The Homeless Health Care Project of Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department provides services at a stationary clinic, as well as through outreach to homeless citizens living in the Chattanooga area.

Services

The stationary clinic is located next door to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, a day shelter with support services, including food, clothing, job training, and supportive housing for families. Direct primary care, substance abuse and mental health services, case management, and entitlement assistance are provided at the center.

Services provided indirectly by the center include secondary care, dentistry, emergency care, and inpatient care. The mobile medical unit provides primary care services to eight area shelters: Gardner House Youth Shelter, Hastings House, St. Catherine’s Shelter, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Chambliss Shelter for Children, Family Emergency Shelter, Chattanooga Room in the Inn, Chattanooga Area Safe Space, and Chattanooga Rescue Mission. Entitlement assistance and case management services are provided in cooperation with case managers from these agencies. Transportation may be provided by the center. The Center has received an expansion grant to add behavioral health services to our primary care program.

Linkages

Emergency, specialty and inpatient care are provided by referral to Erlanger Medical Center, Johnson Mental Health Center, Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, Memorial Hospital, and Project Access. In addition, the project has linkages with more than 42 organizations in the community, providing job training and placement, education and literacy services, mental health counseling, and housing services. Cherokee Health Systems will be partnering with us in our new behavioral health program.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 6,000

Patients served: 3,881

Subcontractors

Alton Park/Dodson Ave. Community Health Center 

100 East 37th Street Chattanooga, TN 37411 Contact: Frank Buoy Phone: (423) 778-2711 Fax: (423) 778-2709 Email: fowlerdp@erlanger.org

Chattanooga Community Kitchen, Inc

PO Box 11203 Chattanooga, TN 37401 Contact: Charlie Hughes  Phone: (423) 756-4222  Fax: (423) 756-3820  Email: kitchen@combiz.net