SWACH Provides Funding for One Community Health to Bridge Gaps Between Healthcare and Basic Needs

When we think about health, it’s easy to picture doctor’s visits or prescriptions. But for many people, true wellness starts long before they stepping into a clinic. It begins with safe housing, reliable transportation, food on the table, and support navigating life’s challenges.

That’s why SWACH is proud to award funding to One Community Health (OCH) to expand their Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) screening and navigation program in Klickitat and Skamania counties. With this funding, OCH will connect more patients to critical resources—including housing, food, utilities, and transportation—while also building a more sustainable foundation for care in some of the region’s most rural communities.

Meeting People Where They Are
With six clinics and three mobile units across the Columbia River Gorge, One Community Health serves nearly 28,000 patients annually—many of whom are low-income, uninsured, or medically underserved. Their deep roots in the community include decades of care for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, bilingual staff, and board members who reflect the diverse populations they serve.

The new funding supports a comprehensive expansion of OCH’s successful Oregon-based HRSN program into two newly acquired Washington clinics in Stevenson and White Salmon. Patients at these clinics—who are disproportionately older, low-income, and more isolated due to the region’s rural geography—will be screened regularly for unmet needs and referred to trusted community partners like WAGAP and the Skamania County Health Department for follow-up care.

The program also includes:

• Two Community Health Workers (CHWs) dedicated to supporting patients with navigation and follow-up

• A CHW Supervisor to lead program integration and oversight

• A Patient Care Advocate and Data Analyst to support screening tools, referral tracking, and patient outcomes

• Partnerships with local agencies to support seamless case management

Building Equity Into Rural Health
Social needs like housing and transportation are among the biggest predictors of long-term health outcomes—yet rural communities often face the most severe gaps in services. By identifying and addressing these needs early, OCH aims to reduce emergency room visits, prevent chronic disease escalation, and strengthen trust between patients and providers.

SWACH’s investment helps close those gaps while reinforcing a broader vision: Health and social justice for everyone, regardless of ZIP code, income, or background.

Learn more about One Community Health at: onecommunityhealth.org/

Learn more about Collaborative Funding Model recipients at: southwestach.org/cfm