A New Era for Minneapolis: Native-Focused Health & Housing Initiatives
On Friday, the Native American Community Clinic (NACC) marked a significant milestone by breaking ground for its innovative health care and affordable housing project in south Minneapolis. This exciting development, hosted at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, symbolizes a transformative step towards integrating culturally-focused health care with urgent affordable housing solutions.
A Vision of Care and Community
Antony Stately, executive officer and president of NACC, sees the initiative as a “love song” to a community that shaped him. Stately, who grew up in the area, emphasizes the project’s importance as a model for enhancing health care and living conditions for Native American people in Minneapolis. He remarked, “This is going to be a living, breathing endeavor, amplifying our growth into a holistic health and housing model.”
Meeting Pressing Needs
The 30,000-square-foot development stands to address the critical issue of “houselessness,” identified by Stately as a major barrier to improved health outcomes. A study by the Wilder Foundation highlights that 18% of Native American adults in the Twin Cities experience homelessness, often accompanied by significant health issues.
In response, once built, the facility will feature over 80 apartments, many adequately designed for families and deeply affordable for those earning at most 30% of the area’s median income. Partnering with Twin Cities-based Wellington Management, Inc., NACC seeks to ensure that the housing component effectively meets these community needs.
A New Approach to Health and Housing
UnitedHealth Group is among the major investors in this $55 million project. CEO Brett Edelson of UnitedHealthcare Minnesota underscores that stable housing is pivotal to elevating health standards. “Affordable housing immensely influences people’s basic health,” he noted, further highlighting the Native American Community Clinic as a replicable model.
The project envisions a space where Indigenous health and knowledge forge a new identity and center of care. “We want our new place to be welcoming when you’re not feeling well and revitalizing when you’re on the mend,” said Stately. The clinic’s work will merge four sites, offering comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral, and substance use treatment services to an expected additional 3,000 patients annually.
Building for the Future
Set on Franklin Avenue, construction of the new facility is projected to complete in the next two years. Once realized, it will stand not only as a center for health and community support but as proof of what visionary, culturally-centered care can achieve, inspiring a ripple of similar projects nationwide. According to MPR News, this ground-breaking initiative is more than a building—it’s a beacon of innovation and resilience in the heart of Minneapolis.
