Replication of a health and social services model for low-income housing

The purpose of this project is to replicate a successful model of how to improve the health and safety of children living in low-income housing developments. Low-income housing represents a confined geographical area where problems of health care access, safety, and substance abuse are frequently highly concentrated. Although there is a growing recognition of the need to integrate health and human services into such developments, there are few successful models. Community Builders, Inc., are the owners, managers, and developers of more than 8,000 units of low-income housing across the northeast United States. Through a combination of health and human services, resident involvement, youth focus, and innovative property management, Community Builders has achieved a dramatic turnaround in the physical and social environment at Plumley Village, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Specific health services include a primary care and WIC clinic on site, mental health, a teen pregnancy prevention program, and health education for youth. Importantly, these health initiatives are not stand-alone services, but are linked to the other supports needed by these families, including youth development, job training, parent education, and money management. Since Community Builders took over the facility in 1991, they have reduced incidents of violence, alcohol and illegal drug abuse, crime, vandalism, teen pregnancy, and school drop-out. Foundation funds will allow Community Builders to: (1) expand the model to four additional sites; (2) support the integration of primary care and preventive health services into those sites; and (3) support the development of an information system for measuring the effectiveness of the model and facilitating its replication in other economically distressed urban areas.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $495,000.00

Awarded on: 11/30/1995

Time frame: 12/1/1995 - 8/31/1999

Grant Number: 26234