A dental clinic in St. Paul, Minn., which has been open for 60 years is on the verge of closing due to insufficient funding, according to a Dec. 26 report from FOX 9.
Hope Dental Clinic provides dental services to individuals without dental insurance. The clinic provided care to nearly 2,800 patients across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa last year.
Two weeks ago, the clinic laid off the entire staff and closed. The clinic requires nearly $100,000 each month to keep its doors open, and has not been able to come up with enough funding to stay open.
The clinic's board is looking for ways to raise funds and keep the clinic open, but has not found a solution. As of now, the clinic is set to permanently close at the end of 2024.
About 25% of Minnesota residents lack dental insurance, the report said.