Sulzbacher clinic helps beach's homeless

Clinic to change name to Sulzbacher Beaches Clinic, unveil new look

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The clinic run by the Sulzbacher Center has been open for five years, but now it's changing its name and look.

The clinic helps take care of homeless and low income people in Jacksonville Beach.

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It's been known as Beaches Community Healthcare, but after Thursday, it will be called Sulzbacher Beaches Clinic.

An example of the type of people who can benefit from this clinic: Recently a man visited a cardiac physician at Baptist Beaches but didn't have insurance. That doctor is a volunteer for the clinic and referred him to Beaches Community Healthcare because he knew without insurance the man wouldn't get the follow up care he needed.

That man is now a patient at the Sulzacher Center-run clinic and is on the heart transplant list.

A name changing ceremony will be held Thursday evening and will involve unveiling new signs around the campus that feature the new logo that will say Sulzbacher Beaches Clinic.

The clinic offers medical, dental and behavioral health care to low income and uninsured people.

Sulzbacher also has a Street Outreach program at the beach where they go into the community and help homeless people living on the street by putting them into shelters and permanent housing.

Allison Ownby with Sulzbacher said a lot of times the homeless people don't want help so it's all about building relationships.

"There are less homeless folks in Jax beach than there are downtown, but people who are out at the beach oftentimes don't want to come downtown, so the key to the hope team and street outreach efforts is building relationships with those people. It's a medical program so we get them on medication get them healthy and teach them that getting into a shelter and getting back on their feet is the way to go and so that's an important avenue for us" said Ownby.

There will be an open house at the clinic Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be the sign unveiling at 5:30 p.m. and they will also be giving tours of the clinic.

Sulzbacher program organizers said if you or someone you know is interested in getting medical care, stop by because there will be staff on hand to make future appointments.

Even if you are not in need of care, you're still welcome to stop by to see all they have to offer the community.