Cigna Foundation Grants Support Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing
The Cigna Group Foundation recently announced the 22 recipients for its inaugural year of a new grant program designed to support veterans’ mental health by focusing on housing stability. The initiative, part of Cigna’s ongoing commitment to improving veteran well-being, will allocate $9 million over the next three years. The program aims to address the unique challenges that veterans face, including brain injuries, depression, and substance use disorders, which often hinder their ability to secure stable housing.
“Many of our nation’s veterans, after serving and defending our country, face significant long-term health conditions that affect their ability to find and maintain stable housing,” said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. “By addressing their housing needs, we can help create a better foundation for their mental health and overall well-being.”
The grant program is designed to support veterans who are at an increased risk of homelessness compared to the general population. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, the initiative will fund evidence-based programs and services aimed at helping veterans – including underserved groups like women and veterans of color – achieve housing stability. This, in turn, is expected to have a positive impact on their mental health and quality of life.
Several of the selected organizations will adopt the Housing First model, a proven approach that has successfully reduced the time to housing placement from 235 days to just 35 days. The model has also been shown to lower emergency room usage and improve housing retention rates when compared to other programs that prioritize treatment before housing.
The 22 recipients of the grants include:
- U.S.Vets – Arizona (Arizona)
- Community Renewal Team, Inc. (Connecticut)
- Grand Avenue Economic Community Development Corp. (Florida)
- The Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County (Florida)
- Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council (Florida)
- City of Refuge, Inc. (Georgia)
- Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans (Illinois)
- The University of Chicago (Illinois)
- Veterans Community Project (Missouri)
- Family Promise of Sussex County (New Jersey)
- Robin’s Home, Inc. (Pennsylvania)
- Veterans Leadership Program (Pennsylvania)
- Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard (Pennsylvania)
- Operation Stand Down Tennessee (Tennessee)
- Tennessee Homeless Solutions (Tennessee)
- Opportunity Center for the Homeless (Texas)
- St. Vincent’s House (Texas)
- U.S.Vets – Texas (Texas)
- Back On My Feet (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas)
- Homes For Our Troops (Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona)
- Operation Finally Home (Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas)
- Veterans Rebuilding Life (Connecticut, New Jersey)
Each of these organizations will focus on three primary objectives aimed at improving housing stability and mental health for veterans:
- Mobilizing Rapid Re-housing Assistance and Reducing Evictions: Organizations will leverage the Housing First model to quickly place veterans into permanent housing and provide the support needed to prevent evictions. This approach also aims to improve overall health, reduce harmful behaviors, and increase income.
- Acting as Navigators for Complex Processes: Grantees will provide case management services to help veterans navigate complex systems, connecting them to housing and financial assistance programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Additionally, veterans will receive access to health and mental health support.
- Increasing Pathways to Permanent Housing: To ensure long-term housing stability, organizations will offer wraparound services, including mortgage and rental assistance, employment re-entry training, and the development of housing specifically designed for veterans.
The Cigna Group Foundation has prioritized grant funding in areas where it serves a significant number of customers at high risk due to social determinants of health, including regions with a concentration of Cigna employees. The targeted states include Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
Cigna’s commitment to supporting veterans through this new grant program highlights the company’s dedication to improving the well-being of those who have served the country. The program not only focuses on providing veterans with stable housing but also aims to address the mental health challenges that many veterans face, ultimately enhancing their overall quality of life.
By supporting these organizations, The Cigna Group Foundation is helping to ensure that veterans receive the care and resources they need to thrive after their service, while also improving the long-term mental health outcomes of the veteran population. The initiative represents a critical step in addressing the intersection of housing instability and mental health, creating pathways for better futures for veterans across the nation.
