HRSA: In 2009, health centers served nearly 865,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families; more than 1 million individuals experiencing homelessness; and more than 165,000 residents of public housing.

Homelessness takes a tremendous toll on the body and mind.  It also kills at an incredible rate.  Because of this, health care costs are a large part of the overall cost of homelessness to communities.  Finding ways in which to ameliorate the health issues related to homelessness should be of the highest priority.  Obviously, one of the quickest ways of reducing health care costs is to house people so they are able to minimize exposure to the elements and the micro-organisms crawling around on just about every surface this ol planet puts in our way.  

If we can't do that, providing rapid access to quality health-care is a very good option indeed.  Enter the Health Center Program, which provides access to decent acute, chronic and preventative medicine for those who aren't covered by any insurance.  A group, by the way, that is growing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis as the Great Recession continues to take its toll on our country... 

The Health Center Program: Special Populations

Health Centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care.  These include low income populations, the uninsured, those with limited English proficiency. 

Some Health Centers also receive specific funding to focus on certain special populations:

• migrant and seasonal farmworkers
• individuals and families experiencing homelessness
• those living in public housing
• Native Hawaiians

In 2009, health centers served nearly 865,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families; more than 1 million individuals experiencing homelessness; and more than 165,000 residents of public housing.

Migrant Health Centers

In 2009, HRSA-funded health centers served nearly 865,000 migrant or seasonal farm workers and their families. It is estimated that HRSA-funded health center programs serve more than one quarter of all migrant and seasonal farm workers in the United States.

The Migrant Health Center program provides support to health centers to deliver comprehensive, high quality, culturally-competent preventive and primary health services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families with a particular focus on the occupational health and safety needs of this population. Principal employment for both migrant and seasonal farmworkers must be in agriculture.

The National Advisory Council on Migrant Health regularly advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the HRSA Administrator on migrant health issues.

Health Care for the Homeless Program

Homelessness continues to be a pervasive problem throughout the U.S., affecting rural as well as urban and suburban communities. According to a recent national survey, it is estimated that 930,589 people are homeless on a given night and 2 to 3 million are homeless over the course of a year.

The Health Care for the Homeless Program is a major source of care for homeless persons in the United States, serving patients that live on the street, in shelters, or in transitional housing. In 2009, HRSA-funded health centers served more than 1 million persons experiencing homelessness.


Health Care for the Homeless grantees recognize the complex needs of homeless persons and strive to provide a coordinated, comprehensive approach to health care including substance abuse and mental health services.

Public Housing Primary Care Health Centers

The Public Housing Primary Care Program provides residents of public housing with increased access to comprehensive primary health care services through the direct provision of health promotion, disease prevention, and primary health care services. Services are provided on the premises of public housing developments or at other locations immediately accessible to residents. In 2009, HRSA-funded health centers served more than 165,000 residents of public housing.

Native Hawaiians

The Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems (NHHCS) Program, funded within the health center appropriation, improves the health status of Native Hawaiians by making health education, health promotion, and disease prevention services available through the support of NHHCS.

Native Hawaiians face cultural, financial, social, and geographic barriers that prevent them from utilizing existing health services. In addition, health services are often unavailable in the community.

The NHHCS use a combination of outreach, referral, and linkage mechanisms to provide or arrange services. Services provided include nutrition programs, screening and control of hypertension and diabetes, immunizations, and basic primary care services. In 2009, NHHCS provided medical and enabling encounters to more than 7,800 people.


The Native Hawaiian Health Care Program also supports a health professions scholarship program for Native Hawaiians, the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP), and administrative costs for Papa Ola Lokahi, an organization that coordinates and assists health care programs provided to Native Hawaiians.

• More on Special Populations National Cooperative Agreements