Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless has received a $50,000 grant to help it to provide primary medical, dental and behavioral health services to the homeless.
The monetary gift was from Molina Healthcare of New Mexico and its charitable foundation, MolinaCares.
“Far too many of our fellow New Mexicans continue to struggle with unmet health needs due to a lack of stable housing,” said Jenny Metzler, CEO of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless. “We are grateful to MolinaCares for their support in expanding programs that will improve the health and lives of those experiencing homelessness in our local community.”
According to Carolyn Ingram, plan president for Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, “correlations between homelessness and health are evident.” Through MolinaCares, “we are working to improve access to healthcare services and address social determinants of health for our vulnerable populations, such as those experiencing homelessness,” Ingram said.
According to estimates by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness and Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, 16,000 individuals just in Bernalillo County will experience homelessness of various durations sometime during this year.
The grant is part of the MolinaCares for Families initiative, in which the organization has committed over $400,000 to various community-based organizations to improve access to care statewide.
