Santa Cruz, CA. (May 5, 2021)—Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH), Dientes Community Dental Care, and MidPen Housing collectively received a $6,075,000 investment from the Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance) to support the construction of a 20,000-square-foot medical clinic, an 11-chair dental clinic, 57 units of affordable housing, and a family-friendly public plaza in the heart of Live Oak. The new health and housing campus will provide healthcare for up to 10,000 patients, along with affordable supportive housing for 157 people.
This major commitment from the Alliance, the largest collective contribution to the project to date, demonstrates the Alliance’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to health services and housing for children, families, and seniors, regardless of income. The grants provide $2,650,000 to SCCH, $2,900,000 to Dientes, and $625,000 to MidPen over five years for the construction of the new campus.
The Need for Care is Great
In a community where up to 26 percent of Live Oak School District students are homeless, thousands of adults do not have a doctor, and 78 percent of adults on Medi-Cal do not have a dentist, this vibrant 3.6-acre health and housing complex in Live Oak will address the goals of increasing access to healthcare and growing affordable housing.
“Prevention and early intervention in dental care are often overlooked and are core to the vision of Dientes,” said Dientes CEO Laura Marcus. “The project would never have gotten off the ground without the Alliance and many others in our community who are stepping up to make this dream a reality.”
SCCH CEO Leslie Conner continues, “Santa Cruz Community Health has been strongly aligned with the Alliance since it first launched some 25 years ago. Their investment today points to our overlapping missions to improve access to quality care for those who need it most. We are deeply grateful for their partnership.”
The investment from the Alliance is in line with their overall vision of healthy people, healthy communities. The Alliance’s CEO Stephanie Sonnenshine explains, “Access to treatment, regular preventative care, and stable housing is key to achieving and maintaining positive health outcomes, so this community-based healthcare and housing solution at 1500 Capitola Road will be an important step towards improving the well-being of our most vulnerable Santa Cruz residents.”
Capital Campaign is Ongoing
The 1500 Capitola Road campus integrates the strengths and services of its three owners:
- SCCH has been serving the medical and mental health needs of underserved Santa Cruz County residents since 1980, with a special focus on families.
- Dientes has a nearly 30-year track record of providing affordable, high-quality and comprehensive dental care through three existing clinics and a 30+ location outreach program.
- MidPen Housing owns and manages 13 affordable housing communities throughout Santa Cruz County, serving families, senior, and special needs populations and providing on-site resident services tailored to the unique needs of each population.
MidPen Housing Chief Real Estate Development Officer Jan Lindenthal comments, “The Alliance has been an exceptional partner in helping MidPen achieve our mission of expanding affordable housing opportunities in Santa Cruz County. Thanks to their support residents of Santa Cruz County will have the access to health care and affordable housing they need to live happy and healthy lives and achieve their dreams for the future.”
The construction of the campus will be in two phases. Dientes and Santa Cruz Community Health will break ground on their clinics this month and open in 2022. MidPen will break ground on the housing component in 2022 and open in 2023.
To learn more about the project or make a donation, visit: http://1500CapitolaRoad.org
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Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance) is a regional Medi-Cal managed care health plan, established in 1996 to improve access to health care for over 370,000 members in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Merced counties. Using the state’s County Organized Health System (COHS) model, the Alliance delivers innovative community-based health care services by connecting members with providers that deliver timely services and care, focused on prevention, early detection and effective treatment. As an award-winning managed care health plan, the Alliance remains focused on efforts to improve access to quality health care for its members.
