Phoenix Development Blends Housing and Health Care

The Reserve at Thunderbird brings the “housing is health care” model to Phoenix.

The 242-unit community features a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes for large families, with 176 apartments designated as affordable or permanent supportive housing.

“The Reserve at Thunderbird is more than housing—it’s a transformative, trauma-informed, public health intervention that breaks cycles of poverty, homelessness, and instability for families,” says developer Jessica Raymond, executive vice president of Atlantic Development & Investments. “It provides permanent supportive housing with sustainable, Zero Energy Ready design, and a Housing First approach, creating a dignified, secure foundation where families can heal and thrive.”

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid agency, provided capital funds for the development and project-based vouchers to support 40 families with a member who has a severe mental illness. The Reserve at Thunderbird also has 34 units for families who experienced homelessness, domestic violence, or human trafficking and six units for people with an intellectual disability.

The use of Medicaid funding in affordable housing is a forward-thinking approach to address the social determinants of health. Beyond shelter, the development has multiple service providers on-site to offer case management, health care programs, and a food pantry.

“Through the integration of Medicaid and housing funds, this once-blighted site has become a vibrant, empowering community—pairing beautiful, high-quality construction with deeply integrated services that address trauma, promote stability, and uplift those most often left behind,” Raymond says. The $79.4 million development, which involved two phases that were built almost simultaneously, also tapped into state housing trust funds. It was recently recognized as Affordable Community of the Year by the National Apartment Association.