About

Mission statement: Through an innovative model supported by volunteerism and philanthropy, CommunityHealth will be the leader that defines excellence in delivering comprehensive, patient-centered health care at no cost to low-income, uninsured individuals and families in need of a medical home.    

Founded in 1993, CommunityHealth is dedicated to serving the uninsured and underserved in Chicago and surrounding communities. In  2011, CommunityHealth provided more than 27,000 medical, dental and educational visits for 9,000+ patients.    

With our comprehensive patient services and many institutional affiliations, CommunityHealth is a leader among free clinics nationwide. We offer an innovative model for providing compassionate and comprehensive medical care to the uninsured, and are the largest volunteer-staffed free medical facility in Illinois.    

On September 27, 2010, CommunityHealth estbalished a satellite  in Chicago’s south side Englewood neighborhood — a community with great need and limited resources. This new resource has enabled CommunityHealth to broaden its reach to meet the growing numbers and needs of Chicago’s most vulnerable residents and communities. Modeled after our West Town facility in both volunteer structure and services offered, the newly renovated first floor health center houses 8 exam rooms, a lab and dispensary, as well as a classroom for health education. The lower level includes four dental operatories and a lab.     

While the full range of specialty services available in West Town are not yet available in Englewood, any and all CommunityHealth services and referral resources will be available to all patients.  A unique partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), with whom CommunityHealth is sharing space in Englewood, ensures that the range of CDPH services available on site are also readily accessible to CommunityHealth patients. 

>>Want to register to become a CommunityHealth patient? Click here.    

What We Do

The West Town health center operates six days a week, including four evenings and Saturdays. The Englewood site has more limited hours. We provide a broad range of primary and specialty care, as well as education, health promotion and case management services. All examinations, lab services and medications are free. Learn more about our programs and services.    

We are also committed to being a voice for the uninsured and so collaborate with local and national organizations that address the growing crisis of the uninsured. Together, we hope to improve access to quality, affordable health care.    

Who We Are

With more than 1,000 volunteers, including 500 providers (physicians, nurses, nurse practioners, dentists, pharmacists, counselors, etc)  from Chicago’s leading health care institutions, CommunityHealth represents a grassroots response to the needs of the uninsured. In 2011, our volunteers donated more than 61,000 hours of their time.    

What’s more, our relationships with nine local medical schools and residency programs have established CommunityHealth as an important medical-training center.    

Who We Serve

More than 1.8 million Illinois residents are without adequate health coverage, and 1.3 million of those live in the Chicago metro area. Like the vast majority of the uninsured, most of CommunityHealth’s patients are from working families.    

To be eligible for services at CommunityHealth, individuals must have no health insurance of any kind (the exception is Medicare Part A/hospitalization coverage only) and establish that their income does not exceed 250% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL). Income verification is conducted annually for all patients. To date, 74% of Englewood patients live at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) – which is $22,050 for a family of four.  This is a much poorer patient population than the one being served in West Town where 60% of patients are living at or below 100% of the FPL.  At West Town, 53% of patients are Latino, 34% Caucasian (of whom 22% are Polish immigrants), 7% African American and 6% other.  At the Englewood satellite, 82% of patients are African American and 13% identify themselves as Latino. Most patients live in Chicago/Cook County and the vast majority (80%) comes from working households; they do not qualify for Medicaid and can’t afford to purchase insurance. Patients come from throughout Chicagoland and as far as Indiana and Wisconsin to receive care.

How We Operate

CommunityHealth is almost entirely dependent upon the private sector for support, with gifts and grants from individuals, foundations and corporations accounting for more than 90% of our revenues.