Rural Health Institute of New York

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Rural Health Institute of New York The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) works to measurably improve public health through facilitation of targeted community driven initiatives.

Based in Cortland, New York, we are a public health institute committed to helping rural communities across the state improve population-level health through use of data, collaboration, and communication.

It was another productive two weeks at The Grace Space from October 12–23, with 138 check-ins from 49 individual neighbo...
10/26/2026

It was another productive two weeks at The Grace Space from October 12–23, with 138 check-ins from 49 individual neighbors. This brings our cumulative total to 4,274 visits from 272 unique community members since opening!

Connecting guests with essential care and ongoing support remains central to our work. During this period, the RHI team facilitated 7 service referrals, and a visiting care provider completed 1 onsite guest check-in.

This round’s success story highlights the impact of hands-on, collaborative care. When a guest’s leg concern developed into a painful infection, our visiting physician was able to take him directly to his office for treatment. Our team then helped him manage his medications each day throughout recovery. Today, his leg is healing well, and he’s feeling better. This is a meaningful example of meeting people where they are!

Our team continued distributing essential supplies and providing access to free amenities. Over these two weeks, we provided 174 food items, 97 beverages, 102 personal hygiene items, 86 pairs of socks, and 13 items to meet general (7), summer (4), and winter (2) needs. Guests also used our space for 25 device charges, 18 locker stays, 17 loads of laundry, 15 showers, 8 storage bins, and 1 pet crate.

We also track safety and facility incidents to maintain transparency. This period saw zero overdoses, law enforcement calls, medical emergencies, threats, mental health crises, non-responsive events, physical conflicts, or substance use incidents. Our team addressed 1 minor internal rule violation to help maintain a safe, welcoming environment.

We’re grateful to our dedicated team, visiting providers, and community partners for making this work possible!

Parents and caregivers in Cortland County: We want to hear from you!The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) is cond...
10/18/2026

Parents and caregivers in Cortland County: We want to hear from you!

The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) is conducting a survey to learn about parents’ and caregivers’ experiences, questions, and attitudes around childhood lead testing.

Have you cared for a child under age 6 while living in Cortland County? We invite you to take our brief survey and share your experience.
📝 Take the survey: https://forms.nyrhi.org/parents-caregivers?source=general

Your feedback will help us better understand what makes lead testing easier or more challenging for families and how we can better support our community. Whether or not your child has had a lead test, your perspective matters.

Thank you for helping us support healthier futures for Cortland County’s children and families!

Parents and caregivers in Cortland County: We want to hear from you!The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) is cond...
10/14/2026

Parents and caregivers in Cortland County: We want to hear from you!

The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) is conducting a survey to learn about parents’ and caregivers’ experiences, questions, and attitudes around childhood lead testing.

Have you cared for a child under age 6 while living in Cortland County? We invite you to take our brief survey and share your experience.
📝 Take the survey: https://forms.nyrhi.org/parents-caregivers?source=general

Your feedback will help us better understand what makes lead testing easier or more challenging for families and how we can better support our community. Whether or not your child has had a lead test, your perspective matters.

Thank you for helping us support healthier futures for Cortland County’s children and families!

It was another impactful two weeks at The Grace Space! From September 28 to October 9, we welcomed 48 individual guests ...
10/13/2026

It was another impactful two weeks at The Grace Space! From September 28 to October 9, we welcomed 48 individual guests for 99 check-ins, bringing our cumulative total to 4,136 visits from 267 unique community members since opening.

Connecting guests with ongoing support remains central to our mission. Our team facilitated 13 service referrals for medical and health services (5), substance use support (3), housing (3), and basic needs (3). We also hosted visiting care providers for four onsite check-ins, resulting in two additional referrals.

This round’s success story highlights the importance of a safe, welcoming space. When a local guest faced losing his emergency housing due to an administrative issue with his unemployment income, our team coordinated with DSS, his bank, and his support network to resolve the issue and secure temporary assistance. Through this collaborative effort, he maintained his housing stability and continued working toward permanent employment.

Meeting everyday needs remains just as important. All Grace Space amenities, services, and supplies are free of charge. Over these two weeks, we distributed 127 food items, 76 beverages, 58 hygiene essentials, 61 pairs of socks, and 13 seasonal items. Guests also accessed showers (19), laundry (18 loads), device charging (28), lockers (25), storage bins (9), and pet crates (3).

We also track safety and facility incidents to maintain a safe, comfortable environment. This period saw zero overdoses, medical emergencies, law enforcement calls, threats, mental health crises, non-responsive events, physical conflicts, or substance use incidents. Our team addressed one minor internal rule violation.

We’re grateful to our dedicated team, visiting providers, and community partners for making this vital, no-cost support possible!

At The Grace Space, everyday services can be an important first step toward longer-term support. Over the past two weeks...
10/05/2026

At The Grace Space, everyday services can be an important first step toward longer-term support. Over the past two weeks, several new guests came through our doors after hearing by word of mouth that we offer free laundry facilities. A load of laundry can open the door to a conversation, and those conversations can help us identify unmet needs, connect guests with medical care and housing support, share recovery resources, and help people navigate available benefits. Every connection counts.

Over the past two weeks, The Grace Space saw 202 guest check-ins from 68 unique individuals. Guests completed 32 loads of laundry, took 28 showers, charged 29 devices, and used 21 storage bins, 14 lockers, and 2 pet crates. We also distributed 313 food items, 181 beverages, 63 personal hygiene products, 86 pairs of socks, and 10 general unhoused-needs items.

RHI made 4 referrals over the past two weeks, including 2 for alcohol or substance use support, 1 for medical or health services, and 1 for housing support. Four provider check-ins were also held at The Grace Space, helping connect guests with additional services and resources.

Since opening our permanent location on February 17, 2026, The Grace Space has welcomed 263 unique guests for a total of 4,037 check-ins. Together, we have distributed 4,882 food items and 2,901 beverages, provided 665 showers and 463 loads of laundry, and made 276 RHI referrals connecting guests with additional support.

Thank you to our guests, community partners, providers, volunteers, and staff for helping make The Grace Space a safe, welcoming, and low-barrier place where people can access everyday necessities and meaningful connections to support.

A huge thank you to  for donating furniture for the main guest space at the Grace Space!Comfort and a welcoming environm...
09/25/2026

A huge thank you to for donating furniture for the main guest space at the Grace Space!

Comfort and a welcoming environment are an important part of creating a space where people experiencing homelessness and housing instability can spend time, connect with others, access services, and take a break from the challenges of daily life. The furniture donated by LakeHouse Cannabis has helped make our main guest space a more comfortable and inviting place for the people we serve.

More than six months into our permanent location, we’re grateful for the community support that continues to make the Grace Space possible. Thank you, LakeHouse Cannabis, for helping us create a space where everyone is welcome! 💙

A huge thank you to HSC Associates Heating & Air Conditioning for donating their expertise and labor to install the heat...
09/24/2026

A huge thank you to HSC Associates Heating & Air Conditioning for donating their expertise and labor to install the heating and cooling systems at the Grace Space!

This contribution is especially meaningful because maintaining a comfortable, climate-controlled space is essential to our function as a warming and cooling center. More than six months after opening our permanent location, the Grace Space continues to provide a safe, welcoming, low-barrier daytime space for people experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Cortland County.

We’re incredibly grateful to HSC Associates for helping ensure the Grace Space can remain a comfortable place for our guests throughout the changing seasons. Thank you for helping make this space possible! 💙

Mold needs moisture to grow. Leaks, condensation, and high humidity can all create damp conditions in your home.Help pre...
09/20/2026

Mold needs moisture to grow. Leaks, condensation, and high humidity can all create damp conditions in your home.

Help prevent mold by:
đź’§ Repairing leaks quickly
🌬️ Using kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans
🏠 Running a dehumidifier when needed
đź§ş Drying wet areas and materials quickly

Need help dealing with a mold problem? Cortland County’s Healthy Homes Program may be able to help eligible renters and homeowners address these problems at no cost. Visit hellocortland.fun/mold to learn more and check your eligibility.

Your one-stop resource for family fun, parenting tips, and community connections in Cortland County. From free books and local events to tools that help your little ones learn and grow, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Mold comes in many colors, and its color doesn’t tell you how dangerous it may be. If you see or smell mold, clean it sa...
09/19/2026

Mold comes in many colors, and its color doesn’t tell you how dangerous it may be. If you see or smell mold, clean it safely and find and fix the leak, dampness, or humidity causing it. This can help keep the mold from coming back.

Need help? Cortland County’s Healthy Homes Program may be able to help eligible renters and homeowners address mold and moisture problems at no cost. Visit https://www.hellocortland.fun/mold to learn more and check your eligibility.

Your one-stop resource for family fun, parenting tips, and community connections in Cortland County. From free books and local events to tools that help your little ones learn and grow, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

⏱️ Don’t wait to ask about testing. Lead exposure often has no obvious symptoms, so a blood lead test is the only way to...
09/12/2026

⏱️ Don’t wait to ask about testing. Lead exposure often has no obvious symptoms, so a blood lead test is the only way to know whether a child has been exposed. If you are concerned, talk with your child’s healthcare provider. Finding exposure early can help prevent further harm.

Concerned that lead may be present in your home? Whether you rent or own, see if you may qualify for free help through the Cortland County Healthy Homes Program: https://forms.nyrhi.org/healthyhomes?s=a

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Cortland, NY

Telephone

+16072994910

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