One look at the long line outside of the CommUnityCare Clinic housed at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless will tell you how much need there is for health care among Austin's homeless.
The clinic's staff treats patients with no income and no health insurance.
"There's a major, wide range of problems, as far as behavioral, mental health, dental and vision," clinic administrator Tony Moore said.
About 10,000 patients squeeze through the 1,100-square-foot office every year.
Moore said those who get in are just the lucky ones.
 |  |
 | |  |
| | | | | | | |
Health Care Debate
News 8's Heidi Zhou reports on the state of homeless health care and how some feel about President Barack Obama's health care plan.
 
Homeless Health Care
News 8's Heidi Zhou speaks to David Vliet, the CEO of CommUnityCare, about the Austin clinic.
| | |
| | | | | |
|
"I think our services should be able to expand, to be able to cater to a larger population," he said.
Moore is backing the president's health care plan for that reason.
He said he's yet to hear details about how his patients will be affected, but he trusts Obama's intentions.
"Things have to be done, and he's actually listening," Moore said. "I feel he is a major advocate for what we do here."
Patient Terry Chenault said current government-funded health care programs for the homeless can do a lot better.
"I have friends here now who go without their medication, health medication, vision medication, and then they suffer," Chenault said.
Chenault once dislocated his knee while working a night job. He said the free clinic was closed, and the emergency room turned him away.
"It's a danged if you don't, danged if you do situation," he said.
That's the consensus among the clinic's patients.
"I have health problems myself. I really want this change to happen," patient Andy Aguirre said.
Patients of the CommUnityCare clinic at the ARCH are part of the Medical Assistance Program. Their annual budget of about $50 million comes from Travis County tax payers and the federal government.
