Cassandra Morgan has lived in Austin for 35 years. Good well being care has all the time been vital to her household— she has a daughter who struggles with psychological well being points.
“It’s arduous,” mentioned Morgan. “So many individuals neglect about what’s occurring with psychological well being.”
Quickly, although, Morgan and her household can have a brand new area in their very own neighborhood to seek out sources to assist them.
On Monday, the 36,525-square-foot PCC Major Care Pavilion broke floor at 5425 W. Lake St., throughout the road from PCC Austin Household Well being Heart.
The pavilion plans to supply on-site major care, behavioral well being, dental and specialty providers recognized as “excessive want” by neighborhood members.
“The Austin pavilion began out as an concept in 2016,” mentioned Robert Urso, former president and CEO of PCC, previously the Dad or mum Youngster Heart. “The venture represents the flexibility to deliver neighborhood residents and organizations collectively in collaborative relationships to handle social determinants of well being and well being inequity.”
With area for a health club, demonstration take a look at kitchen and a neighborhood backyard, PCC board members mentioned they hope to handle the life expectancy hole between Austin residents and different components of the town.
“When individuals see this constructing, it’s going to be an emblem of hope,” mentioned Ford, “hope that the well being care disparities and the life expectancy on this space might be … elevated, as a result of we all know the life expectancy is decrease than in communities round us.”
West Aspect United, a company selling well being fairness, estimates that those that dwell in West Aspect neighborhoods have a projected life expectancy as much as 14 years shorter than those that dwell downtown. This hole is the results of obstacles to “equitable well being care, training and financial alternative, in addition to the bodily setting,” the group says.
The pavilion is a part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Make investments South/West initiative. Spanning 5 parcels of land from Prepare dinner County Land Financial institution Authority, the venture will value almost $19.5 million.
The venture is receiving funding from The PCC Basis, which has 14 Group Wellness Facilities positioned totally on the West Aspect, and qualifies for New Market Tax Credit and extra authorities and personal funds.
The pavilion is anticipated to be accomplished inside 18 months.
“The chance to have a spot that’s going to stick to your physique, your thoughts and your soul may solely assist our neighborhood,” mentioned Morgan.
Cheyanne M. Daniels is a workers reporter on the Chicago Solar-Occasions by way of Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that goals to bolster the paper’s protection of communities on the South and West sides.
