(Reno, NV) November 7, 2013 — Northern Nevada HOPES, a nonprofit community health center in downtown Reno, NV, was awarded a New Access Point grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA). As a new Community Health Center, this highly-competitive federal grant allows Northern Nevada HOPES to increase access to affordable healthcare services to insured and uninsured northern Nevadans.
The New Access Point grant brings much-needed funding to the Reno community and allows HOPES to provide affordable, quality medical care to underserved people including the uninsured, the homeless, the LGBT community, and the Hispanic community. With this new funding, HOPES has the opportunity to increase its collaborative relationships with community providers to ensure that all Nevadans have access to a full-range of comprehensive healthcare services.
Northern Nevada HOPES CEO, Sharon Chamberlain, says, “After conducting a major Needs Assessment in 2012, we found an enormous need in our community for affordable healthcare among local citizens. We are filling this gap by providing high-quality primary care at our community health center in downtown Reno, while continuing to provide the best care available for HIV positive individuals in northern Nevada.”
HOPES opened its doors to non-HIV positive patients in September of 2012, after serving HIV positive patients in northern Nevada for the past 16 years. Given the uncertainty of ongoing federal funding for HIV service organizations, expansion has given HOPES access to additional funding sources so that it can continue to provide expert HIV care while serving the primary healthcare needs of local community members. HOPES plans to serve an additional 4,100 individuals of the 7,000 low-income and 3,000 homeless residing in the surrounding service area.
To read more about New Access Point awards across the U.S., visit HHS.gov.
