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Taking Care

Harris Health System: Your Community Safety Net

By The Change Lab -- via manual_seed -- Apr 18, 2026

Harris Health System: Your Community Safety Net

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Harris Health System is the public hospital system for Harris County, operating Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in northeast Houston, along with over 40 community health centers distributed throughout the county. Harris Health serves all patients regardless of income or insurance coverage. The Gold Card program provides ongoing access to primary and specialty care for low-income Harris County residents. This guide explains how to access the system, what the Gold Card is, and what to bring to your first appointment.

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West End Multi-Service Center

The West End Multi-Service Center is a City of Houston facility on Heights Boulevard serving the Sixth Ward and Heights area neighborhoods. Located in one of Houston's older inner-loop communities, the center provides residents with access to health screenings, social services, public benefits navigation, and civic programming administered through the Houston Health Department. The facility serves as a resource access point for a neighborhood that includes longtime Houstonian families alongside newer residents in the Heights corridor. Source: houstonhealth.org.

Third Ward Multi-Service Center

The Third Ward Multi-Service Center is a City of Houston facility on Ennis Street serving one of Houston's most historically and culturally significant African American communities. Third Ward is home to Texas Southern University, Emancipation Park, and a long tradition of Black civic leadership. The MSC connects Third Ward residents to health services, social service referrals, public benefits programs, and city-administered community resources in a neighborhood navigating deep history and ongoing development. Source: houstonhealth.org.

Kashmere Multi-Service Center

The Kashmere Multi-Service Center is a City of Houston facility on Lockwood Drive serving the Kashmere Gardens neighborhood in northeast Houston. The center provides residents with on-site access to health services, public benefits support, social service referrals, and civic programming. Kashmere Gardens is a historically Black neighborhood with strong community identity, and the MSC functions as a critical touchpoint connecting residents to city resources without requiring travel to downtown or distant facilities. Source: houstonhealth.org.

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