James A. Arbuckle Medical Clinic
Established in 1993 with a donation from the late James Arbuckle, a long-time supporter of the Mission, the Washington City Mission Arbuckle Medical Clinic provides free preventive, primary, and urgent health care to the Washington City Mission’s ninety-three residents and many other homeless and uninsured neighbors in our community. The Clinic works interdependently with all services offered at the Washington City Mission and cooperatively with community agencies and institutions such as assisted-care homes, addiction treatment centers, the Veterans Administration, and The Washington Hospital.
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The Clinic Coordinator is a registered nurse possessing excellent credentials and references, but is also a medical advocate committed to serving our community’s homeless and impoverished neighbors. As the Mission’s daily caregiver, the Clinic Coordinator provides medical evaluation, treatment, supervision, and referrals for numerous patients; administers the complete operations of the Clinic office; and directs the generosity of a dozen volunteer nurses and physicians. The Washington City Mission is pleased to now employ a part-time nurse to help facilitate the clinic and treat the many clients who need medical assistance.
The number of volunteers and donated hours currently allows, on average, one physician-attended Clinic each month. The Clinic has become a community center for health care and medical advocacy—a viable health care model that addresses the challenging needs of our community’s homeless and impoverished neighbors and the impending crisis in Pennsylvania’s and America’s health care systems.
Statistics and Characteristics of the Population Served by the Mission and the Clinic
Because of the shifting and often hidden status of homeless people, the exact number of the homeless population in America is unknown. Recent estimates place the number as high as 3 million people. Recent research has identified more detailed information about the homeless population: 35% of the homeless are families with children, 20% are veterans, 25% are children under 18 years of age, 30% are victims of domestic violence, and 25-33% suffers from mental illness.
The Arbuckle Medical Clinic serves the residents of the Mission and many other homeless 
and uninsured neighbors in our community. Last year the Clinic Coordinator performed 4,115 medical interventions. Every night, more than 90 men, women, and children have a safe home in our Men’s Shelter and Women and Children’s Shelter; last year, 543 unduplicated people resided at the Mission. Most residents and community guests are from Washington and Greene counties; a few are from Allegheny and Fayette counties. Other residents have found a way to the Mission from states as far away as Alaska, California, Washington, and Tennessee. More than half of our current residents are 40 years old or older; their ages range from two months to 70 years. The Mission has served residents as young as one day old—and as old as 87 years young.
Although the national average for homeless individuals with mental illness is between 25-33%, over 50% of the residents at the Mission have a mental illness diagnosis. Over 70% of Mission residents suffer from drug and/or alcohol addiction and more than 85% are smokers.
In 2004, 15.7% of Americans (45.8 million people) had no health insurance. On their arrival at the Mission, up to 70% of the men, women, and children who become residents at any given time did not have any type of health insurance.