HEALTH CARE
42
Treasure Coast Medical Report
GREG GARDNER PHOTOS
HOMELESS
MEDICINE
The Source Assistant Director Maureen Archer and Executive Director Anthony Zorbaugh enjoy helping homeless people transition to housing at the allpurpose
facility in Vero Beach. The Source has been serving the homeless for 25 years.
Providing assistance through public
and charitable commitments
BY GREG GARDNER
For people who are homeless in the tri-county area,
there are a variety of places to receive immediate
care for their physical and mental well-being.
Non-profit organizations with hundreds of
volunteers support efforts to provide medical treatment,
mental health counseling and services that include meals,
clothing and rides to doctors’ appointments.
The network of people committed to helping others on
the Treasure Coast links agencies, which refer medical
services to residents of Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie
counties.
Who pays for the cost of homeless medical care depends
on what county people live in.
St. Lucie County has two for-profit hospitals. Homeless
and those without insurance or Medicaid benefits can apply
for medical care through the Health Access Network
Delivery System (HANDS), which relies on donations,
fund-raising efforts and county funds to pay for treatment.
HANDS provides medical care for needy individuals
and homeless people, often referred by other agencies,
including New Horizons, Mustard Seed Ministry and the
Treasure Coast Food Bank.
“We provide the health care they would struggle to get,”
says Susie Burnham, HANDS patient intake navigator. “We >>