The Time Is Now: Why Housing Innovation Must Surge and Why Viviscent Wellness Foundation Is Ready

Kevin Edmundson

VWF | Global Housing Advocate | One Person. One Home. One Community.

October 7, 2025

Abstract The United States faces a persistent housing shortfall, declining rural access to care and food, and an aging cohort that will strain systems over the next two decades. Viviscent Wellness Foundation proposes rural integrated hubs that combine housing, grocery, and seven medical units, delivered with industrialized construction for speed and cost control. This article outlines the need, the model, the Eden, Oklahoma hub, the capital and operating approach, and the outcomes framework that public and private funders can evaluate. Evidence from national data and industry pilots supports immediate scale up. (Autodesk, 2023; Chartis Center for Rural Health, 2025; Freddie Mac, 2024; USDA ERS, 2025; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2025)

Introduction The United States is short by millions of homes. That shortfall keeps prices and rents high. It limits mobility. It blocks recovery in rural towns. The problem is not only housing. Rural people must travel far for primary care, behavioral health, and basics like groceries. Veterans and seniors carry the heaviest burden. Policy changes may shift programs to states, with less federal support than before. The only durable answer is more supply that is close to essentials and care. (Freddie Mac, 2024; NAHRO, 2025; The Washington Post, 2025; Politico, 2025; USDA ERS, 2025)

Problem definition Housing supply is millions short of need. The gap compounds each year. Rural hospitals operate at risk and many counties show poor food access. Over half of rural veterans in VA care are age 65 or older. Generation X is entering retirement, which will increase demand for supportive housing and chronic care. These trends converge in small towns first. They demand an integrated response. (Chartis Center for Rural Health, 2025; Freddie Mac, 2024; USDA ERS, 2025; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2025)

Model overview Viviscent Wellness Foundation builds rural integrated hubs. Homes above. Daily essentials and care below. Each hub uses modular or other industrialized delivery to control cost and time. Each hub follows a repeatable footprint that adapts to parcel and code. The plan targets 100 hubs that together deliver about 10,000 homes nationwide.

Core elements

1. Housing. About 100 homes per hub across studios, one, two, and three bedroom units. ADA units included. Mixed income with bands at 30 to 60 percent of area median income, plus workforce units where allowed.
2. Food and retail. A small format grocer of about 10,000 to 15,000 square feet with a pharmacy window. Space for essential retail and workforce services.
3. Seven medical units. Primary care and chronic disease management. Urgent care. Behavioral health. Substance use recovery with MAT capable space. Senior supportive care and memory day services. Diagnostics and lab. Telehealth and care navigation.
4. Operations and data. Standard operating playbooks. Quality and safety measures. Quarterly dashboards and independent evaluation.

Why now Pilots in industrialized construction show major gains in speed and cost. Autodesk’s Phoenix effort targets half the cost, time, and carbon of a typical multifamily project in a high cost market. That signal, plus the national supply gap and pressure on rural care, argues for immediate deployment. If policy shifts reduce federal rental and homelessness support, supply that is inherently affordable and closer to care becomes even more valuable to states and counties. (Autodesk, 2023; NAHRO, 2025; The Washington Post, 2025; Politico, 2025)

Lead hub, Eden Oklahoma Eden and the Enid area in Garfield County will anchor the first wave. The site serves families connected to Vance Air Force Base and the regional workforce. Target program includes about 120 homes. Thirty percent at 30 to 50 percent AMI. Fifty percent at 60 percent AMI. Twenty percent workforce units. Ground floor grocery of about 12,000 square feet with a pharmacy window. Seven medical units with about 18 exam rooms. Veteran preference where permitted by law. Expected outcomes by year three include fewer non emergent ER visits for target conditions, shorter travel time for residents, and new permanent jobs on site.

Capital and operating approach Capital budget per hub falls in the range of 32 to 38 million dollars. Hard costs typically run 240 to 290 dollars per square foot equivalent. Soft costs are about 20 percent. Contingency is 10 percent. The residential stack uses LIHTC equity and USDA Section 538 guaranteed debt. Ground floor health and grocery can qualify for New Markets Tax Credits. USDA Community Facilities supports clinics and equipment. CRA lenders and philanthropy fill gaps. Year one operations target residential effective gross of 1.8 to 2.2 million dollars, positive clinic contribution after payor costs, and positive net for grocery and small format retail after TI and CAM. The debt service coverage ratio target is 1.20 or better by year three. Reserves are funded at close. Program links are provided for diligence. (U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, n.d. a; U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, n.d. b; U.S. Department of the Treasury CDFI Fund, n.d.; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, n.d. a; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, n.d. b)

Implementation timeline Typical timeline from land control to opening is 9 to 14 months. Early code review and plan pre clearance reduce risk. Factory slots and shop drawings move in parallel with entitlements. Site work and foundations precede set and stitch. Inspections and certificate of occupancy close out the schedule.

Outcomes and measurement VWF will report quarterly at the hub and portfolio level. Key indicators include units and rents by AMI. Lease to own rules where used. Access to grocery within one mile. Access to same day primary care for urgent slots. ER diversion for ambulatory sensitive conditions. Medication adherence. Behavioral health engagement. Relapse reduction. Construction and permanent jobs. Local hire share and apprenticeships. Energy use per unit with solar and efficiency options by site. An independent evaluator will verify results.

Policy alignment The model aligns with USDA Rural Development, HUD rental housing, HUD VASH, HUD Section 202, state Medicaid managed care, and VA referral pathways. It fits federal goals for rural economic development, food access, and improved health outcomes. It gives states a tangible tool if federal programs shift toward block grants. (NAHRO, 2025; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, n.d. a; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, n.d. b; U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, n.d. a; U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, n.d. b)

Conclusion The need is large. The tools exist. Industrialized delivery can speed projects and protect budgets. Mixed use hubs can restore access to food and care. The Eden Oklahoma hub provides a credible starting point. A 100 hub plan can deliver about 10,000 homes and measurable gains in health and local economies. The time to act is now. (Autodesk, 2023; Chartis Center for Rural Health, 2025; Freddie Mac, 2024; USDA ERS, 2025; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2025)

References Autodesk. (2023, November 13). Autodesk led effort offers new solution to housing. https://adsknews.autodesk.com/en/news/ai-powered-sustainable-housing-phoenix/

Chartis Center for Rural Health. (2025, February 11). 2025 rural health state of the state. https://www.chartis.com/insights/2025-rural-health-state-state and PDF https://www.chartis.com/sites/default/files/documents/CCRH%20WP%20-%202025%20Rural%20health%20state%20of%20the%20state_021125.pdf

Freddie Mac. (2024, November 26). Housing supply, still undersupplied. https://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/housing-supply-still-undersupplied

NAHRO. (2025, May 2). FY 2026 budget proposes devastating cuts to housing and community development. https://www.nahro.org/news/fy-2026-budget-proposes-devastating-cuts-to-housing-and-community-development-block-granting-rental-assistance-to-states/

Politico. (2025, September 29). Trump administration looks at deep cuts to homeless housing program. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/29/trump-admin-looks-at-deep-cuts-to-homeless-housing-program-00585770

The Washington Post. (2025, May 6). Proposed cuts to housing programs could affect millions, experts warn. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/06/section-8-cuts-trump-budget-proposal/

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. (n.d. a). Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. (n.d. b). Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees, Section 538. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-loan-guarantees

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (n.d. a). HUD VASH. https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/housing-choice-vouchers-homeless-veterans

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (n.d. b). Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program. https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/mfinfo/section202ptl

U.S. Department of the Treasury, CDFI Fund. (n.d.). New Markets Tax Credit Program. https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/programs/new-markets-tax-credit

USDA Economic Research Service. (2025, September 23). Food Access Research Atlas. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Rural Health. (2025, March 10). Rural veterans. https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/aboutus/ruralvets.asp

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