NEW YORK, NY October 26, 2009 —The Floating Hospital, which has provided health care to the poor for nearly a century and a half, has cut the ribbon on its expanded, land-based main clinic in Queens. The non-profit renovated the Long Island City facility with $1.3 million in federal stimulus funds. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney says the organization has given an underserved neighborhood a reason to celebrate. "Not only are they providing health care, but in building their facility and in providing jobs, they're part of the economic growth of this community," she said.

The Floating Hospital has been in Long Island City since 2006, but in a much smaller facility, offering most of its services inside the homeless shelter system. The non-profit says the expansion will bring treatment to a broader spectrum of Queens residents in need, particularly residents of the Queensbridge and Ravenswood Houses. The organization now concentrates on the homeless population and serves nearly 60,000 people in family shelters.