Since 1985, Care for the Homeless has met the health care and social service needs of homeless people in New York City. Homeless people have special needs that make it difficult to access services. For example, homeless people are most often displaced from their neighborhood of origin, do not have regular access to a phone, and focus on seeking shelter and food, not health care and social services.
To reduce barriers that homeless people face in accessing care, Care for the Homeless coordinates health care at 23 service sites where homeless people congregate and without regard to their ability to pay. Our service sites include shelters for single adults, family shelters, soup kitchens, drop-in centers, SROs, and a street outreach program to the mentally ill in four of New York City's five boroughs.
In addition to these basic health-related services, our contracted medical providers refer clients, when appropriate, to our social service professionals who address a range of psychosocial needs among homeless people, including mental health and substance use services, and entitlement benefits, including help with Medicaid.
Brooklyn offers attractions for every type of traveler. Want to be on the cutting-edge? Head for Williamsburg, where you can hear live music every night and shop for vintage threads. If you want to root for the home team, there’s pro hockey and basketball at Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn. Traveling with kids? Prospect Park and the stroller-filled sidewalks of Park Slope beckon, as does the area’s restaurant scene. And since the best things in life are free, consider a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or along the scenic Brooklyn Heights promenade. Brooklyn's many exciting neighborhoods, packed with cultural institutions, restaurants, and shops, make the borough a top New York City destination. Downtown Brooklyn provides the perfect starting point for experiencing an eclectic area full of energy and brimming with culture. It's centrally located streets serve as an introduction to the surrounding neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, BoCoCa, DUMBO, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Williamsburg, and Bushwick—all a short train ride or walk away.
Visitors staying in Brooklyn Heights will be drawn first to its photo op–friendly streets of impeccably restored row houses and a spectacular view of the Lower Manhattan skyline from the newly revitalized Brooklyn Bridge Park. But let yourself wander and you'll find a vibrant neighborhood with thoughtfully curated stores, innovative restaurants, and such energetic cultural institutions as the Brooklyn Historical Society, Bargemusic and the New York Transit Museum. The Heights wears its rich history on its sleeve, with stately architectural styles, august churches and schools and literary landmarks.
Bordered by Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, and Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn is truly at the center of it all. The area is a hub for businesses, but it’s also a place to relax and enjoy Brooklyn's arts, culture and entertainment offerings. Classic brownstones dovetail new modern structures and several college campuses bring a lively student population to the area. For those looking for arts and entertainment, outdoor space MetroTech Commons is the site of exhibits, performances, and special events. Downtown Brooklyn is also home to low-key restaurants, delis and coffee shops where locals drop in for Shake Shack's celebrated burgers, fries, and beverages or a sweet slice of cheesecake from Junior's. From here, the best of Brooklyn is right at your fingertips.
When people think of Brooklyn, typically what comes to mind is Park Slope: leafy streets lined with historic brownstones, intimate eateries with Manhattan-caliber menus and kid-friendly parks and playgrounds. The neighborhood also offers a wide-ranging live-music scene, where you can see everything from emerging indie acts at the cozy Rock Shop to established rockers at The Bell House. Along Fifth Avenue, the neighborhood's main shopping district, you can seek out vintage clothing, affordable fashion from local designers and a range of trendy footwear.