Building a Healthier Community

A healthy community is about more than access to quality healthcare. It's also about having a safe, affordable place to call home, opportunities to succeed, and a community that looks out for its neighbors.

That's why Physicians Regional Healthcare System was proud to join FC Naples and Habitat for Humanity of Collier County for several volunteer build days at Las Palmas, Habitat Collier's newest affordable homeownership community in North Naples.

Team members from Physicians Regional and FC Naples worked alongside Habitat volunteers and future homeowners, putting teamwork into action to help address one of Southwest Florida's most pressing challenges: affordable housing.

The day was particularly meaningful because two of our employees are among the future homeowners at Las Palmas.

One of them, Angela Cisneros Nieves, attended the most recent event and had the opportunity to give me a tour of her nearly completed home. Seeing firsthand what this opportunity means to her and her family brought the purpose of the day into sharp focus.

At Physicians Regional, we recognize that supporting our employees and supporting the community are closely connected. A thriving healthcare workforce depends on a thriving community, and affordable housing is an important part of that equation.

Habitat Collier deserves tremendous recognition for its work. Since 1978, the organization has partnered with more than 2,800 local families to create pathways to affordable homeownership. It is also the country's top-producing Habitat affiliate, building an average of 90 to 100 homes each year. That kind of sustained accomplishment reflects an extraordinary commitment from its staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners.

Las Palmas represents another significant milestone. When completed, the approximately 17-acre development, located just north of Immokalee Road off Collier Boulevard, will provide 210 new homes for local families.

What makes Habitat's approach especially meaningful is that families actively participate in the process. Applicants are selected based on demonstrated need, their ability to repay an affordable mortgage, and their willingness to partner with Habitat. Future homeowners contribute sweat equity through construction work and complete education designed to prepare them for successful homeownership.

Perhaps best of all: These families are future owners. There is a substantial application process. There's the sweat equity component of it. So, it's not a gift. It's not just charity work. The homebuyers are part of the process. They own every aspect. Literally.

Families ultimately purchase their homes with a down payment and an affordable, no-interest mortgage tailored to their circumstances. Monthly payments are capped at 30% of household income. The model combines opportunity with responsibility and helps families build a lasting foundation.

FC Naples shares our commitment to Southwest Florida. Their participation in the build day demonstrates how organizations across different industries can come together around a shared investment in the community.

Our three Naples hospitals serve residents and visitors throughout Southwest Florida, with more than 800 physicians providing care across more than 45 specialties and subspecialties. Our services include 24-hour emergency care, cardiology, vascular and digestive disease care, orthopedics, spine care, neurosurgery, and women's services. We continually work to expand healthcare options and improve access.

But improving community health also means recognizing the circumstances that influence people's lives outside the healthcare setting. We care deeply about you inside our walls, and when you leave us to return to yours.

We want the community to be as healthy as possible, so any support we can provide, whether that's through Habitat or any other initiative, will be crucial to the region's reputation and sense of purpose. It also leads to better health, better outcomes, and a healthier, safer community.

Naples has been my home since the early 1980s. I've witnessed tremendous growth and believe our collective success depends on investing not only in healthcare and economic development, but also in the people who make Southwest Florida home. That includes our workforce, our neighbors, and the families who will shape this community's future.

The volunteer build day at Las Palmas reminded us that meaningful progress happens when we work together. Whether building a home, caring for a patient, or advocating on behalf of someone less fortunate, we all have a role in creating a healthier Southwest Florida.