Portland Community Program
“Establish a strong downtown presence with store-front accessibility and visibility. This presence should focus on our ability to meet the social, cultural and economic needs of the region through educational programs, policy analysis, research consultation and expertise, student placements and outreach programs.”
PORTLAND COMMUNITY CLINIC
The mission of the Portland Community Clinic is to provide comprehensive oral health care to individuals on income assistance, job training and other pre-employment programs, regardless of their lifestyle and socio-economic background. At present dental care is restricted to residents of the Downtown Eastside, which is a geographical area within the boundaries of Clark Street and Cambie Street (East-West) and the Burrard Inlet to Prior Street (North-South). This geographical area contains the Downtown Eastside Corridor, which is home to Canada’s poorest residents. Contrary to common opinion, the residents of the downtown community are from diverse backgrounds. Many residents are workers that have been displaced from jobs in declining industries such as forestry, mining and fisheries. The majority of these residents have lived in the hotels for most of their lives as it is a convenient location to travel to work. Now they are either unemployed or retired in this community. Other residents are new immigrants, the native communities, the working poor, medically compromised, chemically dependent and those escaping from various forms of abuse.
Staff at the Portland Community Clinic
The goal of the Portland Community Clinic is to provide quality dental care at a reduced fee or accept assignment of benefits of all dental insurance plans to all residents within the boundaries of the Downtown Eastside Community.
The dental clinic offers special days for people within the area needing Cantonese interpretation. The clinic also schedules days specifically for senior citizens, women and first nations people.
The Portland Community Clinic is a UBC teaching dental clinic and dental treatment may be observed or delivered by senior dental students and dental residents under the supervision of Dr. Seehra or Dr. Sikorski.
PARTNERS
University of British Columbia
Portland Hotel Society
Government of British Columbia
CONTACT
20 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-0073
