The mission of Project H.O.P.E. is to improve the health and well being of homeless persons and others i n need within the greater Camden, New Jersey area by providing primary, preventative, and related health services.

Project H.O.P.E., Inc. serves the medical and social needs of the homeless population in Camden County, particularly Camden City. The City of Camden is the largest urban center in southern New Jersey, with a population of 78,675 residents, and is ranked as the most economically depressed city in New Jersey and one of the most economically depressed cities in the United States.

For the past thirteen years Project H.O.P.E. has fulfilled its mission by assisting more than 11,000 homeless persons in their journey to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. Project H.O.P.E. is unique in that it is the only provider of medical services specifically for the homeless in Camden County and one of five Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) homeless projects in New Jersey.

Project H.O.P.E. currently operates a full time health center providing culturally sensitive comprehensive primary health care serving patients at three locations: its main site, Bergen Lanning Health Center, a satellite center at the Camden City Volunteers of America site, and through its Mobile Health Van which takes health care, mental health and substance abuse services to the streets and points where homeless people gather in Camden.

In 2011, Project H.O.P.E. had a total of 8,073 medical visits for 2,242 unduplicated homeless patients. A closer look of our patient population shows the significant barriers they face: 94% of patients were at or below the Federal Poverty Line, and 44% were without any form of health insurance. The three most common diagnoses are diabetes, hypertension, and depression. This reflects a high occurrence of chronic conditions within a patient population who has significant barriers to care due to lack of insurance or income. In addition, being impoverished creates challenge when trying to access other things associated with healthy lifestyles, such as a proper diet or exercise.