The Housing is Healthcare Fund by the Arizona Medicaid Health Plans, a model collaboration for affordable housing development, is announcing new grant awards to increase the availability of housing across Arizona. Five projects in Payson, Phoenix, Prescott, Show Low and Surprise will receive a total of $2.5 million. Since 2020, the Medicaid Health Plans have provided $12.8 million through 29 grants, including today’s announcement.
The Housing is Healthcare Fund addresses Arizona’s rising affordability crisis while paying much-needed attention to the role of social determinants of health and housing as a quality-of-life issue. Housing built by these grants will serve residents across the state including Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)-eligible individuals and families.
“I see every day the impact a safe and stable home can have on the health of our members, yet there’s still such a deficit of housing across Arizona,” said Fund governance committee chair James V. Stover, Medicaid Plan President for Arizona Complete Health-Complete Care Plan. “That’s why Arizona’s Medicaid Health Plans have come together to support affordable housing developers as they bring high-quality housing for those who need it most.”
This fund was created when the managed care organizations who contract with the State’s Medicaid program to serve the health care needs of Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens came together to invest in housing. Fund participants include Arizona Complete Health-Complete Care Plan, Banner – University Health Plan, BCBSAZ Health Choice, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, Mercy Care, The NARBHA Institute and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national community development financial institution with a local office based in Phoenix, supported the partners in the development of the Fund and continues to review proposed projects and administer grant awards.
Recent award recipients:
Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing
Project: Glendale Apartments
Total Development Cost: $22,450,000
Grant: $500,000
Address: 6819 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix
Construction Start Estimate: December 2024
Construction Completion Estimate: June 2026
ChangePoint Integrated Health
Project: TurningPoint Apartments
Total Development Cost: $2,400,000
Grant: $500,000
Address: 2500 E. Cooley St., Show Low
Construction Start Estimate: September 2025
Native American Connections
Project: Cross Winds @ Three Star Pointe
Total Development Cost: $21,021,764
Grant: $500,000
Address: 16178 N. El Mirage Rd., Surprise
Construction Start Estimate: March 2025
Construction Completion Estimate: June 2026
Payson Regional Housing Development
Project: Green Valley Apartments II
Total Development Cost: $21,813,139
Grant: $500,000
Address: McLane Road, Payson
Construction Start Estimate: March 2025
Construction Completion Estimate: June 2026
US Vets Housing Corp
Project: Fort Whipple Veterans Housing
Total Development Cost: $39,617,263
Grant: $500,000
Address: 500 Highway 89 North, Prescott
Construction Start Estimate: April 2025
Construction Completion Estimate: June 2026
The Housing is Healthcare Fund by the Arizona Medicaid Health Plans invests in affordable housing projects that include elements that connect communities and support healthier individuals, families and economies across the State of Arizona, including housing for Medicaid-eligible individuals. The Fund was developed in 2020 by a consortium of health plans, becoming the first statewide initiative aligned to the vision and values of the national Home Matters movement. This fund was previously known as the Home Matters Arizona Fund.
