Housing authority employees show up every day to support residents, manage communities, and navigate complex challenges. As those responsibilities continue to grow, many organizations are looking for meaningful ways to support their teams in return.
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) recently hosted an employee health fair designed to do just that. By bringing together health, financial, and community resources in one place, the event provided staff with an opportunity to focus on their own well-being while strengthening connections across the organization.
A practical approach to employee wellness
CMHA’s health fair began as a collaboration with its health insurance carrier and broker, who helped identify an opportunity to make wellness resources more accessible to staff. The goal was to create a convenient, supportive environment where employees could access screenings, ask questions, and connect with resources that support healthier everyday choices.
A key component of the event was on-site biometric screenings, delivered in partnership with participating health providers, giving employees direct access to preventive health insights in a convenient setting. As CMHA shared, the screenings are an integral part of the health fair and a cornerstone of its broader wellness efforts, helping employees better understand their health and take proactive steps early.
“We were looking for a practical way to strengthen our culture of health, encourage preventive care, and create more touchpoints for staff engagement,” said Betty Dye, chief people officer at CMHA.
From the start, the health fair was part of a broader approach to employee engagement and support, and as the initiative evolved, it also became an important component of CMHA’s overall benefits strategy. Beyond engagement, CMHA viewed the health fair as a way to help employees better understand and use their benefits. Increasing access to preventive screenings, health education, and care navigation supports earlier intervention and can help reduce avoidable claims and downstream healthcare costs over time.
“By expanding access to preventive screenings, health education, and care navigation, we are helping employees make more informed use of their benefits while encouraging earlier intervention,” Dye noted.
Internally, CMHA has seen these efforts contribute to stronger engagement, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, and long-term retention, helping strengthen workforce health while supporting cost sustainability. Notably, CMHA also reported a 0% increase in health insurance costs this year, underscoring the value of investing in preventive care and wellness initiatives such as the health fair and biometric screenings.
Bringing the right partners together
A key part of the event’s success was the range of partners involved. CMHA worked with organizations including Green Columbus, Lower Lights Health, CME Federal Credit Union, BMI Federal Credit Union, UnitedHealthcare, Fleet Feet, and Susan G. Komen.
These partnerships were built through a mix of existing relationships and intentional outreach, with each organization offering services that supported employees holistically, including physical, financial, and emotional health. This comprehensive approach helped ensure that employees could access a wide range of resources in a single location.
“Each partner offered services that aligned with our goal of supporting employees holistically,” Dye said.
What worked and lessons for other housing authorities
The response from employees was overwhelmingly positive. “Employees valued the opportunity to engage directly with providers, ask questions, and learn about available resources,” Dye shared, noting that staff appreciated the ability to take a more active role in their health.
The strong response also highlighted what worked and what could translate to other housing authorities. Creating a convenient, centralized way for staff to explore benefits and connect with providers, keeping the focus on practical, accessible resources, and designing the event around employee needs all contributed to its success.
“Start with clear goals and keep the focus on employee needs,” Dye advised.
Partnering with organizations that align with your mission and can provide relevant, accessible resources, while keeping the event manageable and well communicated, can help encourage participation and maximize impact.
“Looking beyond physical health to include financial, environmental, and preventive resources helps create a more inclusive and meaningful experience,” Dye added, emphasizing the importance of taking a broad and comprehensive approach.
Based on this feedback, CMHA is exploring ways to continue and expand these efforts while applying the same approach to future initiatives.
Why this matters
Supporting employees is not just about offering benefits. It is about creating opportunities for staff to engage, connect, and access the resources they need to thrive. CMHA’s health fair is a strong example of how housing organizations can invest in their teams in a practical and impactful way. By supporting the people who support residents, housing authorities can build stronger organizations and healthier communities.
See the event in action
Want a closer look at how CMHA brought their employee health fair to life? Watch highlights from the day, including partner participation and staff engagement, on CMHA's LinkedIn or below.