(L. to r.); The Floating Hospital President and General Counsel Sean Granahan, Assemblymember Catherine Nolan, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer and residents of Queensbridge helped officially open The Floating Hospital situated on the city housing complex in Long Island City.
Photo Jason D. Antos At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Congressmember Carolyn B. Maloney announced a $920,833 federal grant for The Floating Hospital’s (TFH) new Community Health Center that celebrated its official opening on October 19 at the Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City.
The federal funding for the clinic, the only federally qualified community health center to be located on New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property, was made possible by the landmark Affordable Care Act, which also provides a dedicated funding stream to support TFH’s Queensbridge Community Health Center for an additional three years. TFH is also the only New York City healthcare provider with a federally qualified health designation for public housing.
“This is a very special day—not just because Queensbridge residents will have access to first-rate health care by The Floating Hospital right in their own backyard— but because this health clinic is the first of its kind at a NYCHA development,” said Maloney. “This is the largest grant of its kind being given in Region 2, which includes all of New York state— and it’s entirely fitting that it’s funding a clinic at Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing development in the nation. Community health centers like this are benefiting from a dedicated funding stream created by the Affordable Care Act, which I was proud to support.”
Joining Maloney at the ceremony were Assemblymember Catherine Nolan; Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer; Sean Granahan Esq., president and general counsel of TFH; tenant leaders and residents of Queensbridge Houses and patients and prospective clients of TFH’s new Queensbridge Community Health Center.
“The Floating Hospital’s Community Health Care Center at Queensbridge will provide hundreds of local residents with basic preventive health care, wellness visits, disease management, prenatal care and basic care when they get sick. Today, we’re announcing the first installment of $920,833, representing 17 months of funding. We’re also announcing that the clinic will benefit from annual federal grants of $650,000 through 2016, and the likelihood of even more funding down the road,” said Maloney.
Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Floating Hospital’s Community Health Center at Queensbridge Houses was Granahan. “The Floating Hospital has long been fortunate to have a women’s rights champion like Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney as a friend. Today, with her help, as well as the dogged efforts of Jimmy Van Bramer and Cathy Nolan, TFH opens another chapter in its efforts to reach New York City’s underserved and most vulnerable populations. We are very grateful for their efforts in helping those who need it most,” he said.
The federal funding for TFH Queensbridge Community Health Center is made possible because of the significant expansion in funding for community health centers (CHC) under the Affordable Care Act, which provides $11 billion over five years to establish a CHC Fund. The grant announced by Maloney today is the largest grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in Region 2, which includes all of New York state, and reflects the federal agency’s confidence in TFH’s track record and effectiveness as a healthcare provider.
“The Floating Hospital must be congratulated for its dedication to the health and well-being of Western Queens. The Floating Hospital clinic at Queensbridge will be a life-saver,” said Nolan. “I comm e n d Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney for securing much needed federal funds to improve the clinic. These federal funds, together with a $200,000 capital grant which I secured for the clinic through the Assembly’s Community Capital Assistance Program, will support very necessary renovations. These capital improvements will go a long way to improving the quality of life for all residents in Queensbridge, Ravenswood and Astoria Houses.”
Approximately $600,000 in capital funding to renovate TFH’s Queensbridge CHC was provided by a grant from New York state secured by Nolan and by generous donations from the Ira W. DeCamp Foundation, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, JP Morgan Chase and the Hyde and Watson Foundation.
“Access to quality health care is an absolute necessity for the children, families and seniors of Queensbridge. Bringing The Floating Hospital into the heart of this community is a huge win and will make Queensbridge healthier,” said Van Bramer. “For over a century The Floating Hospital has provided quality care to those who need it most. I am proud to have played a part in bringing this institution into new and accessible space.”
The Floating Hospital has served vulnerable families in New York City since 1866. Today, TFH provides quality, comprehensive and compassionate primary health, dental and mental health care to over 20,000 individuals annually. The patient populations served by TFH include residents of Northwest Queens communities; public housing residents; and those living in Homeless Family Shelters or Domestic Violence Safe Houses. TFH operates in Long Island City as well as in shelters throughout the five boroughs of New York City.
