CAMBA Gardens provides housing for the most vulnerable while reducing hospital costs
At Kings County Hospital, policymakers and affordable housing advocates have teamed up for a win-win solution to reduce emergency room visits and provide modest-rent apartments to the homeless, victims of Superstorm Sandy and patients with high-level medical needs. Additional units will also be available to everyday residents through a lottery.
CAMBA, a non-profit organization, in a partnership with a range of city, state and non-profit agencies and institutions, announced the completion of the first phase of CAMBA Gardens Apartments on the Kings County Hospital campus on Monday, along with the beginning of construction of a second phase of the project at the site of the hospital’s former psychiatric facility. When all facilities are established, the $165 million development will include a mix of 502 affordable and supportive housing units, providing housing to low-income residents and advancing better health outcomes for high-need Medicaid clients.
“I never expected to be a housed in a place like this,” said Elizabeth Melendez, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “People like us don’t get to have the good things.”