Dozens of people rallied Sunday afternoon in Portland in support of keeping the India Street public health clinic open.
WCSH-TV reported that the crowd of supporters marched, chanted and held signs as they walked from Lincoln Park to Monument Square.
The clinic faces closure as part of the proposed city budget. City Manager Jon Jennings’ proposal would shift patients at India Street to the Portland Community Health Center on Park Avenue. The India Street clinic serves about 500 patients.
“If we lose local public health care and we lose federally funded public health care, what do we have to do? Start from scratch?” Michael Anthony told the TV station. Anthony said he used the clinic when he was homeless.
Last month, Jennings told the City Council that the city would partner with Portland Community Health Center because the nonprofit is eligible for higher reimbursements for services provided to low-income patients.
The City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the municipal budget at 5 p.m. Monday at City Hall. The council will vote on the budget May 16.
As of Sunday evening, more than 1,800 people had signed an online petition to save the clinic.
The India Street clinic provides services for HIV-positive patients, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and a needle exchange program.
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