New Federal Grant Expands Medical Services

Project Renewal received an exciting and critical grant to reach an additional 4,000 patients annually. The grant will meet the healthcare needs of homeless men and women through three new services: the CareVan, the LifeLine van, and an in-shelter medical clinic at the HELP USA Clarke Thomas Shelter on Ward's Island.

Roslynn Glicksman

Medical Director Roslynn Glicksman believes that Project Renewal was awarded the grant due to three key strengths of our health care program: 

1. An innovative model of bringing healthcare to clients through medical vans as well as shelter-based clinics reaches individuals who have very few other options for care.
2. A comprehensive and coordinated healthcare program including primary, psychiatric, specialty care, and help with entitlements so patients don't have to go outside the Project Renewal medical program and risk getting "lost."
3. A strong quality improvement program, using a state of the art electronic health record that allows participation in current federal initiatives including the Patient Centered Medical Home.

Fort Washington Shelter clients have been all around town this summer enjoying art, nature, animals and good food.

Recreation Specialist Anna Coleman-Wilson emphasized the importance of these activities, "Providing positive alternative programming reinforces constructive behavior, such as, socialization, ADL (activities for daily living), leadership skills, team work and communication. I believe clients can become more proactive in their lives when they seek and understand that there are options. They can take this awareness and accept life's challenges more positively. Something as simple as a softball game can assist a client with all of the above skills. A Bronx Zoo trip can trigger joyful experiences from childhood or with their own children. Sometimes when an individual has been homeless or incarcerated for a long period of time, they forget or never experienced the excitement of practicing for a bowling league, talent showcase or attending an annual BBQ. Recreational activities can truly be a stabilizer of life; holding clients mentally together while they work on housing and manage life's challenges."