MONROE — SSM Health Monroe Hospital has awarded a $20,000 grant to Society of St. Vincent de Paul Monroe to help families and individuals facing housing insecurity, an urgent and rapidly growing need in Green County.

Since October 2025, St. Vincent de Paul Monroe has helped 38 households avoid eviction through rental assistance. An additional 51 households have received support for utilities, car repairs, and other emergency expenses—critical interventions that can prevent families from falling into crisis.

“We are early in our 2026 fiscal year, and we have already distributed more than half of what we gave out during the entire previous year,” said Alyssa Morris, manager of St. Vincent de Paul Monroe. “The demand we’re seeing is unprecedented.”

The SSM Health Monroe Hospital grant supports priorities identified in the Green County Community Health Needs Assessment, which highlights stable housing as a key driver of health outcomes.

“Overall wellbeing is impacted by where we live, our access to healthy food, and many other factors,” said Rachel Meier, SSM Health Community Health Specialist. “When people in Green County have stable housing, they’re better able to stay healthy, work, and support their families.”

The $20,000 grant will provide vital stability for St. Vincent de Paul Monroe at a time when requests for assistance continue to outpace available resources. The organization’s assistance programs are primarily funded through thrift store sales.

“Our community’s needs are accelerating and not showing signs of slowing,” Morris said. “We are deeply grateful for this grant and for SSM Health’s partnership in helping our neighbors stay housed and supported.”