The Homeless Health Care Program is operated by the Community Health Center of Burlington. The program provides medical, dental, and behavioral health care to people experiencing homelessness. The program also provides outreach, case management, and supportive housing services.

The Community Health Centers of Burlington’s Safe Harbor Health Center has one of the biggest missions in Burlington: to provide no-cost health and human services to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. At this center, our staff provides primary and preventive health care, supportive housing programs, dental care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and case management services.

Across the street from Safe Harbor Health Center is Burlington’s only low-barrier Winter Warming Shelter, which provides a safe space and care management for single homeless adults during harsh Vermont winters. This model was designed to engage with guests and develop the trusting relationships and connections to long-term services needed to lift them permanently out of homelessness.

Teens and young adults up to age 26 may seek care at CHCB’s Pearl Street Youth Health Center where a medical provider and Licensed Clinical Social Worker provide primary and preventive health care, case management and mental health and substance abuse counseling, as well as connection to dental care and benefits such as health insurance.

CHCB also works closely with community partners to bring their expertise in intensive case management and health services to Harbor Place, a transitional housing complex, as well as Beacon Apartments, a permanent housing program for Burlington’s most chronically homeless individuals.

Services

The centers of operation include the main site at the Community Health Center of Burlington, the adult and family homeless clinic, called the Safe Harbor Clinic, and the Pearl Street Clinic for homeless and runaway youth. Services include primary health care, dental care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, outreach, referral, case management, homeless veteran’s services, and HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. Asthma, Behavioral Health Care Services, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Cancer Screening, Case Management/Social Services, Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema, Contraceptives (issued w/counseling), Dental Care, Diabetes Testing/Care, Electronic Medical Records, Family Planning, Flu Vaccinations, Gynecology, Health/Nutritional Education, Hepatitis C screening/treatment, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Immunizations, Labs, Medical Respite Care, Medications/Prescription, Mental Health Counseling, Multidisciplinary Health Teams, Outreach, Pain Management Services, Pediatrics, Physical Exams, Pneumococcal vaccine, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Services in Supportive Housing, Smoking Cessation, Substance Abuse Treatment, Trauma, TB screening/education, Treatment of Acute Illness, Treatment of Chronic Illness

Linkages

Linkages include Committee on Temporary Shelter, Visiting, Spectrum Youth and Family Services, Burlington Housing Authority, Burlington Community Land Trust, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Veterans Administration, Salvation Army, Burlington Emergency Shelter, Legal Aid, Lake Champlain Housing, United Way, St. Joseph’s House, Imani Health Institute, and Women Helping Battered Women.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 1,500

Patients served: 1,271

Subcontractors

Howard Center for Human Services; COTS – Committee on Temporary Shelter

95 North Ave, Burlington, VT 05401

Contact:

Bob Bick

Phone:

(802) 864-7402

Email:

ritam@cotsonline.org

Spectrum Youth and Family Services

31 Elmwood Avenue, VT 05401

Contact:

Mark Redmond

Phone:

(802) 864-7423

Email:

mredmond@spectrumvt.org