UTEP receives grant to expand healthcare services to help homeless, underserved communities

EL PASO, Texas -- UTEP is expanding its healthcare services to those in need, especially the homeless and those who are uninsured thanks to a $200,000 grant.

The funding, made possible by humanitarian charity Direct Relief, will go towards the H.O.P.E. initiative which stands for health, opportunity, prevention, education. It's made up of other community partners like the Opportunity Center for the Homeless and Centro San Vicente, just to name a few.

The grant will allow the univeristy to add more health fairs thoughout the year to help hundreds more in other underserved communities.

Students with the College of Health Sciences and Nursing and others will be providing free health screenings, referrals, vaccinations, and education services.

Dr. Eva Moya who helps over sees the program says the goal is to be able to help more people especially after the pandemic. She said she hopes the program can connect more people to systems of care.

"What we're seeing is people that are going without adequate care, whether it's the management for diabetes, cholesterol issues, hypertension, primarily metabolic issues, food insecurity, that translates to hunger, sometimes obesity, mental health continues to be a very significant area of need," Dr. Moya said. "With COVID, it looks like we stopped looking at screening for other very important public health threats.

The health fair will be hosted at the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank located at 9541 Plaza Circle from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.