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Health systems all have missions dedicated to improving health, and a tradition of serving their communities. This work not only improves community health by providing health care services, bolstering the local economy and quality of life.
The introduction of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and decades of research have increased the emphasis for health systems to focus on the Social Determinants of Health and the Health-Related Social Needs of the individuals they serve. One key goal on both fronts points to the importance for health of stable, healthy, and affordable homes in safe neighborhoods.
The presenters, Lena Andrews and Kevin Progar, will outline UPMC Health Plan’s Homeward Strategy and highlight practical examples, including a variety of partnerships led by ACTIONHousing.
Our presenters
Kevin Progar
Project Director, UPMC Center for Social Impact
Kevin Progar serves as the project director of Homeward at the UPMC Center for Social Impact. Homeward is UPMC Health Plan’s comprehensive strategy to move all the constituents of the UPMC community further along the pathway to housing stability, financial security, and wellbeing. This approach creates healthy housing options by braiding funding and developing cross-sector collaborations. This portfolio currently aligns over $30,000,000 of resources ranging from charitable giving, in-kind services, state tax credits, value-based purchasing agreements, land donations, and mission related investments to address housing needs.
Mr. Progar leads the scaling of UPMC for You’s nationally recognized permanent supportive housing program, Cultivating Health for Success, the deepening of investments in affordable housing through supporting the deployment of $15 million in program related investments, and increased coordination with housing efforts across UPMC’s integrated delivery and finance system. Milestones since 2020 include 120% increase in CHFS enrollment, capital support for 281 affordable units, and the execution of a land lease to enable the development of an affordable LGTBQ+ senior community.
Before joining UPMC, Mr. Progar helped members of the Healthcare Council of Western Pennsylvania navigate the post-ACA health care landscape by advocating for a greater understanding of health literacy and tackling community health needs through multisector approaches. Mr. Progar holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Lena Andrews
Vice President of Real Estate Development, ACTION-Housing
Lena Andrews is the Vice President of Real Estate Development with ACTION-Housing where she manages the construction and renovation of affordable and supportive housing throughout the Pittsburgh region.
Lena is an urban planner by training and is passionate about building diverse, vibrant connected urban communities. Before coming to ACTION-Housing, she worked for the Urban Redevelopment Authority where she spearheaded the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard planning process, a federally-funded planning initiative to create new bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure integrated with housing and riverfront reclamation along the Allegheny Riverfront.
She is a member of the advisory board of the City of Pittsburgh’s Housing Opportunity Fund and a board member of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures, Jewish Residential Services, the Pittsburgh Housing and Development Corporation, and Laurentian Hall. In her free time, Lena enjoys reading, running, practicing yoga, and cleaning up her neighborhood as a part of the East Liberty Trash Warriors.
She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.
Additional information on this topic:
Bridgeway-Capital-Case-Study.pdf (kresge.org)
Housing And Health: An Overview Of The Literature | Health Affairs
