Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
Congressionally Directed Spending for Construction Projects - Project Abstract Near North Health (NNH), a 501(c)(3) non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), is one of the oldest providers of community-based primary health care in Chicago. We provide medical services, social services, and nutrition education to medically indigent and uninsured individuals and families. Our philosophy reflects an approach that anticipates community needs and plans for expansions that are developed in accordance with these needs. Throughout our evolution, not only have our methods held up under the intense new demands of ever-changing communities, but also, we have come through with shining results. Near North Health targets low-income communities on the north, west, and south sides of Chicago. While disparate, NNH service areas are characterized by large concentrations of Chicago Housing Authority high rise apartments, abandoned residential buildings, blighted commercial properties, and an utter absence of basic services and health care resources. To meet the needs of these communities, we offer a full array of comprehensive primary care clinical services, nutrition education, and social support programs through our nine comprehensive health centers and two supplemental nutrition sites. NNH is requesting $2,000,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending funding to make repairs at Near North Health Komed Holman Health Center (KHHC). Specifically, the building foundation is damaged by unstable substrate. In addition, the funding will be used to replace two leaking roofs—at KHHC and Near North Health Winfield Moody Health Center (WMHC). Both health centers have outmoded/inefficient, legacy demonstration kitchens, plumbing, flooring, bathrooms, patient waiting rooms, cabinetry, lighting, and ceiling grids. In addition, funding will secure much-needed ophthalmology equipment that is necessary for early detection of vision loss, an electric parking lot gate, and security cameras. Investment in NNH provides tremendous value and impact to the communities we serve. This judicious use of tax funds will allow NNH to strengthen its infrastructure and programming to further reduce health disparities, increase access to high quality and regular care, and boost local economies. As a result, few Chicagoans will rely on costly sources of care, such as the emergency room, thereby saving taxpayer dollars and making the overall healthcare system more efficient. Project Narrative Near North Health (dba Near North Health Service Corporation) began as a community health center in 1966, and then incorporated as a federally qualified health center in 1982. As the service area and patient population grew, Near North Health (NNH) responded. It delivered much-needed, high quality health services in a multi-floor community center, which also offered after-school programming for adolescents. In 1987, NNH purchased and added on to a building on the Near North Side of Chicago, Winfield Moody Health Center at 1276 N. Clybourn Avenue. The site would encompass a community health center that not only offered all of the health services on a single floor, but also housed the administrative offices for the NNH organization on the main floor, and a nutrition program and kitchen on the lower level. Over the years, minor renovations and alterations were made as staff and programs increased and changed. Meanwhile, the wear and tear of thousands of people using the facility on a near-daily basis for 35 years has taken its toll on the building. In October of 1997, Near North Health assumed proprietorship of the building located at 4259 S. Berkeley Avenue from the City of Chicago. The price was one dollar, and the transfer agreement (quitclaim deed) stated that the building must be used as a health center for no less than 20 years. As a result, in 1999, Near North Health began providing services directly to the residents of the South Side communities of Kenwood, Oakland and nearby neighborhoods such as Bronzeville, Douglas, Grand Boulevard,
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).