CLPHA Press Room

From CVS Health's press release:

CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) is expanding access to health care careers with the launch of its new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center and Community Resource Center in Fort Worth, in collaboration with Fort Worth Housing Solutions. The new dynamic space is designed to build a pipeline of skilled health care professionals by offering no-cost workforce training and health care services.                                                                                         

“Our new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center aims to create pathways to opportunity,” said Sheryl Burke, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer at CVS Health. “By working hand-in-hand with the Fort Worth Housing Solutions and local workforce organizations, we’re helping community members gain the skills they need for in-demand roles—like pharmacy technicians—and build healthier futures for themselves and their families.”

As the health care industry faces a growing talent shortage, CVS Health is setting a new standard in corporate-led workforce development with its Fort Worth Workforce Innovation and Talent Center. The center offers no-cost, hands-on training for roles like pharmacy technicians, customer service associate and call center representatives for both retail and non-retail —all in a simulated retail environment that mirrors real-world scenarios. Graduates are encouraged to apply for positions at CVS Health, creating a pathway to employment opportunities.

“We are so honored to partner with CVS Health in Stop Six,” said Mary-Margaret Lemons, President of Fort Worth Housing Solutions. “Over half a billion dollars will be invested in housing and community redevelopment in this neighborhood, and a key part of that strategy is ensuring the people of Stop Six, have access to health care, education and economic mobility. Free training opportunities at the WITC will provide new skills for residents to qualify for higher-paying jobs and change the trajectory of their families. FWHS is so excited to continue this community-building work with CVS Health.”

Additionally, the WITC will connect participants with valuable resources to aid their success, including Goodwill, Easter Seals and United Way. Participants can also advance their careers through programming pipelines at the College of Healthcare Professions and the University of North Texas.

"This partnership between CVS Health and Fort Worth Housing Solutions is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens our city’s foundation,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “By equipping residents with skills for high-demand health care jobs and connecting this community with vital resources, the new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center is building a healthier, more prosperous Fort Worth for generations to come."

The new Community Resource Center is supported by Aetna, a CVS Health company. The CRC provides the public, including workforce program participants, with access to health education, assistance navigating health benefits, computers and state-of-the-art teleconferencing and available space for community events. Providing visitors with access to health screenings is planned for late 2025.

“As a company focused on health solutions, we recognize the connection between stable employment and health and wellness,” said Stephanie Rogers, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Texas. “By co-locating the WITC and CRC in Fort Worth, we’re bringing together essential resources to help individuals in local communities achieve professional success and lead healthier lives.”

Working with the Fort Worth Housing Authority builds on CVS Health and Aetna’s long history of community support in Texas. To date, CVS Health has invested more than $232 million in affordable housing across Texas, helping to create, preserve and renovate nearly 14,000 housing units. Also, in conjunction with Fort Worth Housing Solutions, the company invested in the development of Babers Manor, a new 80 unit mixed-income residence located in Fort Worth’s Stop Six Neighborhood that will offer community members career training opportunities through CVS Health’s Fort Worth WITC. Additionally, throughout this year CVS Health has awarded over $700,000 to local organizations such as Easterseals Lonestar, The Rose, and Family Service Association of San Antonio. The company also offers free health screenings to individuals nationwide through its Project Health initiative. Year to date, CVS Health hosted 279 Project Health events, which saw over 16,000 participants and provided over 65,000 screenings in Texas.

From the District of Columbia Housing Authority's press release:

Today, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), nonprofit developer The Community Builders (TCB), Dantes Partners, and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau joined community members in celebrating the grand opening of Park Morton Apartments.

The new five-story, 142-unit, fully affordable multifamily building is the first on-site building delivered at Park Morton under the District’s New Communities Initiative (NCI).

“Park Morton Apartments represents more than new housing—it’s a commitment to neighborhood revitalization,” said Deputy Mayor Nina Albert. “By investing in this project, we’re creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and laying the foundation for long-term prosperity in the Park View community.”

“So many people in the community have poured their hearts into this project. This is exactly what we’ve talked about since the start—delivering beautiful, dignified housing to the people of Park Morton. This is the first phase of more than 500 new units to be built here and at Bruce Monroe, just down Georgia Ave, making Ward 1 a leader in housing production over the past 10 years,” said Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau.

Located at 610 Park Road NW in the Park View neighborhood, Park Morton Apartments includes 40 replacement units for returning Park Morton residents. DCHA, TCB and Dantes Partners are co-developers of the site, which originally consisted of 12 garden-style apartment buildings.

“Park Morton Apartments exemplifies our collective goal to create mixed-income communities that offer modern, affordable homes and enhance the quality of life for DCHA families,” said Keith Pettigrew, DCHA Executive Director. “DCHA is proud to partner on a project that prioritizes inclusion, equity and community as it brings high-quality affordable housing to the Park View neighborhood.”

The newly constructed midrise building offers studios, one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments to tenants earning 0-80% of the area median income (AMI). The modern units feature simulated hardwood flooring, balconies, dishwashers and in-unit washers and dryers. Community amenities include a parking garage, fitness center, rooftop lounge, two courtyards, a “Kids Hub” lounge, a “Tech Hub” coworking space, a resident lounge and covered bike storage.

“The grand opening of Park Morton Apartments underscores TCB’s mission to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive,” said Bart Mitchell, President and CEO of The Community Builders. “We’re incredibly thankful to our partners at the City of Washington, D.C., and Dantes. With phase one now open, residents are already connecting to amenities and services that bring opportunity. TCB looks forward to continuing the revitalization of this neighborhood and delivering more affordable homes to the people of D.C.”

The opening of the new multifamily building marks the completion of Phase 1 of the Park Morton Redevelopment Plan. Future phases will include the construction of 47 townhomes, with 17 rental replacement units and 30 homeownership units; and 273 off-site rental apartments, including 87 replacement units, located less than a quarter mile away at the former Bruce Monroe School.

“This project is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fulfill the promises made to the Park Morton residents while addressing the ongoing need for affordable housing,” said Buwa Binitie, Founder and CEO of Dantes Partners. “Seeing this vision come to life is deeply gratifying. The process has been one of persistence, collaboration, and purpose, and the outcome reflects the collective dedication of everyone involved. This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our partners, whose shared passion and hard work helped turn this vision into reality.”

“With the opening of Park Morton Apartments, DCHA and its partners are delivering on our commitment to provide high-quality affordable housing that fosters community and establishes a foundation for District families to thrive,” said Raymond Skinner, DCHA Board Chair.

DMPED invested approximately $14.8 million towards phase 1 infrastructure, as well as $26.3 million for predevelopment and infrastructure for phase 2. The new five-story building was also funded by $51.1 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA).

Park Morton Apartments is the latest new construction property built under NCI, a District government program creating vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods. Park Morton is one of four NCI projects, along with ‘Rise at Temple Courts’ in Northwest One, which officially opened in Ward 6 in late 2022.  There’s also Lincoln Heights and Richardson Dwellings in Ward 7, with ‘Providence Place and The Strand Residences’ – two 100% affordable housing communities    where 179 units were delivered; including 63 through NCI; and, Barry Farm in Ward 8, where construction of the 139-unit Edmonson is underway and The Asberry, a 108-unit mixed-use property, opened in late 2024.

Mark Gillett, executive director of the Oklahoma City Housing Authoirty, recently sat down with The Oklahoman to give a brief video explainer about the HCV program and how chronic federal underfunding of the program presents challenges for OCHA and impacts local housing opportunities. Watch the video here.

From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:

The latest phase in the transformation of the former site of the Sheriff’s Crime Lab into an intergenerational community on Mt. Etna Drive in Clairemont has been completed, with the grand opening celebrated today for two adjacent developments that provide 228 new affordable rental homes for families with lower incomes.

“Mt. Etna is part of a bigger story—one where every week, every ribbon that we cut, we are seeing real progress in our shared effort to ensure that all San Diegans have a place to call home,” Mayor Todd Gloria said at today’s grand opening.

Modica Family Apartments and Taormina Family Apartments were developed by Chelsea Investment Corporation (Chelsea) in collaboration with the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC), and additional partners. Rents will remain affordable for 55 years for households with lower incomes.

“This is a big step toward reducing San Diego’s housing shortage by providing affordable, high-quality housing for all of our City residents,” said City Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, who represents Council District 2, including the new developments.

The developments were built at the former site of the Sheriff’s Crime Lab. The County of San Diego ground leased the land to Chelsea for 99 years and awarded funding from the County’s Innovative Housing Trust Fund to support the developments.

“Today, we are seeing the second and third properties open doors at this location, where land was offered by the County through its initiative to use excess County sites to develop affordable housing,” County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe said. “This is also a first step toward many more projects to come.”

SDHC awarded a $3 million loan toward the Modica development, consisting of federal and local funds SDHC administers, including:

• $2.4 million from the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards to the City of San Diego; and
• $600,000 from the City of San Diego’s Affordable Housing Fund.

SDHC awarded eight rental housing vouchers to the Taormina development to help residents pay their rent. These vouchers are linked directly to the apartments at the development, so that when a resident moves on, the voucher will remain to help another family with low income.

“A stable, affordable place to call home is an essential foundation that families need to thrive at work, in school, with their health and in community connection. The Modica and Taormina developments will provide that foundation for decades to come for families with lower incomes,” SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones said.

Financing for both properties includes recycled Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds made possible through an innovative collaboration among SDHC, the City of San Diego and the California Housing Finance Agency. Bond recycling allows for the re-use of previously allocated bond capacity that is normally lost, and recycles Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds, also known as private activity bonds, into a new project without the use of limited low-income housing tax credits. Private sources of funds, such as revenue from the developments, are used to repay the bonds. SDHC, the City of San Diego and the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego are not financially liable for the bonds.

“This is a great example of government and the private sector coming together to build affordable housing that’s needed by so many San Diego families,” said Ryan Lundergan, Chelsea’s Senior Development Manager. “Many of these families will now have a home in a supportive community they can be proud of. These two projects represent a significant milestone—a victory toward progress in providing affordable housing options that previously have been out of reach for so many San Diegans.”

A total of 58 units at the Modica and Taormina properties are set aside for residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Amenities at these units will include roll-in showers, grab bars, reversible shower seats, and vinyl corner guards, among other features. The San Diego Regional Center will provide services for the residents of these units in collaboration with Southern California Housing Collaborative.

“Our partnership with Chelsea and Southern California Housing Collaborative has created so many—I can’t tell you how many—units for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where before the option was to live in congregate,” San Diego Regional Center Associate Executive Director Kate Kinnamont said. “Now some of them who choose to live in the community are being supported in units like this. It’s amazing. It’s life-changing for most of the individuals we support who will call one of these 58 units their home, their first home for the first time.”

In addition to Modica and Taormina, the Paul Downey Senior Residence opened in January at the Mt. Etna Drive site, providing 78 affordable housing units for seniors with low income. SDHC awarded a $3.95 million loan and eight rental housing vouchers to support the Paul Downey Senior Residence development.

Serving Seniors provides services for residents at all three developments, in collaboration with Southern California Housing Collaborative and the San Diego Regional Center.

A fourth development at the site, Terrasini Senior Apartments, is pending completion. It will consist of 94 additional affordable rental homes for seniors with low income.

From Next City:

Boston is racing to decarbonize its public housing by 2030. The latest tool it’s deploying to reach that goal? Window-straddling heat pumps.

Last week, the Boston Housing Authority announced that it’s piloting the electric technology at Hassan Apartments, a 50-year-old public housing community with 100 units for older people and adults with disabilities. The modular appliances, made by California-based startup Gradient, plug into a typical 120-volt wall outlet and will replace the apartments’ outdated, much less efficient electric-resistance system.

“We believe that low-income people and the families and individuals who live in our buildings deserve access to 21st-century technologies and home comforts, just like anyone else out there,” said Joel Wool, the agency’s deputy administrator for sustainability and capital transformation. ​“We’re also doing our part to reduce air pollution and combat climate change.”

The Boston Housing Authority has ordered about 100 window heat pumps for the project. Two other Massachusetts housing agencies are also piloting Gradient’s appliances, the company announced last week: the Chelsea Housing Authority, which is testing about 400 heat pumps, and the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development, which is trying out roughly 200 heat pumps, about half of which are already installed.

Read Next City's article.