Funding will help provide unhoused families with homes
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 22, 2024 — Aetna Better Health® of Illinois, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), announced that Aetna® provided Safer Foundation with a community investment of $100,000 to help place unhoused families in Chicago into homes.
To date, the community investment from Aetna has enabled Safer Foundation to place 13 families — 22 people total — into homes in Cook County.
Offering reentry support to previously incarcerated individuals, Safer Foundation helps connect justice-involved individuals with stabilizing support, employment, education and advocacy. The $100,000 investment from Aetna helps further that support with housing stability.
The housing units are helping people who are reentering society by reconnecting them with their families and giving them some peace of mind. Partnering with organizations like Safer Foundation, which have a proven track record of serving the most vulnerable individuals, helps Aetna build healthier communities.
“Justice-involved community members often carry a heavy burden of finding adequate housing. Secure, stable and affordable housing is the foundation for a healthy way of life and a sense of well-being,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “We’re excited to help Safer Foundation get even more families into homes and will continuously go the extra mile to support federal and local initiatives meant to remove barriers for all.”
“The investment from Aetna has helped us up the ante when it comes to the support we provide,” said Anthony Lowery, associate vice president of Reentry Housing Services, Safer Foundation. “Because of these additional funds, we’ve been able to provide housing to many families in need, and as more housing becomes available, we’ll be able to place even more. In addition, our partnership with Aetna lays the foundation for us to expand into the Cook County Affordable Home Opportunities partnership, where we plan to extend opportunities to housing to those that need it most.”
Aetna has awarded over $800,000 in community investments to support various Illinois-based organizations that assist Medicaid members with access to healthy food, job development, housing support, maternal and child health and access to care.
Aetna Better Health of Illinois serves over 397,000 Medicaid members in 102 counties. The health plan offers value-added benefits and best practices that have proven positive results in utilization, health gap closures and member satisfaction. For more information about Aetna Better Health® of Illinois, visit our website.
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About Aetna Medicaid
Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has over 30 years of experience managing the care of under-resourced populations, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve members in 16 states, including Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com.
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications, or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.
Media contact
Robert Joyce
Robert.Joyce@CVSHealth.com
