CVS Health Expands Community Investments to Improve Health and Well-Being Across Massachusetts
CVS Health is continuing to expand its investments and community partnerships across Massachusetts as part of a broader effort to improve access to healthcare, affordable housing, nutritious food, preventive services, and community-based support.
The company said its initiatives across the Commonwealth are focused on addressing several of the factors that influence health beyond traditional medical care. These efforts include investments in affordable housing, support for local nonprofit organizations, medically tailored nutrition programs, free health screenings, and expanded access to maternal and postpartum care.
Together, these programs are designed to help individuals and families access the resources they need to live healthier lives while strengthening the communities in which they live.
CVS Health said its Massachusetts initiatives reflect the company’s broader approach to community health, which recognizes that health outcomes are influenced by a wide range of social and economic factors. Housing stability, access to nutritious food, preventive healthcare, and reliable community support can all play an important role in helping people maintain their health and avoid preventable complications.
Affordable Housing as a Foundation for Better Health
One of the central elements of CVS Health’s community investment strategy in Massachusetts is affordable housing.
The company has invested more than $83 million in affordable housing projects across the state. These investments have helped create, preserve, or renovate more than 3,517 affordable housing units throughout the Commonwealth.
The projects serve a diverse range of residents, including families, older adults, and individuals with varying housing and support needs. Investments have extended across communities including Worcester, Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, Salem, Attleboro, and Foxborough.
CVS Health believes that stable housing is closely connected to overall health and well-being. Individuals who have access to safe and affordable housing may be better positioned to maintain employment, manage chronic health conditions, access medical care, and remain connected to support networks.
By investing in housing, CVS Health is seeking to address a fundamental social determinant of health while also supporting the long-term stability of local communities.
Keli Savage, Vice President and Head of Real Estate & Impact Investments at CVS Health, said that when people have a safe and supportive place to live, they are better positioned to pursue other aspects of a healthy life.
According to Savage, the company’s ongoing affordable housing investments are intended to help build a healthier future for Massachusetts residents and the communities where they live.
Supporting the Redevelopment of Worcester Boys Club
One of CVS Health’s recent housing investments is the historic Worcester Boys Club property in Worcester, Massachusetts.
CVS Health has invested $10 million in the project, which supports the adaptive reuse and new construction of the former Worcester Boys Club.
The redevelopment is expected to provide 80 affordable housing units for older adults aged 55 and above. Five of those units will be designated for households referred by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.
The project represents an effort to preserve and repurpose an existing community property while creating new affordable housing opportunities for older residents.
For many older adults, access to affordable housing can be particularly important. Rising housing costs can place pressure on individuals living on fixed incomes, while the availability of safe and appropriate housing can support independence and quality of life.
The Worcester Boys Club redevelopment is therefore part of a broader effort to create housing opportunities for older adults while supporting the continued revitalization of local communities.
Creating Affordable Homes in Jamaica Plain
CVS Health has also invested more than $16 million in the transformation of the former Blessed Sacrament site in Jamaica Plain, Boston.
The project is expected to create 55 affordable homes for families across a range of income levels.
The development is particularly significant in the context of housing affordability challenges in the Boston area. Many renters face significant financial pressure as housing costs continue to consume a large portion of household income.
The redevelopment of the Blessed Sacrament property will also include a community space operated by the Hyde Square Task Force. The space is expected to support arts programs and youth services for residents and surrounding neighborhoods.
The 71,000-square-foot site had been vacant since 2004. Its transformation is intended to create more than housing. CVS Health and its partners envision the revitalized property as a community and cultural anchor within Boston’s Latin Quarter.
The project demonstrates how affordable housing developments can also incorporate community services, cultural programming, and spaces designed to strengthen connections among residents.
Expanding Access to Medically Tailored Meals
Food and nutrition are another important part of CVS Health’s community investment strategy in Massachusetts.
Since 2021, CVS Health has worked with Community Servings, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to individuals and families managing serious illnesses across Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Community Servings provides scratch-cooked meals designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of people living with medical conditions. The organization also provides medical nutrition therapy and delivers meals directly to the homes of individuals who may be too ill to shop for or prepare food themselves.
For people managing serious illnesses, access to appropriate nutrition can be a significant challenge. Medical conditions may make cooking difficult, while treatment schedules, physical limitations, or financial constraints can make it harder for individuals to obtain healthy meals.
Medically tailored meal programs are designed to address these challenges by providing food that is appropriate for an individual’s health needs.
Community Servings supports people managing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. By providing both meals and nutrition counseling, the organization takes a comprehensive approach to supporting health.
CVS Health said its longstanding support has helped Community Servings expand its reach, increase the number of meals delivered, and provide additional nutrition support to individuals and families.
The partnership reflects the growing recognition that nutrition can play an important role in health outcomes and healthcare costs.
Connecting Nutrition and Healthcare Outcomes
Access to nutritious food can influence a person’s ability to manage chronic disease and maintain overall health.
Individuals living with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other serious illnesses may require specific nutritional support. However, the ability to consistently access and prepare appropriate meals can be affected by income, mobility, illness, and other factors.
Medically tailored meal programs seek to address this gap by connecting nutrition services with healthcare needs.
CVS Health’s collaboration with Community Servings highlights the company’s focus on supporting community-based programs that address health challenges beyond the traditional clinical setting.
By supporting individuals in their homes, these programs can help people maintain healthier routines while reducing some of the barriers associated with managing serious illness.
Expanding Preventive Care Through Project Health
CVS Health is also working to expand access to preventive health services in Greater Boston through CVS Health Project Health.
The program offers free health screenings at select CVS Pharmacy locations and community events.
Screenings can include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, and body mass index measurements. These services provide participants with information about important health indicators and can help identify potential risks that may require additional attention.
For some individuals, community-based screenings may provide an important opportunity to learn more about their health.
People who do not regularly visit a primary care provider may benefit from convenient access to basic screenings. Early awareness of potential health concerns can encourage individuals to seek follow-up care and take steps to manage their health.
CVS Health said Project Health has provided thousands of free screenings across the Greater Boston area since its launch.
The initiative is designed to bring preventive services closer to the communities that need them and help connect individuals with additional care when appropriate.
Supporting Maternal and Postpartum Health
The CVS Health Foundation is also supporting efforts to improve maternal and postpartum care in Massachusetts.
The Foundation awarded a grant to launch the Driving Equity and Maternal Health program at Mass General Brigham. The initiative includes funding for a Mobile Postpartum Care Unit.
The mobile unit is designed to provide convenient, no-cost monitoring and support to people who have recently given birth and may be at increased risk of complications during the postpartum period.
The postpartum period is an important stage in maternal health. Individuals may experience health complications after delivery and may face challenges accessing follow-up care.
A mobile care model can help bring services directly to communities and reduce barriers associated with transportation, scheduling, and access to traditional healthcare facilities.
By supporting mobile postpartum services, the CVS Health Foundation is seeking to help improve access to monitoring and support for individuals who may require additional care following childbirth.
The program also reflects the company’s broader focus on addressing health disparities and improving access to care for underserved populations.
Working with Trusted Community Organizations
CVS Health said its community initiatives are developed in collaboration with local organizations and community leaders.
The company believes that partnerships with organizations that already understand local needs can help ensure that programs are relevant and effective.
Community organizations often have established relationships with residents and a deeper understanding of the challenges facing specific populations. Working with these organizations can help healthcare companies and foundations direct resources more effectively.
Jenny McColloch, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Community Impact at CVS Health, said meaningful impact begins with listening and learning from communities.
According to McColloch, CVS Health is focused on working alongside trusted local organizations to improve health outcomes and connect people with resources and support.
This partnership-driven approach is evident across the company’s Massachusetts initiatives, including affordable housing, nutrition services, preventive screenings, and maternal health programs.
A Broader Approach to Community Health
CVS Health’s investments across Massachusetts reflect a broader understanding of the factors that influence health.
Healthcare access is important, but health outcomes can also be affected by whether people have stable housing, nutritious food, transportation, social support, and access to preventive services.
By investing in multiple areas, CVS Health is seeking to address some of these challenges simultaneously.
Affordable housing can provide stability. Medically tailored meals can help people manage serious illnesses. Preventive screenings can identify potential health risks. Mobile maternal health services can help individuals receive follow-up care after childbirth.
Each program addresses a different need, but together they support a broader community health strategy.
CVS Health’s continued investments in Massachusetts demonstrate the company’s focus on strengthening communities through healthcare and social impact initiatives.
With more than $83 million invested in affordable housing and more than 3,517 units created, preserved, or renovated, the company is supporting housing stability across the Commonwealth.
Its partnerships with organizations such as Community Servings are expanding access to medically tailored nutrition, while Project Health is bringing free preventive screenings to communities across Greater Boston.
Through support from the CVS Health Foundation, programs such as the Mobile Postpartum Care Unit are also helping expand access to maternal and postpartum services.
Together, these initiatives reflect a strategy that extends beyond traditional healthcare delivery. CVS Health is investing in the conditions that help individuals and families achieve better health outcomes and build stronger communities.
As the company continues working with local nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and community leaders, it aims to expand access to resources that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of Massachusetts residents.
The organization believes that the most effective community impact comes through collaboration and a clear understanding of local needs. By combining financial investment, healthcare expertise, and partnerships with trusted organizations, CVS Health is continuing its efforts to strengthen communities throughout Massachusetts and support a healthier future for residents across the state.
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