Home State Health, McCormack Baron Salazar and Urban Strategies, Inc. Announce Preservation Square Community Partnership to Support Families with Services, Economic Opportunity
Home State Health, McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS), and Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI) today announced a local collaboration focused on supporting current, former, and future Preservation Square families by connecting them to healthcare, resident services, community resources and opportunities that support long-term stability and well-being. The announcement coincides with the groundbreaking of the final phase of Preservation Square in North St. Louis and the near completion of Preservation Square Phase IV.
Preservation Square is part of a broader redevelopment plan encompassing approximately 695 mixed-income housing units across nine city blocks. As part of the HUD Choice Neighborhoods effort in St. Louis’ Near North Side, the redevelopment combines housing investment with resident services and neighborhood improvements.
Priorities include access to care, chronic-condition support, medication access and affordability, food security, transportation, economic mobility and trust in healthcare providers.
“This partnership reflects what is possible when housing, healthcare, and resident services work together around the priorities identified by the community,” said Shawn Furey, President and CEO of Home State Health. “Affordable housing is the foundation, but our shared commitment is broader. We are helping connect families with the services, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive.”
“This investment is about creating opportunity for families and strengthening communities,” said Vincent R. Bennett, President and CEO, McCormack Baron. “Through the continued transformation of Preservation Square, and in partnership with Home State Health, Urban Strategies, Inc., and the Centene Foundation, we are helping connect residents to healthcare, supportive services, economic opportunities, and the resources needed to build long-term stability.”
The partnership brings together MBS’ housing development and neighborhood revitalization expertise, Home State Health’s healthcare and community connections, and USI’s resident engagement, family support, and service coordination. The final phase of Preservation Square is supported through the Centene Foundation’s multiyear partnership with MBS. Under that partnership, the Foundation provides MBS with below-market-rate loans for predevelopment design and planning work, including critical early-stage activities such as site analysis, design, community engagement, and financial planning. This early-stage financing is intended to help MBS advance affordable housing projects and unlock additional public and private financing.
The local strategy is informed by resident input and data gathered through USI’s longstanding work in the community. Together, the partners are using these insights to connect residents with meaningful support and stronger pathways to health, stability, and opportunity.
Each organization contributes a distinct role to the local collaboration and broader project:
- McCormack Baron Salazar is the nation’s leading developer of economically integrated urban neighborhoods building high-quality homes for families, children, and seniors.
- Home State Health is bringing/leveraging partners in support of healthcare, community resources with trusted local organizations that address social drivers of health.
- Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI) serves as an institutional backbone for resident-centered neighborhood transformation, bringing nearly five decades of experience aligning residents, public agencies, philanthropy, developers, and community partners around shared outcomes. As both a national nonprofit and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), USI combines people-centered strategies with access to capital, leveraging millions of dollars in public, private, and philanthropic investment to advance community success, economic mobility, and wealth creation.
On the ground, USI leads resident and stakeholder engagement, family support, community convening, service coordination, and economic investment. Our deep community relationships, data infrastructure, capital tools, and results-driven approach allow us to translate resident priorities into action, align resources across systems, attract and leverage additional investment, and hold partners accountable for measurable progress toward Choice Neighborhood outcomes and long-term community transformation.
- The Centene Foundation provides MBS with below-market-rate loans for predevelopment design and planning work through its multiyear affordable housing partnership with MBS.
The collaboration—underway before the groundbreaking—with Home State Health, USI and participating community organizations engages Preservation Square residents through events, outreach, resource navigation and service connections. At a recent Health Empowerment Event, Affinia Healthcare supported with Medicaid applications and health screenings, while St. Louis Area Foodbank shared food-access resources and assisted with SNAP applications. Home State Health and USI are also exploring additional connections with Greater Health Pharmacy & Wellness for medication support and Mission St. Louis for workforce development.
“Stable housing is a critical foundation for good health,” said Esther Shin, USI President and CEO. “By building trust, centering the needs of residents, and aligning housing, health, and supportive services, this partnership is creating stronger connections and opportunities for Preservation Square families.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will include remarks from community leaders and project partners, followed by a ceremonial shovel turn and media availability.