A Smarter Model for Community Health
September 23, 2026A shower can’t solve homelessness. But for someone living outside of a home, it can restore dignity, improve health, and open doors to housing, employment, and recovery.
That’s why Person Centered Housing Options (PCHO) is developing its mobile shower and laundry program. The program was co-designed by people who know what it’s like to face rejection and stigma while experiencing homelessness.
“Staff do a great job working with people and getting them into housing,” says Nicholas Coulter, co-founder of PCHO. “But we also want to care for their bodies, their minds, and their health overall. When people have a safe space to relax, reset, and take care of themselves, then they can engage better in a conversation about housing. And if they’re not ready for that, they can still get taken care of and get something that can keep them alive and safe.”
“Housing is healthcare,” says Coulter.
Each year, PCHO staff engage more than 400 unsheltered individuals in housing services. Thousands of people receive life-saving supplies and medical support through outreach that meets people wherever they are, without judgment. Problems like cuts and skin infections get treated early, so they don’t turn into something bigger. A private place to clean up, wash clothes, and get connected to health and housing services becomes a step toward long-term stability.
Health as Upward Mobility
Stories like this are why Rochester Area Community Foundation invests in health access. Upward mobility, one of our three impact areas, requires that people have a genuine opportunity to build stable, fulfilling lives. Health is often the foundation that makes all other opportunities possible.
It’s difficult to build economic stability without healthcare that is local, affordable, and safe. It’s insufficient to invest in economic opportunities without also making sure the resources to be mentally, physically, and emotionally well are also within reach for all our neighbors.
The Community Foundation’s health grants support areas like healthcare access, mental health services, aging, substance-use recovery, workforce development, and tailored support for groups who experience documented disparities in access and outcomes.
When Funders Collaborate, Communities Benefit
Before 2025, the Community Foundation did not have a dedicated grant cycle focused on health. Yet more than a dozen health-related funds have been created by our donors, making it an increasingly important part of our work. Rather than continuing to consider these funds individually, our grantmaking team asked a broader question: How could we leverage these resources collectively to make a greater impact on health and well-being across our region?
A clear answer emerged, grounded in partnership and complementary strengths. Greater Rochester Health Foundation has been investing in the health of our region for twenty years, on a mission to eliminate the inequities that prevent many residents from reaching their full health potential. Their Responsive Grant program, Call for Ideas, receives around 130 health-focused proposals every year. It funds initiatives that are community-centered and aim to tackle systemic health inequities in our region.
In 2025, the Community Foundation contributed 20% of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation’s $2.1 million investment.
The Tin Mountain Fund, established by a Rochester healthcare advocate who has since passed away, is one of the funds that made this support possible. The fundholder’s husband reflects on what it means to see that legacy continue:
“My wife trusted the Foundation’s judgment on when to lead and when to partner to make the greatest difference. With each of these grants, I get to see her wishes come true and her legacy live on.”
By combining donor funds with Community Foundation resources and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation’s expertise, every dollar benefits from deeper knowledge, stronger community relationships, and a larger coordinated investment.
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