10/17/2025
GETTING TO KNOW NORTH SHORE HEALTH
Investing in Care: North Shore Health Purchases Bunkhouse to Support Staff Housing
By Meghan Flynn, Facility Education Coordinator
Finding affordable, reliable housing has long been one of the greatest challenges for professionals who want to work in Cook County. North Shore Health (NSH) has faced this barrier for years as it seeks to recruit and retain qualified staff to provide vital services in our community.
North Shore Health employs permanent staff who live in Cook County year-round; some of the permanent and casual employees live far away and need to stay near the hospital when on call, for inclement weather occasions and to fill in when coming to work for a stretch. Likewise, NSH relies on agency and casual employees to fill positions to provide essential services for Cook County residents. Nurses, aides, lab scientists, radiology techs and emergency responders travel long distances to bring their expertise to Cook County. Agency professionals rotate in on 13-week contracts, with some extending their time here for multiple assignments, though agency staff can only stay up to one year before leaving the area. These staff work year-round, ensuring consistent coverage across specialized services and stepping in where permanent staffing alone cannot meet demand.
This summer, NSH took a major step forward by purchasing the property known as the Bunkhouse at 120 W. 2nd Street in Grand Marais. The former Cavallin Funeral Home has been used for seasonal lodging for J-1 visa workers, and most recently served as a rental for international college students working summer jobs in the area and other area workers.
In July 2025, after a thorough inspection by then–NSH Facilities Director Jason Hofker and a detailed financial analysis by NSH CFO Nicole Siegner, the NSH Board of Directors approved the purchase for $380,000. An additional $30,000 was authorized to replace the roof shingles and address other maintenance needs. The expected closing is October 31, 2025.
The lack of affordable housing has made it difficult to attract and keep professionals. Many have struggled to find accommodations, especially during the busy tourist season. The Bunkhouse will directly address this challenge by providing convenient, transitional housing for agency and casual staff, making it easier for them to live and work in Grand Marais. In addition, NSH is actively recruiting family members of current employees from other countries, and the Bunkhouse will offer them a safe and welcoming place to stay as they begin their new lives in the United States. The Bunkhouse provides a stable housing option, reducing barriers to recruitment and helping NSH continue to provide high-quality care to the community.
The purchase was funded from NSH’s “Cash and Cash Equivalents” balance sheet line item — dollars not otherwise committed to capital priorities, ensuring that long-term planning remains intact. Ongoing costs will be built into the annual capital planning process, drawing from prior ownership data for realistic budgeting.
The Bunkhouse comes furnished, requires no zoning changes, and can be maintained with current NSH Facilities Department capacity. It will not be managed as an Airbnb or VRBO property. Instead, Human Resources and department leaders will determine occupancy based on staffing priorities, with a focus on temporary, transitional, and on-call personnel.
Strengthening the community
By investing in housing for health care workers, NSH is investing in the health and stability of the entire community. With improved access to housing, we can recruit and retain the staff necessary to sustain services such as emergency care, swing bed recovery, chemotherapy, colonoscopy clinics, and more.
As CFO Nicole Siegner noted in her financial review, the Bunkhouse purchase is “a cost-effective solution that aligns with NSH’s overall staffing strategy and reduces barriers to care.”
Looking ahead
The Bunkhouse is more than a building — it’s a commitment to ensuring that Cook County continues to have the staff, expertise, and stability needed to deliver quality health care close to home. By supporting our staff with stable housing, NSH can maintain services, keep more residents close to home during recovery, and provide a strong foundation for future recruitment and retention.
For more information, visit: https://www.northshorehealthgm.org. Stay tuned for future informative Getting to Know North Shore Health articles published monthly in the Cook County News Herald.
https://www.northshorehealthgm.org
