CHV has understood that housing is healthcare since long before the global coronavirus pandemic underscored that everyone needs a safe place to call home. While a home is foundational to building a stable life, it can also improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations when combined with supportive services. All of CHV’s developments offer CAMBA’s onsite supportive services and links to the agencies citywide network of programs.
In CHV’s ongoing quest to improve and build upon our mission, we are expanding our portfolio of developments that co-locate housing and healthcare facilities.
Our first two developments that co-locate housing and healthcare are CAMBA Gardens I (CGI) and CAMBA Gardens II (CGII), which were built on underutilized hospital property at Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC).
One of our long term and esteemed partners, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), published a white paper that proposed building affordable and supportive housing on surplus land on hospital campuses or in buildings no longer being used by hospitals but in close proximity to their emergency rooms and care facilities.
CSH’s concept ignited the idea for CAMBA Gardens I and II, which is now a unique partnership with KCHC and NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation that created a sustainable, transit-oriented, affordable, and supportive new construction development. By building on the KCHC campus, CGI and CGII improve health outcomes for tenants by connecting low-income and formerly homeless households to CAMBA social services and KCHC preventative healthcare resources. The developments also reduce public costs by decreasing use of homeless shelters and emergency rooms.
Further expanding our portfolio of developments that co-locate housing and healthcare facilities, CHV was awarded the development site for The Hart through the Vital Brooklyn initiative, a New York State community development program designed to uplift underserved neighborhoods in Central Brooklyn through holistic approaches like affordable housing and increased access to healthcare.
The Hart is currently under construction and builds upon the national model demonstrated by CAMBA Gardens I and II, representing the co-location of housing and healthcare and much-needed affordable and supportive housing in a transit-oriented building on underutilized hospital property.
The nine-story building will be located at 1038 Broadway in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The site was previously home to the Interfaith Medical Center’s mental health outpatient program, which will return to the new building’s ground floor along with a co-located primary care center. Together, the building will provide nearly 5,000 square feet of healthcare for residents and the community. One Brooklyn Health will operate the mental health and primary care center, which will serve as one of Vital Brooklyn’s 32 Ambulatory Care Centers. The onsite healthcare facilities, coupled with CAMBA’s supportive services and CHV’s amenity-rich buildings will provide improved health outcomes and stabilizing impacts for tenants and the community.
Clarkson Estates is another example in CHV’s portfolio of developments that co-locate housing and healthcare. The project is currently on closing track and also part of the state’s Vital Brooklyn initiative. The competitively awarded property will be built next to SUNY Downstate Medical Center, creating 291 units for residents who will have access to the adjacent hospital’s services. Additionally, Clarkson Estates will feature the Dr. Roy A. Hastick Community HUB, which will provide over 30,000 square feet of Community Facility space, including a CAMBA Health Homes and Screening Center. Individuals and families struggling with health challenges find relief and support with CAMBA’s compassionate care, case management, and counseling.
The health and well-being of our residents is paramount. Co-locating housing and healthcare facilities has proven to be an effective model in New York City and we encourage our fellow developers, service providers, and partners to consider adding this model to their portfolios.