Neighborhood Healthcare Secures Funding for $7.8M Lakeside Facility

LAKESIDE – Neighborhood Healthcare’s leaders know that community need has long outgrown the organization’s capacity. To address that need, the nonprofit federally qualified health center (FQHC) will officially launch a $10 million capital campaign this June to expand capacity throughout its network and update its facilities. An integral part of the push is the overhaul of Neighborhood’s Lakeside hub, which is projected to cost about $7.8 million, according to Neighborhood COO Alex Nunez. “You can see the passion and the staff that we have there, and the dedication they have to serving the community of Lakeside, as well as those that are seeking services there. But I know for sure that once individuals start working through this new facility, they’re going to feel something very special,” he said.

According to Nunez, over 90% of Lakeside’s patients live below 200% of the federal poverty level. While the current Lakeside facility serves about 9,000 individuals, the need is far greater. In particular, Neighborhood wants to expand its reach to the 3,449 Lakeside residents with low incomes who aren’t currently assigned to an FQHC.

Doubling its Footprint in Lakeside

When Nunez joined Neighborhood’s team 12 years ago, he said the organization was already at capacity. “For those that have had the opportunity to tour or get service at Lakeside, you can tell that we’re maxed out,” Nunez said. Neighborhood’s current Lakeside facility was opened over 30 years ago. The expansion will take it from 6,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet, doubling its capacity and offering services including medical, behavioral health, women’s health, podiatry, chiropractic, acupuncture, pediatric and dental care.

Most recently, Neighborhood announced the receipt of a $250,000 grant from the Grossmont Healthcare District to support the project. That contribution builds on the 2024 grant of $100,000 from San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The Lakeside project will be partially funded by Neighborhood’s broader capital campaign, and the remainder will be financed as appropriate through loans and operating revenue, Nunez said. This November, the new facilities are expected to be fully operational. Existing facilities will become a parking lot for the new center. “For us, experience is extremely important for our staff, our patients and our members,” Nunez said. “[We want to] create a place of healing — a place that you would want to go to get services. … We’re excited to bring this new facility to Lakeside for those reasons.”

Capital Campaign Builds on $2M Raised

Neighborhood’s $10 million capital campaign, launching this June, has been in a quiet phase for about two years, according to Nunez. With about $2 million already raised, the campaign is intended to fulfill community needs and will draw from the support of such communities. This includes the Lakeside expansion, the 2025 opening of Neighborhood’s Escondido dental location, the organization’s recent partnership with the YMCA to open a pediatric center and continued expansion of its Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) services.

This May, Neighborhood also plans to open its first hub in San Bernardino — a 15,000 square foot healthcare center in the city of Rialto. “It’s a leased property that has been in the works for over a year,” Nunez said. “Rialto [is a] high area of need for us. That’s why we’ve identified that location — it’s about 10 miles from our closest Neighborhood location, which is in the city of Riverside, so there’s still in proximity, but again, a different county.”

Going forward, Neighborhood’s growth philosophy is driven by a central question, Nunez said. “How do we continue to enhance access to much-needed, comprehensive health care services within the communities we serve?” he asked, referencing the organization’s evolving reach from East County in San Diego to the city of Riverside to San Bernardino County.