NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Empowering our community in times of change 

For many in New York City, the story of the year has been about the migrant crisis. For safety-net organizations such as us, it’s been a story about how to serve the myriad needs of displaced families. The newly arrived come to us for healthcare, but also for our “more than healthcare”: necessities such as food, clothing, diapers and help linking to what assistances they can tap, given their ineligibility for critical benefits such as Medicaid. We have seen families come in carrying all their possessions in bags, unsuitably dressed for colder temperatures and without the resources to equip themselves—clothing or otherwise—for winter. While we did not specifically track the patient origin, we knew at the height of the immigration this year, there was a 105% increase in patients whose first language is Spanish. This paralleled an intake rate of 37% uninsured patients. We connected the dots, and we connected these families to the sources they needed. We were grateful to partner with Care for the Homeless to receive a grant from the New York City Trust that provided vaccinations for migrant children so they could enroll and stay in school. We hope work such as this—partnerships and programs that serve even our youngest patients—can go a long way to helping families thrive, regardless of immigration or insurance status. 

Leticia Gomez knew she wanted to do something special for patient families this holiday season. But she didn't expect how far her generosity would go. She approached the Director of Health Education, Dr. Meghan Miller, who oversees our annual Thanksgiving food giveaway for patients, to donate $1,000. Her gift would feed 50 patient families over the holiday season, far more than in previous years. 

When asked what had prompted such a large donation, Gomez had a simple answer. "We were homeless in 1980 due to a fire," she shared. "It was me, my mom, sister, brother and daughter. I remember when my mom used to struggle."  

Celebrating our volunteers on #Giving Tuesday

On the special occasion of Giving Tuesday, Floating Hospital President Sean Granahan, Esq., and Chief Medical Officer and EVP of Clinical Administration, Shani Andre, MD, hosted a heartfelt celebration in the Chef Maria Loi and Loukoumi Make a Difference Teaching Kitchen. This event was a tribute to our incredible volunteers, including the Floating Hospital board and committee members, who have dedicated their time, skills and expertise throughout the year, significantly enhancing the hospital's ability to serve its patients effectively.   More…

Year-end appeal 2023: anchor hope!

Our 2023 Year-end Annual Appeal is here! In it, we’re shedding light on our hopeful work to provide healthcare and essential support to every family who needs it. Every night, countless families in New York City seek refuge in shelters and domestic violence safe houses, escaping the trauma of domestic violence and the grips of homelessness.   More…

Destination: Candy Cane Lane

Floating Hospital is actively collecting donations of new toys, books, games and seasonal clothing for our 16th annual Candy Cane Lane holiday giveaway, taking place this year from December 11-15.   More…

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