The Metropolitan Board of Health approved a $355,200 contract with United Neighborhood Health Services Inc., d/b/a Neighborhood Health Inc., to provide medical, dental, mental‑health and substance‑abuse services to people experiencing homelessness at two or more clinics located in or near downtown Nashville.

Committee members pressed staff for details about the program’s scope and funding as American Rescue Plan funds that help support the work are sunsetting.

Lisonbee Cantway, assistant director of planning and research at the Office of Homeless Services, told the committee the contract supports outreach and clinical care for people living outdoors. “They provide really critical work, and they send doctors and trained medical health professionals truly out on the streets to encampments,” Cantway said. She added that staff can perform assessments, write prescriptions and deliver medications to people living outside and can arrange facility‑level care when needed.

An exhibit attached to the contract estimates the program will roughly serve about 3,500 individuals. When asked whether that would meet current demand, Cantway said it was unclear and that she “very much doubt[s] that that would completely meet the demand,” especially if housing services are reduced and more people become unhoused.

The contract will be funded in part through American Rescue Plan resources, Cantway said; the committee noted those funds are phasing out and that ongoing service levels may require additional funding later.

A motion to approve the contract carried on a voice vote. The meeting record did not include a roll‑call tally or named yea/nay votes for this item.

The contract directs Neighborhood Health to provide street outreach and clinic‑based services to people experiencing homelessness in the downtown area; the agreement was presented by sponsors Councilmembers Toombs, Huffman and Welsh.