Health Care for the Homeless Information Resource Center

HCH Directory - District of Columbia

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Unity Health Care, Inc.

3020 14th Street NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 745-4300
Fax: (202) 588-0192
Email: mmadison@unityhealthcare.org
Web: www.unityhealthcare.org
Director:Vincent A. Keane
HCH Coordinator: Michelle R. Madison
Medical Director: Janelle Goetcheus, MD
UDS Number: 037020

Project Description

Unity Health Care, founded in 1984, is the largest private organization providing primary medical care to homeless, low-income, and uninsured District residents. Unity operates 26 health care centers and two mobile outreach programs. These sites and services are located throughout the city in areas with large numbers of people living in poverty to ensure maximum accessibility. Unity's institutional approach focuses on ensuring that programs are accessible, high quality, culturally appropriate, and responsive to clients' needs.

Services

Unity encompasses 13 primary care health centers, a school-based clinic, 10 homeless care sites, 2 specialty health centers, and 2 mobile health units. Unity delivers primary care services throughout the District at homeless shelters, the central intake unit of the District's Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (APRA), prison facilities (Central Detention Facility and Correctional Treatment Facility), the District's Detoxification Center, and at people's homes and on the streets. Unity's network of service sites provides a seamless continuum of care that includes primary care, social services, oral health, mental health, substance abuse counseling, and subspecialty services. At smaller sites, patients are referred to a nearby health center offering enhanced services. Unity refers and provides transportation to local hospitals and health care organizations that provide subspecialty services.

Linkages

A Community Partnership of organizations coordinates an array of housing services and community planning. In addition to Unity, the Partnership includes: the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families, and Elders; Pathways to Housing; Department of Mental Health; Department of Health; Department of Human Services; and eight outreach agencies (Georgetown Ministry Center, Neighbors Consejo, Community Council for the Homeless, Unity's mobile medical van, Rachael's Women's Center, Salvation Army "Grate Patrol," D.C. Central Kitchen's "First Helping" program, and UPO Shelter Hotline vans). Unity participates in planning and organizational meetings for this coalition. This partnership extends Unity’s referral network for housing services as well as its reach to people in need.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 20,000 Patients served: 14,000

Subcontractor(s):

So Others Might Eat, Inc. (SOME)
60 O Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Contact: John Adams
Phone: (202) 797-8806
Fax: (202) 265-3849
Email: some@some.org