Worcester Health Care for the Homeless, a program of Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.

ABOUT:

Since 1988, Family Health Center's Worcester Health Care for the Homeless programs have been providing high quality health care for homeless adults and children through a trauma-informed model of integrated primary care and behavioral health care, wraparound services, and navigation support. Our team includes doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, and case managers who work in partnership with our patients to identify and treat immediate medical and behavioral health needs, and to address any underlying conditions that may contribute to chronic homelessness or serve as a barrier to maintaining stable housing and achieving self-sufficiency.

Worcester Health Care for the Homeless is operated by Family Health Center of Worcester, a Federally-Qualified Community Health Center whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of all residents in the Greater Worcester area, especially culturally diverse populations, by providing access to affordable, high quality, integrated, comprehensive, and respectful primary health care and social services, regardless of patients’ ability to pay. During the past year, Family Health Center of Worcester provided critical health care and social services to 35,000 low-income, culturally diverse patients in 55 languages. To learn more about Family Health Center of Worcester, please visit www.FHCW.org.

Homelessness is a stressful life event that can adversely affect long-term health and family functioning. Some patients have experienced trauma or violence, or have untreated mental health conditions or substance use disorders, and require additional support to engage in care and maintain health. Worcester Health Care for the Homeless programs, which include Health Care for Homeless Families and the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program (HOAP), aim to support our patients to improve their health and connect patients to community resources for food, housing, clothing and other social services.

Family Health Center of Worcester’s Health Care for Homeless Families Program works in partnership with families who are doubled-up, living in a shelter, in a car, on the street, or in unsafe/unstable housing to keep all family members healthy. Family Advocates help families by coordinating medical care, dental care, vision care, behavioral health care, emergency food vouchers, advocacy and assistance with applications, health insurance enrollment, transportation, specialty services for individuals living with HIV or AIDS, and access to treatment for substance use disorders.

Family Health Center of Worcester’s Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program (HOAP) provides comprehensive health care and case management for people living on the streets, in encampments or shelters, in transitional housing programs, or doubled up with family and friends. Working together, our integrated, multidisciplinary team addresses physical and behavioral health needs, substance use disorders, and social determinants of health by providing case management and linkages to community-based services.

OUR MISSION:

Worcester Health Care for the Homeless programs aim to improve the health and well-being of families and individuals experiencing homelessness and connect patients to community resources for food, housing, clothing and other social services.