PHOENIX, AZ - UnitedHealthcare and Arizona’s largest nonprofit community-development organization, Chicanos Por La Causa, are partnering to help Phoenix-area low and moderate-income individuals and families access quality, affordable housing – an essential component of good health.
The partnership is part of a pilot program by UnitedHealthcare called myConnections, which was developed to provide low-income individuals and families with access to essential social, medical and behavioral services that can have a significant impact on health and quality of life.
Through the partnership, UnitedHealthcare has committed to provide CPLC access to up to $20 million in capital to acquire, develop and operate multifamily housing units in the Phoenix area, and to offer and administer a variety of need-based services to residents. The first complex, which houses 351 units, was purchased using the capital in West Phoenix. The partnership with CPLC will combine affordable housing with onsite residential social-support services.
“Unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, educational barriers and financial constraints can prevent many people from living healthier lives. By removing these barriers, we can help people improve their health, strengthen communities and help governments manage resources more effectively,” said Austin Pittman, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community & State. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Chicanos Por La Causa to provide people with clean, safe housing as well as tools and resources to help them make healthy choices.”
“For close to 50 years, Chicanos Por La Causa has helped Phoenix residents achieve financial security and fulfill their educational and life goals,” said David Adame, president and CEO of CPLC. “Today, we are thrilled to be partnering with UnitedHealthcare to expand our services to promote healthier living in our communities.”
CPLC is the largest community development corporation in Arizona, and provides integrated programs and services related to economic development, education, health and human services, and housing. The organization is focused on providing tailored and culturally sensitive and multilingual support to individuals and families with low or moderate income.
Through its Affordable Housing Investment Program, UnitedHealthcare has provided more than $230 million in financing for community development projects throughout the United States and is continuing to identify new community investment and partnership opportunities that align with its mission of helping people live healthier lives.
UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), which has more than 6,800 employees in Arizona and serves more than 1.8 million Arizonans through UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored, Medicare, TRICARE, health exchange and Medicaid health benefit plans.