Giving Compass' Take:

• Foundation Communities focused their efforts on housing but found that the population they served was deeply affected by health issues. To overcome these challenges, they partnered with health-focused organizations to provide better services. 

• How can partnerships between organizations better serve individuals? When is consolidation preferable to partnerships? 

• Find out how the UN is partnering to modernize data sharing.

As the deputy executive director of Foundation Communities, a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Austin, Texas, Julian Huerta noticed his residents had high rates of mental illness, diabetes, HIV, and hypertension, which hindered their ability to become stably housed and self-sufficient. To improve and stabilize these residents’ lives, Foundation Communities launched free, on-site health programming focused on preventive care, chronic disease management, exercise, and nutrition.

But Foundation Communities is a housing developer, not a health provider. Huerta knew Foundation Communities would have a greater impact if it addressed health issues with the help of partners in the Austin community.

Today, with the help of local health organizations, Foundation Communities’ health programs serve more than 3,000 people at its 19 sites around Austin.

One of six case studies featured in our new report Emerging Strategies for Integrating Health and Housing, Foundation Communities’ success highlights how housing leaders can partner with health care allies to better the lives of low-income residents. Its early successes show that we must break down cross-sector silos and engage new partners to make progress on social determinants of health.

Read the full article about affordable housing and health by Ruth Gourevitch at Urban Institute.