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Every day, hundreds of sick and injured patients walk into free and charitable clinics around the Tampa Bay area in need of a doctor.Many are suffering from chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Some patients were referred to the clinics by staff at hospitals where they landed after years of neglecting to care for treatable conditions.The clinics allow the patients to pay what they can, or nothing at all. They are staffed by doctors and nurses who volunteer their time. They survive off donations and small grants.Many of the patients have jobs but they are living paycheck to paycheck. None have health insurance, either because they do not qualify for Medicaid or can’t afford private coverage. For these patients, the clinics are often their only option for primary care.

Gadsden County Getting Millions In Mental Health, Hurricane Recovery Grants

Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young speaks at a press conference Thursday, March 5, 2020, flanked by Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and First Lady Casey DeSantis
Ryan Dailey
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young speaks at a press conference Thursday, March 5, 2020, flanked by Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and First Lady Casey DeSantis
Credit Ryan Dailey / WFSU-FM
/
The Florida Channel
Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young speaks at a press conference Thursday, March 5, 2020, flanked by Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and First Lady Casey DeSantis

First Lady Casey DeSantis was in Gadsden County Thursday morning to announce bolstered mental health funding. A $1.2 million, three-year grant from the Department of Children and Families is going to Gadsden, meant to help divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues from ending up in the criminal justice system.

Gadsden Sheriff Morris Young says those funds coming in will help with a persistent problem in the area.

“Mental health and substance abuse has been one of those major issues in our community,” Young told reporters. “They have robbed so many people – I mean, really good people … and they end up in our jails. And of course, our jails become overcrowded.”

Governor Ron DeSantis made an appearance alongside the First Lady to announce more than $2 million additional dollars going to the county from hurricane recovery grants. The bulk of those funds will go toward repairing the Hutchinson Ferry Bridge that collapsed last year, as well as the Little River Bridge.

Copyright 2020 WFSU. To see more, visit .

Ryan Dailey is a reporter/producer for WFSU/Florida Public Radio. After graduating from Florida State University, Ryan went into print journalism working for the Tallahassee Democrat for five years. At the Democrat, he worked as a copy editor, general assignment and K-12 education reporter.