Many More Will See Their Future


In the non-profit sector, long-term partnerships are truly indispensable to our work. One example of this at Care for the Homeless is the support we have received from The Hyde and Watson Foundation since 2006. Recently, the Foundation awarded its second consecutive grant to our vision initiative that will enable many more patients who visit CFH health centers, to literally see their world more clearly. Our vision initiative was launched a year ago and thanks to our partnership with Lion’s Club International and their many years of experience screening children, we were able to check the vision of children in homeless family residences using the screening device they owned. The Foundation’s first grant to our initiative enabled us to purchase our own vision device and one that would allow screening of both children and adults. The Spot Vision Screener has been put to good use, screening more than 200 adults and children to-date.

 The Foundation’s second generous grant to our vision initiative this year will allow us to purchase equipment that will be assembled into a portable vision screening and exam kit. With this kit, we will not only offer vision services at more locations but to also provide a more comprehensive vision exam by a professional optometrist, particularly targeting adults. The more advanced equipment will be able to detect conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, in addition to basic refractive errors (far- and near-sightedness). Patients that are identified with any one of these issues will be referred to our other vision initiative partner, the SUNY College of Optometry, for follow-up services.

 The future of our patients experiencing homelessness can truly be brighter and clearer, when vision issues are caught and treated. We thank The Hyde and Watson Foundation for their continued support for this important and vision-saving initiative.

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