Housing is Healthcare

Healthcare and housing have been linked at St. John’s Health for over 20 years.

It started with the purchase of three condominiums in the late 90’s, with an intent to provide reliable, local housing for on-call staff. St. John’s Health has always been motivated to provide excellent, expedient care, and housing was an integral factor.

The St. John’s Lodging Department was officially formed when the hospital purchased the Hitching Post in 2001. With 34 units and immediate access to the St. John’s campus, the Hitching Post enabled the hospital to expand its offering by housing patients and families for short-term stays in addition to on-call healthcare workers. Since that purchase, the focus on housing has remained a priority, resulting in the 97 units managed by the department today.

Last year, St. John’s Health Foundation and generous donors enabled the hospital’s purchase of three one-bedroom condos from the JH Community Housing Trust at 174 North King Street. The units are currently housing nurses from Sage Living and PCU, as well as an MRI tech who joined
the Diagnostic Imaging team in August to help meet local demand. The availability of this housing was a deciding factor when the MRI tech chose to accept the position.

A lot has changed since 1990. Housing within close proximity is not the only variable. Now, housing access and affordability are the immediate problems; In keeping true to its 20-year focus, St. John’s is ready to find housing solutions.

The first step was a new wage-based rent model. All employees in St. John’s Health housing are subject to maximum rent rates either 24% of pre-tax gross household income or 80% of the community market rent, whichever number is lower, making affordability the standard.
The next step is access. The Hitching Post property has provided lodging to thousands of patients and staff, but the nearly 100-year-old cabins have reached the end of their useful life. The time has come for a new development on this crucial property adjacent to the hospital campus.

We spoke with full-time RN Kate Field, who provides skilled nursing care in Sage Living and recently moved into a St. John’s Health apartment. Standing outside of her new building, Kate shared, “I provide care for residents experiencing memory change at Sage Living, so being focused and present at work is critical. Living in one of the St. John’s units means that I don’t have to worry about my own housing security and can focus my energy on our residents. I am committed to strengthening the relationship between Sage Living and the broader community of Jackson and being able to live and work in town has ensured my continued investment in both communities. I also get to ride my bike to work which is a huge bonus!”