July 21, 2010

The Charlottesville Health Access provides basic health care for the homeless and the poor in the local community. Without the funds necessary to stay operational, the director of the organization says the office will have to close at the end of August.

CHA needs to come up with $20,000 by the end of August in order to stay open. The organization provides things like over-the-counter medication, free psychiatric services and prescription medication co-payments for people who don't have the money to pay for it themselves.

The people served by Health Access are those who can't go to the Charlottesville Free Clinic because it only helps the "working uninsured" and not the unemployed or homeless.

Kimberley Farish, director of CHA, says her organization relieves the financial burden from the community as well.

"Going to the emergency room costs all of us money, especially UVA. If we can keep people out of the emergency room, then we've done our job. We have helped everyone in our state actually," said Farish.

Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville says they'll match any donation that's made, up to $2,000.

Charlottesville Health Access hopes that will be their money miracle.