Houston Methodist announced today that it will award $10 million through its 2026 Health Care Access Grant Program to expand medical and mental health services for uninsured and underinsured populations across the Greater Houston area.

The program’s funding will support 29 unique federally qualified health centers, charity clinics and other nonprofit agencies as well as several strategic initiatives aimed at addressing critical health needs.

“We’re committed to breaking down barriers to care for all Houstonians,” said Jill Campbell, director of community benefits at Houston Methodist. “These organizations were selected because they are best-in-class safety net providers with a proven track record of delivering high-quality, trusted care to the populations they serve. By partnering with organizations that excel at meeting complex health and mental health needs, we’re expanding access to essential services for those who need them most.”

The program offers two distinct funding opportunities: the Health Care Access Grant, designed to improve affordable and quality access to health care services, and the Mental Health Care Access Grant, which supports programs that help eliminate barriers to mental health care. Grant highlights include:

  • More than $2.1 million in direct funding and $1.3 million in in-kind lab support from the Health Care Access Grants will help agencies provide essential primary care and preventive services.

  • Over $2.2 million in direct funding from the Mental Health Care Access Grants will support organizations to expand counseling, psychiatric care and substance use disorder treatment.

  • Approximately $4.2 million for strategic initiatives will fund efforts to improve continuity of care, increase capacity for primary care, and reduce emergency department visits.

  • In total, these investments are expected to serve more than 73,000 individuals across the Greater Houston area.

The grant program has helped 84 unique Houston-area charities with more than $195 million since its inception more than 30 years ago. Through the Health Care Access Grant Program, beneficiaries will expand primary and preventive care and increase mental health services. The program reflects Houston Methodist’s commitment to reducing barriers in health care and addressing these challenges through local collaborations and targeted investments.

For more information about Houston Methodist’s community initiatives and to see the full list of grantees, click here.