HCA employee receives 2018 Friend of Housing Award
For her work ensuring housing is a critical part of conversations about whole-person health, HCA Acting Deputy Director for Behavioral Health and Recovery Melodie Pazolt recently earned the 2018 Friend of Housing Award.
“If you have had the pleasure of spending five minutes with Melodie Pazolt, you certainly know what a housing champion she is within our state and nationally,” said HCA Acting Director for Behavioral Health and Recovery Michael Langer. “Her passion for those in need of stable housing has driven her to become an expert in state and federal regulation, funding streams, and active listening to the needs of those we serve.”
The award is given each year by the state Department of Commerce and the Housing Finance Commission. Pazolt received her award along with others at a reception in Tacoma on October 3.
“I truly believe individuals with behavioral health issues can recover and that every person deserves a home, and has skills and talents to contribute to an employer,” Pazolt told those gathered at the reception. “Behavioral health issues can be exacerbated by homelessness. I believe that long-term unemployment is bad for your physical health, mental health, and substance use.”
She credits her behavioral health and recovery team, HCA, and partner agencies for helping “bring the whole person into the spotlight. We’re not just talking about people’s physical and mental health, but also housing and employment — their whole life. Without these other elements, it’s just about the process, but with them, it’s about the person.”
When Pazolt was growing up, her mother worked as an independent living coordinator for people with developmental disabilities in Southeastern Montana, helping them live in the community, hold jobs, and start families.
“This was pretty radical thinking in the late 70s and early 80s, especially in such a rural area,” she said. “I know that my beliefs about people and what they’re capable of are rooted in my mother’s work.”
Washington is at the forefront nationally with our efforts to better address the whole person in health care: By 2020, Apple Health (Medicaid) clients statewide will have access to whole-person, integrated care that provides better coordination between physical health services, mental health services, and substance use disorder services. And through our Medicaid transformation project, we are bringing a stronger focus on housing, employment and other factors that can influence one’s health.
