17th Annual National Homeless Persons ’ Memorial Day

This year marks the 17th Anniversary of remembering and celebrating the lives of those in our community who died homeless.
Each year Mira Batra, MD and the Community Medicine program at NYU Langone host a National Homeless Persons’ Interfaith Memorial Service at our St. John the Baptist worship site (the program was virtual this year).

 

 

"For every hour and every moment thousands...leave life on this earth,
and their souls appear before God. And how many of them depart in solitude, unknown, sad, dejected,
that no one mourns for them or even knows whether they have lived or not."

~Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The BrothersKaramazov

How it began...

The Community Medicine (SRO Homeless) Program of NYU Langone- Brooklyn’s Family Health Centers began on February 3, 1969 when Dr. Ed Cagan was hired by St. Vincent’s Hospital to work at the East 3rd Street Men's Shelter (Project Renewal).

Through the vision and leadership of Dr. Philip W. Brickner the program grew over the next 30 years to serve patients at over 40 sites in shelters, SRO hotels, and clinics. Thanks to Dr. Brickner and his team's pioneering work, this model spread nationwide under Congress'
McKinney Act, and almost 300 health care for the homeless programs exist today.

Following the principle of helping people “where they are,” Community Medicine also developed services for the homebound elderly, residents of Chinatown, those living with HIV, the hearing-impaired, and trauma survivors, while training future doctors and conducting research on UV light and tuberculosis in shelters.

With St. Vincent's closure in May 2010, the program itself became homeless. Under the steadfast guidance of now-retired director Barbara Conanan, RN, we were welcomed by Mt. Sinai, soon finding a home with the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone (formerly Lutheran).

Thanks to the resilient and dedicated spirit of all and strong support by our leadership, Community Medicine now cares for over 6,000 people each year at 10 drop-in centers, shelters, and single-room-occupancy hotels across New York City. Our team of healthcare professionals provides medical care, health screenings, outreach, health education,
case management, crisis intervention and long-term counseling in person and now, by telemedicine. Years ago Community Medicine started out by visiting hotels for the marginalized; the COVID pandemic brings us full circle, caring for those socially-distanced and sheltering in hotels. We are honored and grateful to continue this legacy, shared with our site partners, of service to those in need, wherever they are, with open doors and hearts.