California: New Executive Director for Tenderloin Health

Colm Hegarty has become Tenderloin Health's new executive director during a time in which the nonprofit faces budget cuts. The agency's 2009-10 fiscal year budget will be $7 million, down $500,000 after losing a contract with San Francisco's Human Service Agency.

As a result, the nonprofit's popular community drop-in resource center will shut down June 30, said Hegarty, who began on May 1. The center had provided more than 12,000 unduplicated clients annually with everything from bathroom access to shelter reservation assistance.

Hegarty said Tenderloin Health will continue its HIV service and housing programs. An estimated 1,300 unduplicated clients use these programs per year, receiving primary medical and urgent care, HIV testing and counseling, supportive housing, and employment development assistance.

"A big challenge we are facing is an increase in the demand for our services while public funding is being severely cut and private resources are dwindling," said Hegarty, who previously served as Tenderloin Health's director of resource development and public relations. "Our goal is to continue to provide excellent quality services during these very challenging times."

The agency's biggest challenge, said Hegarty, is addressing disparities in health care access. "The African-American community is the most disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS as well as the community that faces the greatest disparities in accessing health care, so our goal will be to make sure as many people as possible" can access services at Tenderloin Health, he said.

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