How food and housing impact your health—and how we can help
May 17, 2022
Living Well at Home
Health news, stories of care, and other information to help you live safely and independently at home
If you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head or food on your table, your physical and mental health may not be your number one priority. That’s understandable—and it makes you human. But food and housing challenges can lead to devastating health issues. For example:
- If your electricity is shutoff, you may not be able to use important medical equipment. That includes electric wheelchairs or even CPAP machines, which treat sleep apnea and can help reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke.
- If you don’t live near affordable grocery stores, you may not be able to buy the healthy foods you need to manage your blood pressure, diabetes, or other chronic conditions.
At CCA, we understand how food and housing can impact your physical health and even your state of mind. And we can help.
As a CCA member, you have access to our team of community health workers who are trained to help you deal with many of these challenges. Our team members live in your communities, understand your needs and preferences, and work closely with your doctors and other providers. Most importantly, our team will advocate for YOU and be in your corner. They can help you manage a wide variety of social support needs so that you can focus on what’s important: your health and well-being.
Here are just a few examples of how our team can help you:
Food
We help you:
- Access food benefits
- Complete SNAP or WIC applications
- Connect you to food pantries, congregate meal sites, and other resources in your community
We can also provide important dietary information, such as tips for buying healthy food on a budget in YOUR specific community.
Housing
We refer you to local housing authorities and other state-specific housing support programs. We can alsohelp you complete Section 8 and other housing program applications.
Based on your needs, we can connect you with other local resources, such as legal services that specialize in tenants’ rights in your state.
Other benefits
We help you find community organizations that can help with:
- Utilities
- Heating fuel
- Finances
- Education
- Internet access
- State IDs and other identification
- And more
This is not a complete list. Depending on your needs, our team can help find solutions that keep you healthy and living safely and independently in your home.
To learn more or to connect with a CCA community health worker, call Member Services:
- In Massachusetts: at 866-610-2273 (TTY 711)
- In Rhode Island: 833-346-9222 (TTY 711)
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