Healthcare, Housing Challenges Spotlighted at Columbus Board of Realtors Meeting

By Jessica Roberts

Rural hospital closures, healthcare accessibility and the ongoing housing crisis took center stage during a recent Columbus Board of Realtors meeting, where U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop addressed representatives from across Georgia.

Bishop highlighted one of the state’s most urgent challenges: the closure of 18 rural hospitals, including a facility in Cuthbert that has been shuttered for three years. Local leaders there continue to push for funding and policy changes to reopen it.

“Because of the lack of Medicaid expansion, populations in these areas have declined, and facilities simply cannot operate,” Bishop said. Rising medical costs and inadequate funding, he added, have left other rural hospitals on the brink of closure, creating what he called “an essential quality-of-life issue” for rural residents.

Although Columbus is not classified as a rural community, Bishop urged urban residents to advocate for rural healthcare, stressing the interconnectedness of the state’s healthcare system. “It’s just a matter of education,” he said. Even in Columbus, he noted, affordability remains a barrier for many, despite the presence of top-tier medical facilities. Community health centers such as Valley Healthcare, he said, are vital to meeting the needs of both rural and urban populations.

The meeting also addressed the housing crisis, particularly its impact on recent college graduates. Student loan debt coupled with rising rents has forced many young adults to delay independent living and remain with their parents. Bishop said lawmakers are working to reduce student debt and expand access to homeownership.

“We’re trying to make life better for young people so they can invest in their future and build wealth,” he said.