“Mel Trotter had a clinic that they built before COVID, and there were some really great partners that came in and were able to provide some care in the evenings.”
Meghan Erskine is CEO of Catherine’s Health Center.
“But Mel Trotter knew it wasn’t being used optimally, meaning it wasn’t open full-time and they knew that there was a great need that wasn’t being met.”
Thanks to a grant, Erskine says Catherine’s was able to place a full-time team in that clinic, offering health care 40 hours a week.
“So, she’ll be able to provide convenience care, primary care, medical services like checkups and vaccines, but also services that are related to wound care and things that people might need support in more urgently.”
Other services include psychiatric and dental care.
Homelessness is on the rise, according to the Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness, and Erskine says recent cuts made to social programs by the federal government, as well as future cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, will make clinics like this even more essential.
“People who are already struggling may not have access to these really important programs and so they’re going to have to make tough decisions about, are they paying rent? Are they paying childcare bills? Are they buying food?”
Catherine’s plans to expand access to health care services to the broader Heartside community by early 2026.
