JeffHOPE was formed in 1991 by a group of medical students who identified a need in the homeless community for better medical care. These students quickly realized that the most important factor in facilitating this care was re-building trust with these vulnerable members of our community.
Over time, JeffHOPE has expanded to new sites and targeted a diverse array of patient populations. JeffHOPE maintained a relationship with the Prevention Point needle exchange program for over two decades to provide better medical care for intravenous drug users and sex workers. In 1997, JeffHOPE partnered with Project HOME to serve women, dually diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and substance use disorder. At current we operate five weekly clinics at diverse sites, including family shelters, long-term shelters, short-term shelters, and one drop-in center in Kensington.
Since its inception, the members of JeffHOPE have committed to seeking out new opportunities to improve accessibility to healthcare to those who need it most. Although our clinic sites and patient populations have changed over the organization’s three-decade history, our mission remains the same: to bridge gaps in healthcare access for vulnerable populations in Philadelphia.