Since 1985, Care for the Homeless has met the health care and social service needs of homeless people in New York City. Homeless people have special needs that make it difficult to access services. For example, homeless people are most often displaced from their neighborhood of origin, do not have regular access to a phone, and focus on seeking shelter and food, not health care and social services.
To reduce barriers that homeless people face in accessing care, Care for the Homeless coordinates health care at 23 service sites where homeless people congregate and without regard to their ability to pay. Our service sites include shelters for single adults, family shelters, soup kitchens, drop-in centers, SROs, and a street outreach program to the mentally ill in four of New York City's five boroughs.
In addition to these basic health-related services, our contracted medical providers refer clients, when appropriate, to our social service professionals who address a range of psychosocial needs among homeless people, including mental health and substance use services, and entitlement benefits, including help with Medicaid.
New York is the most populous city in the United States. A global power city, New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters, New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural capital of the world.
Many districts and landmarks in New York City have become well known to its 50 million annual visitors. Times Square, iconified as "The Crossroads of the World", is the brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway theatre district and a major center of the world's entertainment industry. New York City's financial district, anchored by Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, has been called the world's leading financial center and is home to the New York Stock Exchange.
The City of New York has a complex park system. The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Immigration Museum are managed by the National Park Service. They are joined in the harbor by Governors Island National Monument, located in New York. Historic sites include castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial, and Hamilton Grange National Memorial.
There are seven state parks within the confines of New York City, including Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, and the Riverbank State Park. New York City has over 28,000 acres of municipal parkland and 14 miles of public beaches. Parks in New York City include Central Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Forest Park, and Washington Square Park.