in Santa Clara and Northern San Benito Counties. Funding provides trusted community partners with greater stability and organizational capacity to address the needs of the communities they serve. At the same time, THT is launching its Power Building for Community Health grant cohort, which strengthens advocacy, coalition building, communications and community leadership so residents have a greater voice in shaping the policies and systems that affect their health and well-being.
“Our investments are meeting the immediate needs of residents and organizations, while building the long-term power needed to create lasting change in community,” said Iton.
Below are the organizations receiving funding during this grant cycle:
Food Equity
Korean American Community Services (KACS): Funding advances community health and well-being by promoting equitable, culturally appropriate access to nutritious food while strengthening KACS organizational capacity/sustainability for the long-haul.
West Valley Community Services: Funding enhances the Community Access to Resource and Education (CARE) program, ensuring that households living on low incomes can promote greater economic stability and improve their health through access to fresh, healthy food.
Housing Equity
Amigos De Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment (Amigos): Funding supports community members moving from housing crisis to enduring housing stability through permanent housing solutions, while strengthening organizational capacity at Amigos.
Family Supportive Housing, Inc.: Funding enhances the opportunity for families and individuals experiencing homelessness to lead lives in which they thrive through tailored health, wellness and behavioral health supports, in addition to navigating/referral services to permanent supportive housing solutions.
Chronic Disease
MedCycle Network: Funding will deepen and scale efforts in delivering vital medical supplies and equipment to local safety-net clinics across an ecosystem of Santa Clara County and emerging N. San Benito County partners.
Health Equity Fund | Power Building for Community Health Cohort
As The Health Trust works intentionally to deepen its support of upstream solutions, they have launched the Power Building for Community Health (PBCH) cohort. The cohort will intentionally advance a range of interdependent strategies spanning policy advocacy, strategic communications/public will-building, narrative change, coalition-building, and organizational infrastructure. THT has also embedded participatory evaluation at the center of this funding strategy.
Amigos – Immigrant Empowerment & Protection Network (IPEN): Funding supports IPEN in centering the well-being, safety, agency and sense of community for our region’s immigrant neighbors through policy advocacy, strategic collaboration, and narrative change work.
Community Health Partnership: Funding strengthens a culturally-rooted, community-driven healthcare advocacy ecosystem by building the infrastructure, leadership, and collective power of Community Health Workers who protect the social safety net and work to advance lasting systems change.
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN): Funding builds the local nonprofit sector’s capacity to respond to federal/local policy changes; advances policies that improve affordability and health equity; and catalyzes sustained public/private investment in community organizing and self-determined power building efforts, driving systems change.
Youth Alliance: Funding deepens San Benito County’s first and only rapid response network, “The Network,” by strengthening its infrastructure and collective capacity to advance community-driven responses that protect/support impacted communities across San Benito County and South Santa Clara County.
About The Health Trust:
For 30 years, The Health Trust has been working to advance the health and wellbeing of residents across Silicon Valley. The Health Trust invests in system change that improves health outcomes for all residents, with a focus on communities facing the greatest inequities. Through strategic grantmaking, advocacy and partnerships, the organization works to strengthen food access, expand economic opportunities and support community driven solutions. By aligning resources with partner organizations and lived experience, The Health Trust helps build a healthier, more equitable future for Silicon Valley. For more information visit https://www.thehealthtrust.org/
Media Contact:
Karen Napoletano
karenn@healthtrust.org
