BOSTON - Fourteen community health centers throughout the state will be able to move forward on critical improvements to infrastructure, medical equipment and patient safety enhancement with new assistance from the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority (HEFA).
Fulfilling its mandate to enhance the quality of life of the residents in the Commonwealth by enabling nonprofit institutions to reduce their cost of capital, HEFA today announced that it will provide grants to 14 local health centers totaling $336,736 as part of its Community Health Center Grant Program.
From the Berkshires to Brockton, in Worcester, Lawrence and Springfield, deserving health centers will be able to make significant improvements and improve their services to those who most need it.
HEFA's Program awards money to worthy nonprofit health centers whose mission is to provide critical health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals. Since the program's inception in 2006, HEFA has awarded more than $1.5 million to community health centers around Massachusetts.
"Local health centers are critical to our communities because they provide care to those who are most in need. Unfortunately in the midst of this economic crisis, many nonprofit health centers have had to put important projects and improvements on hold," said HEFA Executive Director Benson T. Caswell. "We are thrilled to be able to help these deserving health organizations whose daily mission is to deliver high quality health care to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay."
Many Massachusetts health centers recently received large federal stimulus awards, sharing more than $80 million. To ensure the largest impact from its program, HEFA made awards to health centers that did not receive stimulus funds, which include:
- Bowdoin Street Health Center in Boston, $20,000
- Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program in Boston, $21,450
- Hilltown Community Health Centers, Inc. in Worthington, $23,000
- Community Health Center of Franklin County in Turner Falls, $23,800
- North End Community Health Center in Boston, $24,100
- Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center in Roslindale, $24,386
- Brockton Neighborhood Health Center in Brockton, $25,000
- Caring Health Center in Springfield $25,000
- Community Health Center of Cape Cod in Mashpee, $25,000
- Family Health Center of Worcester in Worcester, $25,000
- Fenway Community Health Center in Boston, $25,000
- Greater Lawrence Family Health Center in Lawrence, $25,000
- Outer Cape Health Services in Eastham, $25,000
- Upham's Corner Health Center in Dorchester, $25,000
"I want to thank the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority (HEFA) for their generous donation to the North End Community Health Center," said State Senator Anthony Petruccelli (D-Boston). "The North End Community Health Center provides quality, accessible and affordable healthcare to our neighborhood residents and HEFA's recognition of it is especially appreciated during these challenging economic times."
"The lack of primary care internists on Cape Cod makes it extremely difficult for newly insured residents to find a doctor. Community Health Center of Cape Cod fills that gap for a growing number of people and does it well," said State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D-Falmouth). "This grant will help them in this endeavor."
Leaders of health centers funded through the program said the awards will benefit critical programs and underserved populations.
"Over the last five years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for services," said Frances M. Anthes, President and CEO of Family Health Center of Worcester. "The award from HEFA is a vital component to funding the critical infrastructure improvements needed to meet that demand."
HEFA supports Massachusetts' nonprofit health care organizations by financing equipment, construction, renovations, and refinancing debt. Last year, HEFA financed 49 projects for hospitals and other nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth totaling nearly $3 billion.
HEFA is fully self-funded, receiving no tax-payer dollars. HEFA also provides funding for higher education and cultural institutions, research and human service facilities, as well as energy procurement services available to all nonprofit and state and municipal facilities through its PowerOptions® Program. For more information, visit www.mhefa.org.