FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gardner, MA — June 1, 2026

Health Equity Partnership & 100% Massachusetts Announce New Partnership to Advance “Community as Prevention” Housing Model

This new, innovative collaboration aligns public health, affordable housing, and community partnerships to ensure families have access to the 10 vital services crucial for their overall health, resilience, and success.

The Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass (CHNA 9) and 100% Massachusetts today announced a new partnership to pilot a 100% Village in North Central Mass. The planned multigenerational community provides affordable housing for families led by Parents Under 25 and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The innovative model pairs stable housing with on-site staff and wraparound supports, while also creating opportunities for 100% Village neighbors — including social workers, teachers, and healthcare workers - to live in affordable workforce housing and help create a thriving, connected community.

Chelsey Patriss, Executive Director of the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass (CHNA 9), said, “The mental health crisis, the housing crisis, and the economic crisis are not separate problems. They are all connected. We are excited to be working with another organization that understands this and has a proven track record of creating intentional communities that provide natural support for our families who need it most – grandparents raising grandchildren and parents under 25.”

By piloting the 100% Village model, North Central Mass will lead Massachusetts and the country in community as prevention and housing as healthcare.”

Judy Cockerton, Founder/CEO of 100% Massachusetts, said, “Ensuring that all families have access to the 10 vital services they need to thrive is our top priority. We are delighted to partner with CHNA 9 to invest in public health, affordable housing, and well-being innovation. Together, we will work with regional partners to pilot the groundbreaking 100% Villages community model. Our intentional “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”approach weaves additional people supports into every family’s social safety net to boost resiliency, reduce isolation, and build meaningful relationships among neighbors of all generations.” 

This exciting new partnership connects the Health Equity Partnership’s community-driven health priorities with the 100% Massachusetts Initiative, which translates the social determinants of health into a clear set of ten “vital services.” Together, partners will use this framework to coordinate local efforts, identify service gaps, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and support community development projects that improve health, safety, and opportunity for residents across North Central Massachusetts.

The partnership envisions thriving neighborhoods with embedded access to the services families need to survive and thrive — including healthcare, behavioral health care, safe housing, nutritious food, reliable transportation, family supports, early childhood programs, community schools, youth mentors, and job training. Research shows that communities with a village model spend less money on law enforcement, incarceration, health care, remedial and special education while experiencing greater social satisfaction and economic stability.  

To learn more about the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass, go to https://chna9.org/.