Helping Hands Clinic for the Homeless

Mission

Helping Hands Clinic seeks to improve the physical and mental well-being of the homeless and poor by: delivering comprehensive health care, sensitizing providers to the special needs of the poor and engaging the community in meaningful contribution.

History

Helping Hands is a group of volunteer health professionals who have provided free healthcare to the poor and/or homeless for over 30 years. The clinic is staffed by social workers, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, physicians, and community service volunteers. 140 people in all! Over the years, there have been over 50,000 visits with over 12,000 individuals seeking care.  Half of those served are homeless, ranging from months to decades on the streets.

Our Clients

• 100% have incomes below the poverty level
• 53% are homeless
• 48% Male, 52% Female
• 35% have substance use disorders
• 51% suffer from mental illness

Monday and Thursday Night Health Clinic Services for the Homeless and Poor

• A safe, welcoming, supportive social environment
• Primary medical care
• Psychiatry (the only free full-psychiatric medical program with onsite pharmaceuticals)
• Pharmacy
• Psycho-social support groups
• Discussion groups and women’s health presentations,
• Tobacco-cessation and education programs
• Health and well-being presentations
• HIV testing and counseling
• Massage therapy (Thursday only)
• Dental care: Clients are screened at our clinic, then transported by volunteers of Trinity United Methodist Church to ACORN Clinic for treatment
• Staff and volunteers provide assistance with all aspects of the clinic
• Acupuncture
• Clothing, including personal hygiene and survival items
• Cosmetologists provide haircuts
• Showers, evening meals, health screenings and referrals for outpatient specialty services
• Volunteers also provide counseling and referral to community services

Legal

Assistance through Three Rivers Legal Services.

How Donations support Helping Hands Clinic

Donations apply toward general operations in the following distribution:

• Clinical Services: 79%
• Pharmacy and Medical Supplies: 18%
• Administration: 3%

Supporters

Helping Hands Clinic is financially supported in part by generous private donors, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, the State of Florida Legislature, the City of Gainesville, and the Community Development Block Grant.