UnitedHealthcare Invests $18.3 Million to Help Build New Affordable-Housing Communities in Michigan

https://goo.gl/A1H244

Community leaders and development partners celebrate the start of construction for Jefferson Oaks, a new 60-unit mixed-income community in Oak Park being developed by Community Housing Network. UnitedHealthcare is investing $14.6 million in the new development and Cinnaire is providing a $2.3 million permanent loan to the project. UnitedHealthcare's investment is part of nearly $35 million the company has invested through a partnership with Cinnaire and Minnesota Equity Fund to help build four affordable-housing communities in Michigan. (L-R) Kristen Elliot, Community Housing Network; David Lochner, Huntington Bank; Kevin Yee, City of Oak Park; Marc Craig, Community Housing Network; Marian McClellan, Mayor, City of Oak Park; Dennis Mouras, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan; Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire; Kimberly Marrone, City of Oak Park; and Earl Poleski, MSHDA (Photo: Nick Azzaro).

Jefferson Oaks, developed by Community Housing Network Inc. (CHN), is being built on the site of a vacant school building and campus, which will be transformed into 20 apartments and eight new townhome-style buildings with an additional 40 homes. Twenty-one of the apartments are set aside for supportive housing. When completed in 2018, the new community will include on-site support services and amenities such as a community room with a library, computer lab and meeting space, and a playground.

“We are very excited to start the construction of this new community in Oak Park and appreciate the work of UnitedHealthcare, Cinnaire and our other partners in helping make this groundbreaking possible,” said Marc Craig, president of Community Housing Network. “When completed next year, Jefferson Oaks will be a model community that brings quality homes with on-site amenities for individuals and families who want a wonderful place to live and play.”

UnitedHealthcare also announced a $3.7 million investment in Woodland Place Apartments in Hart. The new 24-unit apartment community, developed by Gryphon Group LLC and Oceana County Housing Commission, will include 12 units for people living with special needs and struggling with homelessness. The development is being built to U.S. Green Building Council LEED environmental standards. West Michigan Community Mental Health will provide supportive services and case management for residents. Woodland Place Apartments will open in 2018.

“UnitedHealthcare’s investments to support affordable housing in Michigan are part of our initiative to help people live healthier lives by connecting them to housing, health care and other important services,” said Dennis Mouras, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan, which employs 1,100 people in Michigan and serves the health care needs of more than 800,000 people in the state. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with these partners to expand affordable housing in Michigan.”