Better Together: Housing as a Foundation for Recovery
As the final expert presentation in our Community Health Immersion’s exploration of Navigating Pathways to Recovery: Addressing Substance Use with Healing and Resilience, Alex Hunt delivered a transformative message that would leave nine healthcare students fundamentally reimagining their future practice.
At the heart of Hunt’s presentation was a concept he’s pioneering: “resource brokerage” – a revolutionary approach that challenges healthcare providers to see their roles as connectors rather than simply treaters. As the Executive Director of The Haven of Manitowoc County, a men’s homeless shelter serving the local community, Hunt stood at the intersection of lived experience and professional leadership, sharing a narrative that was part personal journey, part systemic critique.
A Different Kind of Expertise
Once homeless, battling substance use disorder, and confronting the harsh realities of incarceration, Hunt now leads The Haven of Manitowoc County with a vision that transforms how we understand recovery. His story isn’t just a personal chronicle, it’s a blueprint for systemic change.
“We’re not just providing shelter,” Hunt explains. “We’re reimagining what support looks like.”
The Power of Resource Brokerage
Marina Hart, a UW-La Crosse physician assistant student, captured the profound impact of Hunt’s teaching: “We need to see and care for the whole person, not just a medical chart.”
Global health student Emily Cole from UW-Madison articulated the broader implication: “This presentation helps me see that I need to advocate for systemic change.”
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
The nine healthcare students witnessed more than a lecture. They experienced a radical reframing of recovery, centered on:
- Treating every individual with inherent dignity
- Recognizing the complex, interconnected nature of addiction and homelessness
- Building trust through unwavering consistency
- Brokering resources, not just medical treatments
- Understanding recovery as a process of continuous, positive transformation
Stacy Taylor, a UW-Stevens Point nursing student, echoed Hunt’s core message: “We must advocate for our clinics and hospitals to become resource brokerages.”
A Lasting Impact
As the final expert voice in our Community Health Immersion, Alex Hunt embodied a profound truth: healthcare is fundamentally about human connection. His presentation wasn’t just a lecture—it was an invitation. An invitation for nine aspiring healthcare professionals to reimagine their future roles not as distant providers, but as active partners in community healing.
This isn’t just about treating patients. It’s about building bridges of understanding, creating systems of support that recognize the full humanity of every individual struggling with substance use disorders, homelessness, and recovery. Hunt’s concept of “resource brokerage” is more than a strategy—it’s a commitment to collective well-being.
Our scholars didn’t just listen. They witnessed. They learned. And most importantly, they began to see how their future practices could become powerful instruments of compassion and systemic change.
As we conclude this exploration of recovery, we’re reminded that healing happens in connection. It happens when we choose to see beyond labels, to understand the complex journeys that bring people to their most challenging moments. It happens when we stand together.
The journey of recovery isn’t solitary. It’s a collective path—one we walk together, with open hearts, informed minds, and a shared commitment to human dignity.
The journey continues, stronger together. We are better together.
To learn more about The Haven of Manitowoc County, Men’s Homeless Shelter, visit https://thehavenofmanitowoc.org.
Interested in attending a Community Health Immersion?
Priority is given to AHEC Scholars, but other students may join as space allows! These impactful experiences cover diverse healthcare topics and are offered across Wisconsin.
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