WILLISTON, VERMONT (5/5/2025) – Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity (GMHFH) will host five sponsored Wellness Builds with UVM Health Network throughout the spring and summer to promote the connection of housing and healthcare.
The partnership between UVM Health Network and Habitat for Humanity is long-standing spanning nearly a decade. Last year, Chief Nursing Executive, Carrie Howard-Canning led a team of nurses that volunteered on site for ‘Nurse Build’. This year, Carrie Howard-Canning is leading a larger partnership with GMHFH and will be expanding from one team to five. The first two volunteer days will take place on May 5 and 6 in Winooski. The other three dates will take place in late summer in St. Albans.
”Having a place to call home is something that not everyone has access to, and housing is critical to the health of our community,” said Howard-Canning. “I was able to participate in the Winooski GMHFH build this past fall with fellow nurses from UVMHN and experienced the ability to be a part of work that will have a lasting impact on the families that occupy this home. This experience has left a lasting impression on me and how we can all work together to help build a stronger community through stable living environments for families in our community.”
Research shows that having stable housing can improve health outcomes, particularly among low-income families, who often are living in unhealthy housing conditions. According to Habitat for Humanity International, moving into more affordable, stable housing was associated with 18% fewer emergency department visits and 20% more primary care visits, which combined equate to a 12% decrease in Medicaid health care expenditures from the previous year.
Community partners play a significant role in the mission of GMHFH. These volunteers help reduce the cost of labor, thus allowing families to pay an affordable mortgage.
“Having community partners like UVM Health Network is integral to our success in building these homes each year,” said Caitlyn Conibear, Volunteer Manager at GMHFH. “There is a clear connection between housing and health care, and we hope that this year’s Wellness Build will help us bring that to light.”
To learn more about Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity’s mission, visit vermonthabitat.org.
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About Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity
Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit homebuilder that partners with donors, local families, affordable housing partners, and volunteers to build and sell affordable homes in Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Lamoille counties. Habitat homebuyers help build their homes alongside community volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Green Mountain Habitat receives no funding from HFHI and raises all funds locally. Since its founding in 1984, the affiliate has built over 119 homes in the region and now operates three Habitat ReStores in Williston, Milton, and Swanton. To learn more, visit vermonthabitat.org.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The non-profit housing organization has since become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 70 countries. Families and individuals who need a hand-up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering, or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower.
