Floating Hospital Gets Federal Grant

By DANIEL STEIN-SAYLES

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney presented The Floating Hospital with a ceremonial check for $325,000 in federal grant funds on Thursday at the hospital’s Long Island City location to support and help expand their substance abuse program.

“This is really a very essential program for our community and for the recovery of our patients here,” said Maloney. “I’m thrilled that the floating hospital is always looking for ways to improve service in our great community and it is a joy to see federal funding used to make a great program even better.”

Celebrating its 150th year anniversary this year, The Floating Hospital was mobile for much of its history located on a boat that would travel the city’s waterways until it opened the first Floating Hospital Community Health Center in 2009. The organization now has two physical locations, one located in Long Island City, Queens and Queensbridge, Queens. The Floating Hospital focuses its range of medical and dental services on persons and families in need, providing care for many within public housing and the city’s shelter system.

Cynthia Davis the Director of Community Outreach for The Floating Hospital outlined what the funds from the Health Resources and Service Administration’s Substance Abuse Service Expansion grant will allow the hospital to do.

“This grant is going to allow us to actually screen patients for substance abuse and refer them to appropriate care,” said Davis. “Also, the unique thing about it is that we can integrate our primary healthcare service and our mental healthcare service.”

In 2009 and 2012, Maloney was on-hand at The Floating Hospital to announce two federal grants worth $1.3 million and over $900,000.

“It is a very special place to me,” Maloney said of the hospital.