In Portland’s Cully neighborhood, a groundbreaking initiative combining health care, housing, and job training has emerged, aiming to uplift local young adults and families.
The ambitious plan features a community clinic, pharmacy, housing options, career guidance, health care internships, food benefit assistance, and child care, all located within a single block. The goal is to simplify access to essential services for residents seeking assistance.
“These are some of the most critical components that are necessary for individuals and families to thrive,” stated Adrien Bennings, president of Portland Community College.
After more than five years of collaboration, the development is now coming to fruition. Key stakeholders such as Multnomah County, the community college, various nonprofits, and federal authorities played pivotal roles in bringing the project to life.
The newly opened Fernhill Health Center marks an expansion of the longstanding La Clinica de Buena Salud which had been serving the neighborhood for 26 years from a location 1.5 miles away. While La Clinica offered primary care, the new center also includes dental services and an on-site pharmacy, which is rare for a community clinic in the area.
Anirudh Padmala, the interim executive director of the Community Health Center, indicated that the pharmacy was introduced based on feedback from the community. “This is what happens when community voices help shape the system; we get care that fits people, not the other way around,” said Community Health Center Board Chair Tamia Deary.
The health services provided at the Fernhill clinic will primarily be funded through billing the Oregon Health Plan and private insurance. For uninsured and underinsured patients, costs will be offset by funds allocated from the county’s community health care budget, as confirmed by a county spokesperson.
In tandem with providing health care, the community college center situated next door will facilitate job exploration and skills-based learning for Portland residents. This new center, known as the Opportunity Center, was made possible through a voter-approved bond in 2017 and is co-located with the clinic.
The clinic has plans to provide on-the-job training opportunities for community college students, assisting those studying health care in completing needed clinical hours. Portland Community College also has aspirations to expand the program to include dental and nursing assistant students, shared Pam Hester, the college’s dean for workforce development.
Additionally, the center hosts a branch of the Oregon Department of Human Services. This branch connects students and community members with federal food benefits and other essential support programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which offers cash aid for low-income families.
Bennings emphasized, “This is what it looks like to go beyond education. We think of colleges as just an educational institution, but we are catalysts for transforming communities.”
In a further significant addition to the facility, an 84-unit affordable housing complex is set to debut next fall. This project is a collaboration between Portland Community College and Home Forward, Portland’s housing authority, with on-site child care services provided by the Native American Youth and Family Center.
Officials are optimistic that students in search of affordable housing may find refuge in the new complex. Additionally, those moving into the apartments might discover opportunities to benefit from job training programs at the community college.
The initiative holds particular significance for Portland Community College, where about 65% of students report lacking at least one basic need such as food, housing, or health care. “By bringing together all of these service providers, we’re able to help people meet all their needs while working towards self-sufficiency,” Hester remarked.
As this new community center unfolds, it promises to be a beacon of hope and support for the residents of Cully, uniting vital resources and empowering individuals and families to thrive.
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