Lily Martinez had a wide smile on her face as she admired her new sneakers.

“They actually look so cute,” the eighth grader said, holding up the fresh pair she picked out from among 500 donated by the Soles4Souls organization.

The giveaway was held at The Floating Hospital in Long Island City, a nonprofit that provides health care and other essential services to homeless families. Martinez and her family recently moved out of a shelter and into an apartment.  

What You Need To Know

  • The Floating Hospital was founded in 1866

  • The organization provided health care and other services in underserved communities on board a series of ships

  • The hospital is now based on land at a clinic in Long Island City, Queens

“It’s cool that people can welcome me in here and make me feel as if I was part of their family,” said Martinez, who dreams of becoming a fashion designer.

Founded in 1866, The Floating Hospital was originally a ship-based medical facility that provided care to underserved communities. For more than a century, it operated on a fleet of vessels, offering treatment to sick children and their families.

But after losing its dock space following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the hospital moved onto land. In 2021, it opened a 30,000-square-foot clinic in Long Island City, where it continues its mission of serving those in need.

“We service the community at large. We have people from all five boroughs that come and use our services—primary health care, dental health, behavioral health, podiatry, optometry,” said Cynthia Davis, the hospital’s director of community outreach.

In addition to its clinic and satellite locations, the nonprofit operates a fleet of vans that transport families from shelters to medical appointments.

“For the most part, we pick them up if they are living in temporary housing,” said Meghan Miller, director of health education. “A lot of our patients are single moms with several kids, and it’s very difficult for them to get on and off the subway with strollers. So this is just to make sure transportation is not a barrier for them getting health care.”

Each year, The Floating Hospital serves approximately 30,000 people from 400 shelters and domestic violence safe houses across the city. 

For more information, visit thefloatinghospital.org