Unity Health Care, East of the River Health Center

Historically, residents of Washington D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8, located east of the Anacostia River, have faced significant barriers in accessing specialty healthcare, often having to travel outside their community for care. To address this issue, Unity Health Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center, has partnered with Howard University Hospital to bring specialty healthcare services directly to the area. Together, they have established a community health hub within a mixed-use building developed by the local nonprofit So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.), which provides affordable housing and job training for low-income individuals.

This community health hub offers an integrated model of care, combining primary and specialty health services with essential social support. Operating as a patient-centered medical home, Unity’s multidisciplinary teams focus on comprehensive, whole-person health. Their services include primary medical, behavioral health, dental care, WIC, and wellness programs, while Howard's specialists provide maternity care, cancer screenings, orthopedics, and vision services. The community health hub also features convenient urgent care, laboratory, and pharmacy services, aiming to be a true one-stop shop for the community.

By offering compassionate, convenient, and coordinated care, this community health hub transforms the patient experience for those who have historically been underserved. The collaboration between Unity and Howard reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to eliminating healthcare disparities and meeting the diverse needs of D.C.’s underserved populations in a groundbreaking new facility.