Investing in Community.
Building Resilience.
Westside Health Authority (WHA) is a nonprofit community development organization that has served Chicago's Austin neighborhood for over 30 years. WHA began as a group of volunteers organizing for change in Austin and has since grown into an organization with programs spanning five key service areas: reentry and community employment support, youth employment and mentoring, community wellness, community property development, and economic development. A key component of the Economic Development Department is managing programs and services for designated Special Service Areas—commercial and residential corridors tasked with promoting vibrancy and supporting business sustainability along some of Austin's busiest streets.
101.4M
meals provided across all of our food programs during our 2024 fiscal year
1900
public benefits applications submitted on behalf of our neighbors since 2020
2.4M
household visits to our network of free grocery partners during our 2024 fiscal year
$18.6M
invested in small businesses that provide nutritious meals to our neighbors since 2020
We have seen many changes on the West Side, but the most important has been the relationships we’ve built with the people who live here. Relationships are key to improving health and wellness—they are the cornerstone of our work.
Empowering Austin’s future with community-led change and over three decades of trusted service.
From building 100 homes to workforce development to providing healthier more accessible food within Austin, the mission is to allow the Austin business corridors to thrive — WHA works hand-in-hand with residents to build a stronger, more vibrant Austin.