About us
In late 1994 three individuals from Holy Spirit Catholic Parish approached Rev. Gerald Frank, pastor, with two separate ideas regarding social justice and working with the less fortunate of their community. The first individual, David Saavedra, LCSW, envisioned the possibility of providing very low cost counseling/therapy to individuals and families who did not have any resources such as Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance that covered mental health needs.
The other two individuals, Sister Marian Strohmeyer, RSM, and Ann Williams Cass, Parish Associate at Holy Spirit Church were interested in developing a way to open a clinic that would offer primary health care to the working poor and indigent. Like David, they wanted these services to be for those who did not have Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. Fr. Frank arranged for David, Sister Marian and Ann to meet and soon after a Board of Directors was assembled. Work progressed towards the creation of a not for profit corporation that would enable Holy Spirit Catholic Parish to expand their social justice ministry. The Family Health & Resource Center was created under the auspices of Community Hope Projects, Inc. Community Hope Projects, Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and it received its 501c3 status in 1997. During 1995 to 2001 a steering committee served as the backbone to Community Hope Projects, Inc. This committee coordinated the construction of a center to house both programs and the launching of services.
In 1998, the first counseling clients were seen out of the offices of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, and then in 1999, the first medical patients were seen out of an old medical office in downtown McAllen. During the period from 1999 to 2001, the CHP, Inc. Board of Directors raised the funds to build a facility that would house both programs. The funding was obtained from three sources. The first of these sources was the Meadows Foundation that granted CHP, Inc. a $250,000 grant that was leveraged to secure a $450,000 grant Community Block Development Grant from the City of McAllen and a $50,000 block grant from the Urban Development Program of Hidalgo County. With these funds a 12,000+sq ft. facility was completed in December of 2000 so on January 3, 2001, the Family Health & Resource Center opened its doors at 2332 W. Jordan Rd., McAllen, Texas and both programs of what was being called the Family Health Resource Center began to provide services under one roof. Services were distinguished by either Hope Medical Services or Family Counseling Services both a part of the Family Health Resource Center.
An important feature of programs housed at Hope Family Health Center that volunteer therapists, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, and others who donate their time or are conducting an internship provide all available services. This allows the cost for each program to remain at a minimum or accept donations. A person qualifies for services at Hope Family Health Center if they do not have Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance and if they fall below 200% of the federal poverty level. The final requirement is that the person prove to be a Texas resident living in the following counties: Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr or Willacy also known as the Rio Grande Valley.