HOMELESS WOMEN TO RECEIVE FREE HEALTH CARE

HOMELESS WOMEN TO RECEIVE FREE HEALTH CARE
Women’s Empowerment and Hart Medical Services launch pilot program to provide free basic health care to homeless women

Homeless women will receive a precious gift this holiday season: free health care. In an unprecedented new program being launched, local nonprofit Women’s Empowerment has teamed up with local physician Karen Hart of Hart Medical Services to address a major gap in services to homeless and formerly homeless women.

The homeless population experiences an alarming rate of unmet health needs. At Women’s Empowerment, 89 percent of women in the program have experienced domestic violence, 54 percent struggle with drug and alcohol recovery, and 73 percent have mental health problems and learning disabilities. Other health-related problems include clinical depression, hypertension, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, cancer and more.

Women’s Empowerment executive director Lisa Culp formed the partnership with Hart when both women were honored at a banquet recognizing women of vision and innovation. At that banquet launched what may be one of Sacramento’s most extraordinary innovations to date in the homeless community.

“I had been looking for a nonprofit to work with,” Hart said. “When I heard Lisa speaking about Women’s Empowerment, I knew I had found the right agency.”

Similarly, Women’s Empowerment had been hoping to expand its health-related services. “When Dr. Hart approached me with her idea, I was overjoyed. Poor health creates a huge barrier for women trying to get back on their feet and return to work. Meeting their health needs brings these women one step closer to a successful future,” Culp said.

The pilot program is currently under development, with the first women set to receive care in early 2010.

Women’s Empowerment is the only job-readiness program exclusively serving homeless women in the greater Sacramento region. The 2009 Nonprofit of the Year has graduated more than 600 homeless women and their 658 children, with 84 percent of them finding permanent housing and 69 percent finding financial stability, despite the current economy. This unique program combines self-esteem courses, job training, health classes and support services to help homeless women across diverse ages, races and cultures.

Dr. Karen Hart is a board certified family practice physician who looks beyond the boundaries of clinical treatment. Hart Medical Services offers traditional care, spa treatments, alternative medicine and a unique membership program that helps individuals and families struggling with the high cost of health insurance. Membership includes preventative medicine, primary care, internal medicine and women's health. Dr. Hart received the 2009 OWL Woman Innovator Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners for her unique practice. The individual membership will be offered at no charge to students of Women’s Empowerment.