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Relief Comes For The Sick, Needy And Homeless

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: March 21, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - Two facilities assisting people through life's tougher times are now ready to serve their growing populations.

This weekend a day shelter for the homeless will open north of the city and next weekend a health care center accepting the noninsured sick opens downtown.

Community Health Care of Pinellas will open its Tarpon Springs Health Care Center on Monday, March 30. The center will offer affordable medical care to both the insured and uninsured.

One of the center's medical professional usually will see on the same day a sick person who calls 727-944-3828 for an appointment, said Joe Santini, a spokesman for the St. Petersburg-based Community Health Care of Pinellas.

There are many people in North Pinellas who cannot afford medical insurance so they neglect their health until their condition worsens, according to Santini. Community Health offers them a place where they can find medical assistance needed to cure their ills.

"Opening of the Tarpon Springs Center is very exciting and a huge step for us," said Pat Mabe, the executive director of Community Health Care. "With this addition, we are now positioned to serve the entire county."

The center provided its health services at the lowest possible cost to patients, Santini said. It places emphasis on immediate care, health maintenance and prevention.

There is, however, a wait of a few weeks for preventative checkups, he noted.

Doctors, including a pediatrician and nurse practitioners will be at the Tarpon center Monday through Friday. Center officials are still planning the operating hours.

Community Health will hold a grand opening for its fifth facility and tours of its 16 examination rooms from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday, March 27. The center is at 247 S. Huey Ave., between East Tarpon Avenue and East Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Community Health has been operating out of cramped temporary quarters at the Pinellas County Health Department Tarpon Springs Center. The Health Department center on South Disston Avenue only has three examination rooms.

Meanwhile, the nonprofit faith-based group Grace Chapel Inc. will open a drop-in center for the homeless today, Saturday. Grace Chapel is at 1278 N. Pinellas Ave., north of the Anclote River Bridge.

The grand opening for Grace Chapel will be held 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. March 21.

"The homeless are already here. Grace Chapel gives them a chance to get back on their feet with dignity," said Tom Henderson, a member of the committee working on the project.

Grace Chapel offers the homeless a place to take a shower and wash their laundry but will not have overnight accommodations.

It will, however, allow homeless people to use its telephone number and postal address while seeking employment, according to Henderson. It will also make available donated clothing so people can dress appropriately for job interviews.

Grace Chapel has invited social service agencies such as the Shepherd Center, Salvation Army and Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security to provide information on the services they provide.

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