PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Cigna Group Foundation has announced the first round of recipients for its new grant program, which aims to enhance mental health and housing stability for U.S. veterans. Through this initiative, the Foundation is allocating $9 million over the next three years to support programs and services that directly impact veteran well-being. The grants will fund organizations working to reduce homelessness among veterans, particularly those facing mental health challenges.
“After serving and defending our country, many of our nation’s veterans struggle with long-term health conditions, including brain injuries, depression, and substance use disorders, all of which impact their ability to secure stable housing. By addressing shelter, we can put veterans on a better path for their mental health,” said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. “We are grateful to have received interest from all over the country about our program, and we are thrilled to announce these 22 grantees that are making a positive difference every day in their communities.”
Addressing the Critical Need for Housing Stability
The Cigna Group Foundation’s grant program is focused on supporting veterans who are at an elevated risk of homelessness, especially compared to the general population. Many of these veterans face unique challenges that hinder their ability to access stable housing, which directly impacts their mental health and overall well-being.
The foundation’s grantees will utilize the Housing First model, which prioritizes providing permanent housing to veterans without requiring them to first complete sobriety or mental health treatment. This approach has proven effective in reducing the time to housing placement from 235 days to just 35 days, while also increasing housing retention and reducing emergency room visits.
The 22 grantee organizations selected for funding include:
- U.S.Vets – Arizona (Arizona)
- Community Renewal Team, Inc. (Connecticut)
- Grand Avenue Economic Community Development Corp. (Florida)
- The Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County (Florida)
- Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council (Florida)
- City of Refuge, Inc. (Georgia)
- Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans (Illinois)
- The University of Chicago (Illinois)
- Veterans Community Project (Missouri)
- Family Promise of Sussex County (New Jersey)
- Robin’s Home, Inc. (Pennsylvania)
- Veterans Leadership Program (Pennsylvania)
- Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard (Pennsylvania)
- Operation Stand Down Tennessee (Tennessee)
- Tennessee Homeless Solutions (Tennessee)
- Opportunity Center for the Homeless (Texas)
- St. Vincent’s House (Texas)
- U.S.Vets – Texas (Texas)
- Back On My Feet (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas)
- Homes For Our Troops (Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona)
- Operation Finally Home (Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas)
- Veterans Rebuilding Life (Connecticut, New Jersey)
Key Focus Areas for Grant-Funded Projects
The grantees will focus their efforts on three key areas to help improve housing stability for veterans:
Mobilizing Rapid Re-Housing Assistance: By utilizing the Housing First model, grantees will work to quickly house veterans, aiming to reduce evictions, improve health, reduce harmful behaviors, and increase income. This model has been proven to lower the time it takes to house individuals and increase retention rates.
Navigating Complex Processes: Veterans often face a complicated web of programs and services to access housing and financial assistance. The grantees will offer case management and outreach services to help veterans connect to resources such as housing vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This will also include linking veterans with mental health services to promote their overall well-being.
Increasing Pathways to Permanent Housing: The goal is not just to house veterans temporarily but to provide long-term housing solutions. This will be achieved through services like mortgage and rental assistance, employment re-entry programs, and the construction of housing specifically designed for veterans.
Regional Focus and Priorities
The Cigna Group Foundation has prioritized grants in regions where it serves a high number of customers at risk of poor social determinants of health, such as access to mental health care, stable housing, and economic resources. These regions include Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
Additional Support and Employee Volunteerism
The Cigna Group Foundation is also partnering with Habitat for Humanity International to support increased homeownership opportunities for veterans. In 2024, the foundation awarded Habitat for Humanity a $250,000 grant to expand its HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) initiative, which links HUD rental assistance with continued case management to support veterans.
Employee engagement has been another key aspect of Cigna’s efforts. In the fall of 2024, Cigna employees across the U.S. volunteered over 400 hours supporting housing projects for veterans in eight states. Employees worked alongside organizations like Veterans Community Project, Operation Finally Home, and Veterans Villages, engaging in activities such as home construction, landscaping, and repair. Additionally, employees have access to virtual, on-demand training to combat veteran suicide, furthering Cigna’s commitment to veteran mental health.
Moving Forward
The $9 million initiative, distributed over three years, is just the beginning of The Cigna Group Foundation’s long-term commitment to improving the lives of veterans. By supporting programs that focus on both housing stability and mental health, the foundation aims to make a lasting impact on veterans’ quality of life, helping them heal and thrive after their service to the nation.
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