FOURTH STREET CLINIC

Fourth Street Clinic was founded in 1988 by Dr. Allan Ainsworth inside a cleaned out office across the street from Utah's largest emergency shelter. The triage clinic was staffed with one part-time nurse who relied heavily on hospitals for patient treatments.

Today, with a staff of 45 and a volunteer network of more than 200, Fourth Street Clinic is a comprehensive health care home that serves 6,500 homeless men, women and children with 30,000 primary care, behavioral health and specialty care visits. Fourth Street Clinic dispenses 40,000 medications annually.

By increasing homeless Utahns access to primary care, Fourth Street Clinic is a major partner in ending homelessness, promoting community health, and achieving across-the-board health care savings. For many patients, the clinic is their first and only chance at proper diagnosis and treatment. Good physical and mental health is the foundation for transitioning back into permanent housing. Many chronically homeless Utahns ignore their health problems for decades; many are also alcoholics which, coupled with street living, leaves their bodies compromised. Simple problems often turn into health crises and can cost thousands of dollars if they go untreated.

For more information visit http://www.fourthstreetclinic.org/