Its goal is to make sure that people across the Nation can obtain the care they need in their community. regardless of their ability to pay. What began in the 1960s as a neighborhood health center demonstration project at two sitesColumbia Point in Massachusetts and Mound Bayou in Mississippihas flourished beyond expectation in the years since then. It has now grown to more than 1.000 community. migrant. and homeless health centers providing care in every State across the Nation. Health centers are the "medical home" today for over 15 million patients--patients who are overwhelmingly lowincome. uninsured and minorities. Without health centers in their community. most of these patients would have nowhere to turn for the health care they need.