In a significant expansion of its commitment to community health, WellSpan Health has announced a $3.5 million grant investment over the next three years to support nonprofit organizations implementing innovative housing solutions across its service area. Gettysburg-based South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP) will receive $750,000 to support both ongoing and new affordable housing initiatives in Adams and Franklin counties.
“At WellSpan, the strength of our communities lies in the partnerships we build and investment in their unique needs,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO of WellSpan Health. “Our mission goes beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics to address the root causes of health issues for the people we serve in central Pennsylvania. By working hand in hand with local organizations, we are creating pathways for every individual to thrive.”
The funding will support a regional housing initiative “designed to expand impact in Franklin County and deepen engagement in Adams County.” The effort is centered on “four pillars: coalition building, community-driven policy change, strategic partnerships, and innovative housing solutions.” According to WellSpan, “Through deliberative public forums and collaborative pilot projects, such as down payment assistance and missing middle housing, SCCAP is fostering systemic change.” The initiative is projected to reach 34,640 individuals.
Three primary areas will be targeted with the SCCAP grant:
- “Strengthening the work of the @Home coalition in Adams County and starting a coalition in Franklin County. This is a working group of major stakeholders such as the county government, Adams Economic Alliance, Office of Aging, and the Housing Authority, plus local activists.”
- “Holding Deliberative Community Forums and other events that allow @ Home members to listen to the community so we can educate ourselves and our friends and neighbors.”
- “Implementing housing pilot options to look for strategic ways to increase the housing stock, especially for housing in line with incomes earned in our counties, and supporting under-resourced partners in their good work. For year one, SCCAP will work with the Adams County Rescue (ARM) Mission to develop transitional housing and creation of a women’s shelter working with their faith partners, and with Servants Inc. who is doing amazing work, preserving housing through repairs that both preserve a home and help seniors have a safe, healthy home so they can age in place.”
SCCAP Executive Director Megan Shreve explained the need for the investment. “While @Home in Adams County through the work of the coalition and its partners, has significantly moved the needle with more than 40 affordable units added in Adams County over the last four years, housing affordability and accessibility remain major challenges in both Adams and Franklin Counties.”
“Many essential workers—including those in warehousing, agriculture, healthcare, and service industries—cannot afford to live in the communities where they work. Aging residents face difficulties affording their housing costs and modifying their homes to remain independent. Meanwhile, local employers report difficulty retaining employees due to the lack of affordable, nearby housing options.”
“This project is about more than just housing—it’s about creating livable, thriving communities where people of all income levels can work, live, and age with dignity. By combining coalition-building, direct housing assistance, policy engagement, and public education, we will make lasting, systemic change in Adams and Franklin Counties.”
Dr. Michael Seim, senior vice president and chief quality officer at WellSpan Health, reinforced the broader mission behind the funding. “We are proud to provide this support because we know that a safe, stable home is more than shelter—it’s the starting point for a healthier, more hopeful life. Through this investment, we’re building stronger communities from the ground up.”
WellSpan’s overall initiative includes 12 organizations and is the largest grant cycle the health system has awarded under its Imagine grant program. SCCAP joins Lebanon County Christian Ministries, LifePath Christian Ministries, and Transitions of PA as $750,000 recipients.
Other local organizations also received Inspire grant awards. These include Bell Socialization Services, Affordable Housing Advocate, New Hope Ministries, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Lebanon Lancaster Habitat for Humanity, Lebanon Rescue Mission, and Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic.
York Habitat for Humanity received a separate $200,000 grant “to support phase three of the Chestnut Street Revitalization project to support families in York.” LifePath Christian Ministries also received a grant “to support the relocation of various shelters and administrative offices to a former factory building.” According to WellSpan, the funding “will allow LifePath to expand its reach to 4,300 with the goal to reduce homelessness recidivism to below 5% and increase service capacity by at least 10%.”
By the end of the three-year funding period, WellSpan will have invested more than $17.65 million in addressing housing needs. These investments support “street outreach, emergency housing, shelters, hotel stays, rental and utility assistance, eviction prevention, and housing affordability advocacy and community assessments.”
As SCCAP continues its work on the ground in Adams and Franklin counties, Shreve summed up the project’s broader aim: “This grant allows us to think bigger, act faster, and partner smarter. It’s a meaningful step toward ensuring that everyone in our community has access to a safe, affordable place to call home.”
Leon Reed, freelance reporter, is a former US Senate staff member, defense consultant, and history teacher. He is a 10 year resident of Gettysburg, where he writes military history and explores the park and the Adams County countryside. He is the publisher at Little Falls Books, chaired the Adams County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee and is on the board of SCCAP. He and his wife, Lois, have 3 children, 3 cats, and 5 grandchildren.