As health care costs escalate, more people are struggling to access and pay for basic medical needs. According to S.A.Y. Detroit, 550,000 people in the Detroit area lack health insurance, and nearly 100,000 of these are kids under 10. To bridge this gap, several Metro Detroit missions and community organizations offer free clinics and health services to uninsured adults.
Health Unit on Davison Avenue (HUDA) Clinic
Originally located at the Muslim Center of Detroit, this facility has expanded and now operates at 13240 Woodrow Wilson St. HUDA Clinic assists uninsured residents with a variety of health services, including outpatient health assessments, blood pressure screening, cholesterol monitoring, diabetes screening, social work, internal medicine, ophthalmology, lab services, pharmacy, and prevention education. HUDA Clinic makes referrals for physical therapy, pain management, psychiatric care, obstetrics, and gynecology. HUDA Clinic is expanding to provide dental care. The clinic is open three days a week and offers walk-in services for returning patients.
Joy-Southfield Community Development Corporation
The Juanita Reaves Free Clinic operates out of the Joy-Southfield Health & Education Center, located at 18971 Joy Road in Detroit. The clinic offers primary care services, disease management groups, preventative health education, women's health needs, youth mentoring, and nutrition assistance. Patients can get help with hypertension, diabetes, stroke, HIV, and some forms of cancer. The clinic is open by appointment on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
St. Frances Cabrini Clinic
Cabrini Clinic, at 1234 Porter St., offers free, holistic medical care to uninsured residents. The primary area of service is Southwest Detroit, but care is available for any uninsured adult aged 19-64. Cabrini Clinic provides primary care, prescription assistance, EKG, lab testing, mental health counseling, dressings, basic home health care supplies, specialist referrals, and podiatry. Support groups and health education services are available, too. New patients must make an appointment, but walk-in is available after the first appointment. Service times vary by health issue.
S.A.Y. (Super All Year) Detroit Family Health Clinic
Located at 211 Glendale St. in Detroit, S.A.Y. Detroit's clinic operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. It provides services to homeless people and uninsured women and children. Services include screening and exams for various conditions, vaccines, disease management, health education, and some treatments. Eye exams are available. Free transportation is provided to area homeless shelters and missions.
St. Vincent de Paul Health Center
This free clinic is open by appointment and is located on the Cooley High School grounds at 15055 Hubbell in Detroit. St. Vincent de Paul Health Center offers care and treatment for a variety of adult conditions, excluding urgent care or emergency services, disability follow-up, mental health, pregnancy, child health services, and immunizations.
A Michigan native, Marilisa Sachteleben profiles people, places, and issues in her home state, particularly in its most pivotal city of Detroit.