A Clinic for Male Derelicts

Abstract

A clinic for 1200 derelict men was conducted for 18 months in a large welfare hotel in New York City to bring medical attention to people who would not otherwise have been seen. The residents of the hotel were generally destitute elderly men, middle-aged chronic alcoholics, and young users of heroin. The staff consisted of three nurses assigned to the unit and eight volunteer physicians. The impact of the experience on these workers was related to their motives. Most of those engaged in the hotel project are now involved in similar work elsewhere.