By Dominic Manecke, Building Kentucky
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky has established a $300,000 flex fund to support housing solutions for Kentuckians. The Anthem Housing Flex Fund is a flexible pool of money that can be used by eligible Anthem Medicaid members to help pay for expenses that will lead to greater housing stability for those who are either at-risk of or experiencing homelessness in Kentucky.
About the Anthem Housing Flex Fund
According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, more than 4,000 Kentuckians will experience homelessness daily and another 24,000 students in the state will lack sufficient housing throughout the year.
In response, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Kentucky is pledging $300,000 to create the Anthem Housing Flex Fund to provide desperately needed financial resources to help keep members in their homes.
Addressing barriers to health and wellness
Social drivers of health, including homelessness, affordable housing, and a safe, stable social and physical environment, continue to be barriers to positive health outcomes and overall wellness. Anthem remains focused on addressing these barriers through deep community relationships and developing real-time and impactful solutions that meet the needs of the local community.
“Anthem is committed to increasing access to housing solutions and providing financial stability for our members. This fund will provide economic opportunity for hundreds of low and moderate-income families, creating and achieving long-term housing stability. Particularly in this time, homelessness continues to be a critical component in addressing the whole health of individuals, families and communities. Anthem is honored to provide direct community action through innovative housing initiatives to improve lives.”
– Leon Lamoreaux, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Medicaid President in Kentucky
Keeping Kentuckians in their homes
Funds can cover an array of one-time or limited housing-related expenses, including rental assistance, moving fees and security or utility deposits, with the goal of supporting a recipient to remain housed or help them access permanent housing.
According to Driving Our Health: A study exploring health perceptions in America conducted by Anthem, Inc., parent company to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliated health plans, more than half of Kentuckians (51 percent) are unaware of the concept of social drivers of health – external factors like safe housing, nutritious food, and reliable transportation – that play a key role in determining health outcomes.
Anthem recognizes that these social factors, such as access to stable housing, are critical components of integrated healthcare and healthy communities. In response, Anthem continues to invest in innovative programs and develop strategic partnerships that support access to critical services for healthy living.
For more information on Anthem, visit anthem.com.
