Care For the Homeless currently operates 22 Federally Qualified Health Centers across all five boroughs, providing essential health care to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. But how do we decide where to open these health centers?

Since our founding 40 years ago, our community-based health center model has brought services directly to areas where the need is most significant. This reduces barriers unhoused New Yorkers regularly face in navigating a complex health care system by increasing access to high-quality, patient-centered primary and behavioral health services.

To make care as accessible as possible, our health centers are co-located at facilities where adults and families experiencing homelessness gather, including: 

• Shelters, which are specialized to serve men, women, seniors, or families with children experiencing homelessness on any given night. 

• Transitional shelters, with the goal of moving people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. These are specialized to serve individuals who are chronically street homeless and/or have mental or physical health needs.

• Safe Havens, a form of transitional housing that immediately moves people experiencing homelessness into temporary housing, offering an alternative to traditional shelters. One example is our Morris Avenue Safe Haven, located in the Bronx.

• Assessment Centers, operated by the Department of Homeless Services, serve as intake points for individuals entering the shelter system. CFH has health centers located at the men’s and women’s intake centers, providing health care to all who need it.

• Drop-in centers, which provide immediate services and a temporary place to rest. 

Many of these locations are owned by other organizations, such as Part of the Solution, Bronxworks, and Win. In addition, Care For the Homeless owns and operates two shelters for women, two shelters for men, and one Safe Haven, with plans to open more in the future. All these sites come with our health centers for residents and the community, providing open access to care. Our goal is always to end episodes of homelessness by providing essential supportive services to help our residents obtain stable and permanent housing.

Do you or someone you know need care? Book an appointment at one of our open access health centers, or call (833) 423-4273.