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Volusia Volunteers in Medicine urges Daytona Beach to help fund and house free clinic
Summary
Volusia Volunteers in Medicine told the commission it serves uninsured Volusia County residents, has grown since opening in 2015, operates on a roughly $75,000 annual budget with a modest state grant, and is asking Daytona Beach for help finding permanent space and recurring funding.
Volusia Volunteers in Medicine (VVIM) urged the Daytona Beach City Commission on Nov. 6 to consider recurring support and help finding a permanent clinic space to serve uninsured, low-income adults. Carol Killian, a longtime volunteer and local resident, said VVIM began out of the city's 2008 vision plan and opened in September 2015, and that the clinic relies on volunteer doctors and nurses plus a single part-time paid manager.
"Mayor Henry personally donated $5,000," Killian said, thanking elected officials who have given in the past and asking the commission to consider including VVIM in annual discretionary funding. Francine Barnes, one of VVIM's founders and the board president, told commissioners the group has served more than 650 county residents across 17 cities and that about 46% of their patients live in Daytona Beach.
Barnes outlined eligibility and finances: the clinic expanded financial eligibility this year to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines (about $45,180 annual income for a household level described in VVIM's handout), serves adults ages 19–64 who lack Medicare or Medicaid, and does not treat pediatric or Medicare/Medicaid patients. She said VVIM receives a small state grant (described in her remarks as about $22,000) and runs on an annual budget of roughly $75,000; the remainder must be raised through private donations and municipal contributions.
Staff and volunteers described recent disruptions: a hurricane damaged a prior leased space and volunteers moved clinic equipment temporarily to storage and a donated executive building at a reduced rate. They said the clinic sometimes partners with Halifax Hospital residents, AdventHealth and other local providers for imaging and specialty care and that a permanent, dedicated clinic space would reduce operational fragility.
Commissioners asked about the number of volunteer physicians and whether the city could provide space or publicity. Killian said VVIM has a call list of physicians, occasional specialty referrals and a monthly clinic arrangement with a health department site in New Smyrna for that portion of the county. The clinic also requests that commissioners consider adding recurring support in their budgets rather than ad hoc donations.
The presentation concluded with a request for staff help locating small city-owned rooms or other low-cost space and for the commission to consider ongoing budget support; commissioners did not take immediate action but invited staff follow-up.
