Congressionally Directed Spending for Construction Projects - To address the current and unmet healthcare needs of residents in the Tukwila area in south King County, Washington, HealthPoint will use HRSA-24-110 funds toward the construction of the new Tukwila Health and Wellness Center (THWC). The community of Tukwila is an area characterized by high health-related needs, and most of our patients will be coming to the THWC from the Tukwila area. As limited income and biases around race impact how and whether people can access healthcare, Tukwila area residents face challenges in maintaining health and stability. The CDC identifies low-income status and race as social factors that can adversely impact health outcomes. According to the US Census Bureau, 31% of Tukwila area residents have incomes at or below 200% of the poverty level (considered "low-income" by the U.S. DHHS) and 65% are people of color. This breaks down to 23% Asian; 19% Black; 3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 1% Native American; and 20% with other or two or more races. About 18% identify are Latinx. Nearly 35% are immigrants. The diversity of the Tukwila area is also found among patients served by our current Tukwila area medical and dental clinic site. In 2023, over 82% of patients were people of color, including: 23% Asian; 28% Black; 18% Latinx 3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 1% Native American; and 9% with other or two or more races. About 33% are immigrants and 37% were best served in a language other than English. The languages most spoken by patients after English were Spanish, Dari, and Somali, followed by dozens of others. About 7% are disabled. Over 4% identify as LGBTQ. About 94% of patients’ known incomes were at or below 200% of poverty level. We expect these current patient population traits to continue at the future THWC, where we will serve far greater numbers than we are currently serve at our smaller site. When completed, the THWC will house the Tukwila HealthPoint clinic with medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health care services, providing expanded capacity over our current level of service in Tukwila. The facility will have 18 medical exam rooms and 10 dental operatories. The new location will improve the clinics’ visibility and offer better transportation options, allowing us to reach more people and reduce barriers to access for our patients. Even so, the THWC’s scope goes beyond primary, dental, and behavioral health care. As a place that serves the whole community, the THWC will act as a hub which at its foundation will address not only health care needs but, through the partners we will bring into project, will be able to address the community’s childcare, intergenerational connectional needs, education, employment, and income issues all under one roof. HealthPoint is partnering with the YMCA to include in the THWC up to 9,000 square feet of space devoted to childcare, with up to nine classrooms for infants through children age five. We are also in partnership discussions with the City of Tukwila and other providers to develop a teen and senior center on-site to address the intergenerational, social and health related needs in the area. Other partners will include educational organizations, food security groups, and community-based service providers. Construction activities funded through HRSA-24-110 may include foundations, steel framing, roofing, framing and sheathing, and other exterior work. It may also include interior work such as drywall installation, flooring, doors, acoustical ceilings and grids, painting and coating cabinetry, fire suppression, and woodwork. It also includes installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; electrical systems; and plumbing systems.
