Comunidad Partners Pioneers Virtual Healthcare at its Multifamily Communities

Antonio Marquez

 Austin, TX, March 1, 2021 — Comunidad Partners, a minority and women-owned real estate investment firm specializing in workforce / affordable housing in culturally diverse neighborhoods, has become one of the first apartment owners in the U.S. to roll out free virtual healthcare services to its residents.

 “There is an urgent need for immediate access to healthcare, especially in the current environment and with our residents who are the most vulnerable and at-risk,” explains Antonio Marquez, Managing Partner at Comunidad Partners.

 “We view this amenity as an essential service to our workforce residents where many of them have lost health insurance during the pandemic or are underinsured.

 

"Plus, housing plays a pivotal role in health outcomes for residents and our responsibility is to ensure we provide resources to residents that can support their resiliency and help them look after their families’ health & well-being.” 

 Comunidad Partners partnered with Veritas Impact Partners, a nonprofit service provider for cost-burdened apartment residents to pioneer a new virtual healthcare program for multifamily communities that leverages a large-scale telehealth contract with a Fortune 500 healthcare provider.

 According to Marquez, this is the first time that individuals and families can access free telehealth services at scale through an owner-operator. These types of health services are typically only offered through employer insurance providers.

 

“Our core focus is on workforce housing communities in underserved markets across the U.S., which includes many minority communities,” says Marquez, who is a second generation Mexican-American and whose father immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.

 “Many minority communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, among a variety of other health related issues.

 "This often stems from a larger systemic issue regarding a lack of investment in these communities, often creating environments like food deserts where there is no access to healthy foods, quality jobs that provide access to healthcare and top medical facilities, among others.

In fact, minority communities tend to be the most underserved and underinsured in the U.S., which is why services like this are crucially important to address a critical need in this country and creating health equity.”

 The partnership with Veritas and these new telehealth offerings is an extension of Comunidad’s larger focus on social impact, through which the firm actively addresses key issues that impact residents’ daily lives.

  In addition to its focus on workforce and affordable housing, Comunidad offers a variety of programs and services within its communities that improve opportunity and positive outcomes for residents, including equity / jobs programs, health and wellness programs, immigration assistance, and after-school programs, among many others.

 “Unlike many commercial real estate investors who believe that the physical property is the investment, we believe in the power of investing in the people who live in our communities,” explains Marquez.

 

 CONTACT:

 

Katie Haga

Brower Group

(949) 438-6262

khaga@brower-group.com

 www.veritasimpact.org