Georgians for a Healthy Future

Our VISION is of a day in which all Georgians have equitable opportunities to achieve their highest level of health.

Making a Difference in Georgia

Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) was founded in 2008 to advocate for the health needs of Georgians, particularly for those who have unequal access to quality, affordable health care. 

We believe that every Georgian deserves a fair shot to be healthy and thrive. We believe that the health care and health insurance systems should be convenient, affordable, and easy to navigate and afford for all Georgians. And we believe that a person's health should not be determined by their zip code, race, or income.

As a non-partisan, independent statewide organization, we serve as a critical connector between every-day Georgians and state lawmakers. 

• We inform Georgians about how state and federal health laws impact them and help them get involved in changing the laws that don't work. 
• We translate Georgians' experiences and feedback into information that policymakers can use to reform laws so that our health care, health insurance, and public health systems work better for all Georgians. 
• We look for real, long-term solutions to the deeply-felt health problems of Georgians, and then support our state's leaders to bring those solutions to life!

Housing is Health!

Housing is important to the health of Georgians. When housing is inadequate, it can compound poor health and drive up health costs. Oppositely, stable affordable housing free of health hazards can serve as a “vaccine,” particularly for people with disabilities, children, and others with higher health needs. That's why GHF is taking on housing as a health issue!

GHF’s is first focused on housing for Georgia children and adults with developmental disabilities (DD). Since a landmark 1999 U.S Supreme Court decision, thousands of Georgians with DD have been released from hospitals or nursing homes where they did not choose to live to community-based living.  The change has been largely positive but Georgia's public policies and systems were not and are not prepared to ensure housing & support services. That means healthy homes are too difficult to find for too many Georgians with DD. These shortcomings leave people with DD & their families on the hook for unaffordable costs, vulnerable to scams, stuck in unhealthy situations, and susceptible to other harmful outcomes (like homelessness or going to jail/prison).

For the last year, GHF has worked with a leadership group of Georgians with developmental disabilities (DD) and community advocates to explore the housing barriers and needs of Georgians with DD. The result is a set of policy recommendations that will help Georgians with DD live, work, and play in the communities of their choosing in safe and healthy ways. 

On May 24/25, GHF and our DD leadership group will host an event to discuss this research, the recommendations, and the roadmap to making it real. This is just the first step! 

We are counting on 75 people like you to make a gift in support of our Housing is Health initiative. Your gifts will kickstart the second phase of our work, which will include:

• Training Georgians with developmental disabilities in advocacy; 
• Supporting their advocacy by paying for transportation and aides to get them before their elected officials;
• Bringing together disability advocates and housing advocates to plan, collaborate, and take action together; and
• Growing GHF's expertise about housing as a health issue!

This won't cover the full amount, but we hope that your support will spark others to match what we are able to raise today.

Please join us. Be part of our team to make this happen!

Link to Georgians for a Healthy Future Website