As Proposition 44 approaches the November 3 midterm elections, roughly 180 nonprofit community clinics across California face unprecedented threats to their survival. Established 40 years ago as a single-room counseling office in 1986, the Neighbor Care Clinic (formerly the Korean Health Information Center) has grown into a federally qualified health center providing multilingual healthcare and social services to underserved communities.
The Vital Role of Multilingual Healthcare Services
Founded by the late Colonel Kim Young-ok with the guiding principle that no one should be denied medical care due to language barriers, country of origin, or financial hardship, the clinic has become a crucial medical safety net. Today, the organization operates six clinics and two senior care centers, offering family medicine, pediatrics, dental care, mental health services, and traditional medicine. Notably, the clinic provides assistance in 31 languages, earning a top-tier Gold ranking in the 2026 Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) awards.
How Proposition 44 Jeopardizes Clinic Operations
Despite its proven track record, Proposition 44βpushed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)βwould mandate that 90% of clinic revenue go toward increasing medical staff wages while ignoring the critical need for administrative and educational staff who support patients navigating the healthcare system. If passed, the measure could trigger severe financial deficits, resulting in reduced patient services, longer wait times, and potential clinic closures that would disproportionately impact uninsured and Medi-Cal patients.
Protecting California’s Healthcare Safety Net
Community leaders and elected officials have raised concerns that placing these healthcare safety nets at risk endangers vulnerable populations who rely on bilingual assistance for medical treatments and welfare programs. Voters are urged to carefully review the impacts of Proposition 44 to ensure that community clinics can maintain their public mission and continue delivering essential care to immigrants and low-income residents.
