FIRM was one of 58 organizations funded by the Center for Health Program Management to improve health and reduce health disparities right here in the San Joaquin Valley. FIRM was funded for the Housing Education and Leadership (HEAL) program, which was written during the Summerset Apartment housing crisis. The Summerset crisis made it clear that there was plenty of work to be done in the area of housing advocacy in the refugee community. This program seeks to ensure that all refugees in Fresno live in safe and healthy housing conditions. We cannot allow another Summerset crisis to occur in our community and this is the beginning of funding to begin this important work.
The program will begin work during this month and is sure to build upon the foundation of all that was learned during the Summerset crisis. FIRM Executive Director says, “The Summerset crisis was something that I could not believe was happening right here in Fresno. The reality is that there is much more work to be done and FIRM is willing to be a partner with the City of Fresno, Code Enforcement and others to ensure that the refugee community is not taken advantage of by slumlords and practices that are against the law. All residents in Fresno deserve safe and healthy housing for themselves and their families. The HEAL program will do everything in its power to make this a reality in the refugee community.” FIRM would like to thank the Sierra Health Foundation for investing into this important work that is sure to impact the health of refugee families from throughout Fresno for generations to come.