Our History

1982 - Healthcare for the Homeless is granted 501(c) 3 statuses by the Internal Revenue

Service, having started as a volunteer-driven effort known as “Coalition for Community

Health Center in 1979.

1984 - The organization becomes one of 23 homeless demonstration projects in the

country with funding from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and Pew Charitable

Trust.

1985 - Healthcare for the Homeless provides start-up funding for four different area

clinics, two of which (St. Ben’s Clinic and Salvation Army’s Emergency Lodge Clinic)

continue operating to this day. By the fourth month of operations, over 800 patients

have been served.

1986 - With seed funding provided by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, the

organization launches a mobile Street Outreach effort, delivering direct services to

people experiencing homelessness in the community, many of which live with chronic

mentally illness.

1989 - Milwaukee County moves to stabilize, strengthen and focus that effort, and

offers the company funding to expand services from a new federal program called PATH

(Projects for Assistance in the Transition from Homelessness). PATH continues to serve

homeless persons with chronic and disabling behavioral health disorders to this day.

1993 - Healthcare for the Homeless receives certification as a Federally-Qualified Health

Center (FQHC) and purchases the building at 711 West Capitol Drive, but is still

contracting with other health system providers for the delivery of primary care.

1997 -The organization launches the first program targeted to homeless women with

children under the name “A Street”, with funding from Milwaukee County.

1999 - During this year, Health Care for the Homeless begins delivery of direct primary

healthcare services at a clinic co-located with Hope House.

2004 - Health Care for the Homeless leases space at 210 West Capitol Drive to open a

dually-certified outpatient behavioral health clinic.

2006 & 2007 – The organization opens an adult primary care clinic adjacent to the

Behavioral Health Clinic.

2008 - As Columbia St. Mary’s closes a clinic it was operating on the second floor of the

210 building, Healthcare for the Homeless moves to develop the resources and

infrastructure needed to expand its services beyond the homeless population.

2011 - Healthcare for Homeless becomes Outreach Community Health Centers, Inc.

offering a full range of primary and behavioral health services to all persons in need of

care, homeless and housed, insured and uninsured.