Bon Secours invests in affordable housing

Health System Provides Rebuild Upstate with $50,000 Grant

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System has announced a $50,000 mission grant for Rebuild Upstate, a nonprofit organization that exists to repair the homes of our low-income neighbors, preserving affordable housing in our communities by making houses safer, healthier, and more liable. The organization is expected to use this financial support to provide home repairs specifically for low-income senior citizens.

“Our goal is to allow more of our senior population to age in place – meaning stay in their own homes as they get older. This allows them to keep their independence and stay connected to their community, both of which can be big contributors to maintaining our health as we age,” said Sean Dogan, Community Health Director at Bon Secours St. Francis. “Ensuring they have houses that are well maintained is a crucial step in making that happen, so we’re excited to be able to support Rebuild Upstate in this endeavor.”

Bon Secours often develops collaborative relationships with local organizations like Rebuild Upstate to help identify and address priorities that will help improve the quality of life and health in local communities.

“We are honored and excited to partner with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System to ensure that even more older adults in our community will be able to age in place safely. We recognize that this investment will greatly improve the quality of life for many and enable them to enjoy their homes and community without fear of injury due to unsafe conditions in their homes,” said Jake Beaty, CEO of Rebuild Upstate.

Bon Secours, as part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, has designated funds to support the mission of the organization, with a focus on social determinates of health and its Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), a survey taken every three years to identify the top health concerns in the Greenville County area.

The most recent survey was completed in 2022 and identified affordable housing as one of the top issues. The grant for Rebuild Upstate is just one way Bon Secours is working to address the issue. The health system also has a long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity, in which it’s committed to building 10 homes in 10 years for the Sterling community. 7 of those homes have already been constructed.

“Staying healthy starts long before you ever cross over the threshold of a doctor’s office or hospital. We know that if we truly want to serve the community, we have to go beyond hospital walls and meet people where they are and together face the issues that most affect them. Whether it’s housing, employment, education, or anything else, we are committed to continued collaborations and investments that will help address these issues as a step toward building healthier communities,” said Dogan.

For more information about Bon Secours’s community commitment, including programs and collaborations used to bring communities to health and wholeness, visit bonsecours.com.

About Bon Secours

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours St. Francis Health System provides compassionate medical care to thousands of area residents through Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown and Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside, as well as a network of primary and specialty care practices, and ambulatory care sites across the Greenville region. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health.

About Rebuild Upstate

Rebuild Upstate serves low-income homeowners with repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties. Its team envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity in a safe home environment in order to maintain and foster strong, sustainable communities. Learn more at www.rebuildupstate.org.