Chalmers Courts Health Center opened Aug. 11 at 314 Chicon St., Austin, with the goal of providing health and wellness services to low-income families.
In a nutshell
A combined effort of CommUnityCare and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, the 5,000-square-foot federally designated community health center provides services such as family primary care, dental care, behavioral health care, labs, pharmacy, and care coordination and management.
Quote of note
“The rising costs of living in East Austin has forced many of our low-income and minority patients to leave a community they have called home for years,” said CommUnityCare CEO Jaeson Fournier in a news release Aug. 9. “Through this partnership with HACA, CommUnityCare is bringing its high quality and affordable primary care services just a few steps away from the doors of Chalmer’s residence. And thanks to support from Central Health and this innovative partnership, underserved East siders will have access to a medical home in the heart of their community for years to come.”
Zooming in
According to the CommUnityCare website, Chalmers Courts Health Center is one of the first federally designated community health centers to be established directly within a Central Texas subsidized housing property. The health center is located adjacent to the Pathways at Chalmers Courts East apartment community, which recently underwent significant renovations over the past few years to better serve its low-income residents.
Put in perspective
HACA officials released a health needs assessment in 2018 after surveying the 150 existing Chalmers residents, which indicated:
- 42% visited an emergency room in the prior year.
- 73% had one or more chronic diseases.
- 43% had difficulty accessing dental services.
- 88% indicated they would likely use on-site primary care services.
Those seeking to schedule an appointment at Chalmers Courts Health Center can do so by calling 512-978-8650 for medical visits or 512-978-9640 for dental visits.
