Federal officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) joined LifeLong Medical Care on August 9 to mark the beginning of National Health Center Week at the Trust Health Care Center, the East Bay’s innovative health facility at 386-14 St. in downtown Oakland.

National Health Center Week is August 8 – 14, 2021.  Annually, this time is set aside to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past five decades.  Each day of NHCW 2021 is dedicated to a particular focus area, with August 9 recognized as Healthcare for the Homeless Day.

As COVID-19 cases surge across the Bay Area amid looming rent evictions, representatives from HUD and HRSA highlighted access to COVID-19 testing and vaccination for persons experiencing homelessness; Trust Health Center patients talked about their experiences during the health pandemic and how LifeLong’s model of care provided lifesaving health services.

LifeLong’s CEO, David B. Vliet said the 45-year-old community healthcare system serves some 60,000 patients system wide. “We assume a leadership role in recognizing homelessness as a public health crisis. Our medical teams were among the first in the area to bring COVID-19 testing and vaccines to homeless encampments in the East Bay. Our Trust Health Center, Street Medicine Teams, Medical Respite, and Permanent Supportive and Public Housing Programs are uniquely designed to be responsive to people’s needs.”

The Oakland Post’s  coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.

Isabelle Price

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