June 24, 2026
JCHC Foundation Announces $400,000 Match Challenge for Workforce Housing Project
BUFFALO, WYO. — The Johnson County Healthcare Center (JCHC) Foundation is tackling the challenge of workforce housing head-on with the announcement of a $400,000 matching challenge grant from the Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation. Donations made toward the Foundation’s Homes for Healers workforce housing initiative will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $400,000, to support the development of housing for essential healthcare workers employed by JCHC.
The announcement comes on the heels of a recent gift of property along Fort Street in Buffalo from a private donor, where the workforce housing development is planned.
“We are deeply grateful for this incredible commitment from the Watt Foundation,” said Luke Senden, CEO of Johnson County Healthcare Center. “JCHC is committed to supporting the healthcare professionals who care for families across Johnson County every day, and we recognize that access to stable, affordable housing has become a significant barrier for many workers. This project directly supports our mission of providing excellent healthcare delivered with compassion.”
The need for workforce housing continues to grow throughout the region. The City of Buffalo’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan identifies housing affordability as a critical community challenge, noting an approximately 80% increase in housing costs since the previous census compared to only a 5% increase in median income, along with a limited supply of available homes.
Richard Hammer, Chairman of the Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation, emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to rural healthcare, stating, “The Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation is pleased to partner with Johnson County Health with this matching grant. Joe and Arlene would be proud of the work JCHC is doing to provide high-quality health care to rural Wyoming patients. Ranching in remote Wyoming gave them a feel for the value of and the need for quality rural health care. They were supportive of rural medicine while living and the board is pleased to continue that support through the Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation.”
“The Watt Foundation’s commitment is a powerful example of philanthropy addressing a vital community need,” said Dr. Mark Schueler, Chairman of the JCHC Foundation Board of Directors. “Maintaining a strong healthcare workforce is essential to preserving high-quality, locally controlled healthcare in Johnson County. This investment will help ensure our hospital remains well-positioned to recruit and retain the talented professionals our community depends on.”
The JCHC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting advocacy for and philanthropic support of Johnson County Healthcare Center. To learn more about the Foundation or to make a tax-deductible contribution toward the Homes for Healers workforce housing project, contact:
