Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Project Title: Increasing Dental Access in Underserved Communities Applicant: Universal Community Health Center Address: 2801 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90011 Project Director: Dr. Edgar Chavez, CEO Email: exchavez@uchcla.org Phone: 323-233-3100 Fax: 323-233-3124 Website: https://www.uchcla.org/ Brief Description of the Proposed Project Universal Community Health Center (UCHC) respectfully requests Congressional Directed Spending: Construction Projects (CDS) funds to support a new, accessible site located at 1919 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011. UCHC will utilize funds to support healthcare services, including COVID-19 testing and vaccination, in areas that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19—South Los Angeles and part of East Los Angeles. Requested funding will enable UCHC to enhance patient care by purchasing supplies and equipment such as exam room tables, instrument panels, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a freezer/refrigerator, temporary spatial barriers, and touchless appliances. Needs to be Addressed Among residents in UCHC’s service area, more than one-half (57.2%) live below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG), and more than one-half (58%) are also medically uninsured or rely on Medi-Cal for their health coverage. Many area residents are challenged by barriers to accessing care, including cultural, ethnic, and language barriers, low educational achievement, and lack of transportation. More than three-quarters (78.1%) are of Hispanic/Latino descent, with most residents (73.8%) reporting that they speak Spanish at home. More than two-fifths (42.0%) of residents are immigrants, primarily from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Educational attainment, which impacts health literacy, is low in the service area. In total, 42.6% of residents have less than a high school education and fewer than one in ten (9.4%) have a four-year college degree. The barriers to care patients experience often means that they are less likely to receive timely health care that would provide early detection of chronic conditions, making them more likely to develop severe, yet preventable conditions, which can lead to premature deaths. Health disparities were exacerbated by the pandemic as most service area residents are essential workers (e.g., food, retail, construction) whose jobs require a physical presence, thereby are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19. As such, UCHC has seen a rise in demand for COVID-19 testing and vaccination; primary healthcare to assist during and when recovering from COVID-19; pent up demand for dental services, which were scaled back due to the risk of transmission; and mental healthcare, which has been a great a need throughout the pandemic. This request for funding will enable UCHC to continue providing an array of healthcare services for the most vulnerable residents in Los Angeles County. Proposed Services and Population to be Served Requested funding will be utilized to support purchase supplies and equipment that will be used throughout UCHC’s state-of-the-art facility. The facility provides general primary medical care, oral healthcare, and behavioral healthcare for residents of Congressional District 40. UCHC provides care for all individuals and families that walk through its doors, but is primarily focused on impoverished patients with incomes at or below 200% FPG. Proposed funding will also support ongoing COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that in California, Hispanics/Latinos and Black or African Americans have the lowest vaccination rates at 64% and 65%, respectively. Additionally, only 8% of Black or African American residents and 15% of Hispanic/Latino residents have received a booster dose. In UCHC’s service area, 78.1% of individuals identify as Hispanic/Latino and 14.2% identify as Black or African American, thereby presenting an opportunity for UCHC to have a great impact in its community.
