CHARLOTTE, Mecklenburg County — In Charlotte's LoSo neighborhood, there is a place that cares about the entire individual. It was built on a vision 50 years ago by Dr. C.W. Williams.
Today, the facility is seeking solutions to a problem all too common -- the high cost of health care.
"I came here off the streets of Charlotte and I was in a dark place mentally, physically, and spiritually.", patient Alan Ward told WCNC Charlotte. "It definitely pulled me out of a dark place. C.W. Williams Center was the hope shot, it was my safe haven."
Afraid of being judged, and not knowing where to turn, Ward took a shot at C.W. Williams Community Health Center. They look at the entire person as an individual.
CEO Debra Weeks is at the helm of the center and has been since 2015. She's been marching in the footsteps of Williams, who opened the center in 1981. It's one of more than 300 Federally Qualified Health Centers in the state that is working to knock down the barriers to quality health care.
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"We've worked hard to get to this point you see today," Weeks said. "We have wonderful providers and amazing community partnerships that help us provide medical service, dental service and even a complete pharmacy here. We're able to transport people to and from doctor's offices, even if it's not here. That hard work we put in is the way we try to honor the doctor's legacy every single day. What he did to make sure his plan is in place but also bears fruit."
The center offers medicine at a lower cost to their patients, hoping to redistribute the cost savings to them. Any revenue made at the center goes back to the patients and employees striving for holistic care for anyone, no matter the need.
There's an expansion on the horizon as well. A second primary location on Wilkinson Boulevard will be ready to go by August. It will be a one-stop shop for any patient's needs, including a hub to transport people.
There are 317 FQHC in North Carolina. Here is a list of those locations along with the associated fees. Federal funds are a support, but since the pandemic, funds have dwindled. The center could always use volunteers and of course donations.
Here is how you can help.
WCNC Charlotte has partnered with Pride Magazine to share stories like this one.
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Contact Colin Mayfield at cmayfield@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.