Housing
2025-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan Priority
Access to quality and stable housing can influence one’s health. During the 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA), Rock County residents and community partners identified housing as an area of improvement for the community. Challenges around the availability of affordable and safe housing was frequently discussed along with resources for those who are faced with homelessness.
Housing Goals
The following three goals were generated from Community Health Assessment data and feedback from content experts. Initiatives under each goal were proposed to community members and partners through two conversations in October and November. From these conversations, the initiatives with the most support were included as potential CHIP activities. The Health Equity Alliance of Rock County (HEAR) and other organizations determined the initiatives to be included in the 2025-2027 CHIP. See an overview of these initiatives and their level of impact below.
Improve Housing Affordability
Housing affordability is directly related to the availability of the housing stock in the area. Rock County’s housing demand has increased since 2006 but new housing construction has not maintained the demand. This deficit impacts both those looking to buy homes or rent. Those most impacted by the market are those with very low or extremely low-incomes, older adults, have a disability or other health issues, and veterans.
Reduce the Impacts of Homelessness
Homelessness and housing instability can have negative impacts for the whole community. Some of those newly unhoused in Rock County have been dual-income families that cannot afford the high cost of living. This goal aims to expand and enhance the current programming provided by local organizations to keep people in their homes and minimize the impacts for those who become unhoused.
Improve Living Conditions
This goal addresses the need for infrastructure to promote housing quality and living conditions of Rock County homes and rental properties. Increasing knowledge and promoting accountability can protect those most vulnerable to living in substandard housing units. Those who rent, live in older homes, or have low-incomes are more likely to face these health and safety risks.
CHIP Tracking Dashboard
Welcome to the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Tracking Dashboard! The purpose of this dashboard is toprovide status updates on the progress of CHIP activities throughout the cycle. For more information on CHIP activities, email HEARCoordinator@co.rock.wi.us.
Collaboration in Housing
Rock County has a great network of partners working to secure housing for all residents. Some local housing leaders shared their thoughts and resources on the current housing landscape in Rock County. This video was shared at the Landlord and Property Manager Resource Expo in November in honor of National Homelessness Awareness Month and Youth HOPE Month.
Thank you to the interviewees and JATV for their contributions to make this awareness video!Housing Initiatives Across the County
Alignment to State and National Initiatives
This crosswalk serves as a guide for housing initiatives being addressed at the local, state, and national levels. The table is not an all-inclusive list of all initiatives. Rather, the crosswalk is a visual to help represent the alignment of the Rock County CHIP, Wisconsin’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), and Healthy People 2030, the national objectives to improving health and well-being.
For more information on housing initiatives, contact HEARCoordinator@co.rock.wi.us.
Need Something Else?
Use the Website Feedback Form to the right to let the Healthy Rock project team know what information should be added to the website.
For more specific data not available on the website, use the Data Request Form here.
To receive updates on newly added data, sign up for the Healthy Rock Newsletter here.