A federally qualified health clinic serving the LGBTQ community and allies opened its fifth clinic Chicago in December 2016, expanding its primary care services to the Rogers Park neighborhood. Howard Brown Health, which has become one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ organizations since its inception in 1974, has been operating out of the newly renovated location since late 2016.
The new facility has 12 exam rooms, a large community space, and offers Walk-in Sexual and Reproductive clinic services. Howard Brown expects to serve nearly 5,000 new patients and create 19 full-time jobs in the space. This will be Howard Brown’s second owned space, and the group operates four rented facilities on the north and south sides.
Through its now-six locations throughout the city, Howard Brown provides primary care including pediatrics; counseling and psychotherapy; substance abuse treatment; and HIV prevention, education, and counseling. It also has a youth outreach program, providing medical, social, and mental health care services for LGBTQ youth and creating a safe haven for young people experiencing housing instability.
Howard Brown Health was able to purchase and renovate this facility through a $5 million loan from IFF. In 2014, IFF also provided Howard Brown with $1.75 million to support operations at its north side headquarters.