Small community clinics and health care organizations are lifelines for San Diegans every single day, serving as the first line of care for tens of thousands of people locally.
However, funding has become uncertain at best, and with it access to crucial health care. S
In response to that uncertainty, the Prebys Foundation announced last week that it was awarding $4 million in grants to more than 20 community clinics and health organizations across the county.
“Community health organizations are the beating heart of San Diego’s care network,” said Prebys Foundation chief executive Grant Oliphant in a release.
“As policy shifts and funding cuts strain the safety net, these organizations are responding with courage, ingenuity, and a deep connection to the people they serve.”
As unprecedented federal funding cuts hit healthcare and food security programs serving low-income and other vulnerable residents, San Diego faces growing risks of deepening health and wellness disparities.
The county is projected to lose nearly $16 million in Medi-Cal funding, and more than $700 million in federal support for public health. Without community clinics, more patients would be forced to seek care in emergency rooms, creating ripple effects throughout communities — or, increasingly, not receive health care at all.