Union Mission, founded in 1936, works to prevent and end homelessness in Greater Savannah, Chatham County.

The J.C. Lewis Health Center, a 32-bed respite care facility for the homeless, opened in September of 1999. The Center also operates outlying clinics, including the Social Apostolate and Salvation Army. The Center provides primary holistic health care through an array of venues, including outpatient clinics, off site clinics at other agencies (Social Apostolate, Salvation Army), respite care program, and educational services. The State of Georgia has chosen J.C. Lewis Health Center as a model for providing health care to homeless individuals. The Center provides technical assistance to other agencies throughout the State of Georgia.

Services

Primary Healthcare, Physician services, medication assistance, medical case management, health prevention and promotion, shelter and housing referrals, economic education and referral, nutritional education and planning, dietary supplementation, prisoner re-entry program, 24 respite care, behavioral health counseling, transportation services. 24 hour emergency on-call, Asthma, Basic Needs, 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, Flu Vaccinations, Health/Nutritional Education, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Immunizations, Labs, Medical Respite Care, Medications/Prescription, Mental Health Counseling, Mobile Van/Transportation, Outreach, Physical Exams, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Residential, Smoking Cessation, Specialty Care, TB screening/education, Treatment of Acute Illness, Treatment of Chronic Illness, X-ray

Linkages

Union Mission’s partners include Memorial Health University Health Center, St. Josephs/Candler Health System, Chatham County Health Department, City of Savannah, United Way, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Georgia Region 13 for Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Recovery Place of Savannah, America’s Second Harvest of the Coastal Empire, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The J.C. Lewis Health Center has formal protocols for referral and admission with Memorial Health University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System. The J.C. Lewis Health Center also has linkages with the Savannah Health Mission and the Community Health Center.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 5,379

Patients served: 4,771

Subcontractors

Quest Laboratories

Med-Bank

Chatham County Safety Net

Salvation Army

Chatham Authority for the Homeless

Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS)