Community Health Centers: Find Care, Hours & Affordable Appointments
Community Health Centers (CHC), formerly widely known as Community Health Centers of Burlington, is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center serving Burlington and surrounding Vermont communities. It provides primary medical care, dental treatment, counseling, psychiatry and support for patients who need help affording healthcare.
The main Riverside Health Center is at 617 Riverside Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. CHC also operates South End, Pearl Street, Safe Harbor and other nearby locations. Choosing the right clinic matters because services, eligibility and hours differ.
Reviewed October 23, 2026. Clinic schedules, available clinicians, insurance participation and treatment fees may change.
Burlington CHC Locations, Phone Numbers & Hours
CHC operates several clinics across Burlington and nearby communities. The table below helps identify the appropriate location without calling the wrong department.
| Clinic | Address, phone and hours |
|---|---|
| Riverside | 617 Riverside Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401 Medical: 802-864-6309 Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM Medical, dental, behavioral health, psychiatry, pharmacy and support services. |
| South End | 789 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401 802-864-0693 Monday–Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM; Saturday 8 AM–Noon. Medical, counseling and dental services. |
| Pearl Street | 179 Pearl Street, Burlington, VT 05401 802-652-1080 Monday–Friday 7:45 AM–4:30 PM, with scheduled breaks. Care focused on patients ages 10–30 and vulnerable young people. |
| Safe Harbor | 184 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401 802-860-4310 Monday–Friday 8 AM–4 PM, with lunch and meeting closures. Healthcare and support for people experiencing homelessness. |
| Winooski | 32B Malletts Bay Avenue, Winooski, VT 05404 802-655-4422 Medical: Monday–Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM. Medical, mental health and dental services. |
| Good Health | 368 Dorset Street, Suite 1, South Burlington, VT 05403 802-860-1441 Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Adult primary care, counseling and psychiatry. |
| Essex | 87 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-404-1350 Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–5 PM. Medical and behavioral health appointments. |
CHC also operates services in the Champlain Islands and school-based dental programs. Those locations have separate schedules.
Riverside Health Center: Exact Department Hours
Riverside is the main Burlington site. It is useful for patients who need several services in one building, but each department operates its own schedule.
| Department | Published hours / contact |
|---|---|
| Medical, counseling and psychiatry | Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM 802-864-6309 |
| Dental Center | Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–3:45 PM 802-652-1050 |
| Patient Support Services | Monday–Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM for walk-ins, except Wednesdays when walk-ins and appointments are closed. 802-264-8124 |
| CHC Pharmacy | Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday clinical meeting | Medical, mental health and psychiatry services close Noon–1 PM. |
| Building opening | Building physically opens at 7 AM; medical telephone calls begin at 8 AM. |
Which Healthcare Service Do You Need?
Routine examinations, preventive care, common illnesses, medication reviews, long-term condition follow-up and specialist referrals when appropriate.
Family medical care, children’s wellness visits, vaccination review, preventive screening and development-related concerns through available clinicians.
Preventive and treatment-related dental appointments. Services, costs and appointment availability depend on the dental clinic and patient needs.
Counseling, behavioral health assessment, psychiatric services and mental health support depending on clinician availability and individual care needs.
Selected STI/HIV testing, prevention, family planning and related services are documented by public health directories. Call to confirm the exact test and location.
Riverside offers pharmacy services. Patients can also use the official patient portal or contact the appropriate pharmacy for prescription-refill assistance.
Patient Support Services assists with sliding-fee applications, Vermont Health Connect enrollment and other benefits-related referrals.
Safe Harbor provides eligible patients experiencing homelessness with medical and mental health services at no cost through the Homeless Healthcare Program.
Dental Appointments: Phone, Hours & First Visit
CHC provides dental services at Riverside and South End, with additional dental services in Winooski. The central dental appointment number is 802-652-1050.
| Dental location | Official schedule |
|---|---|
| Riverside | Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–3:45 PM |
| South End | Monday 7:30 AM–7 PM; Tuesday–Friday 7:30 AM–3:45 PM |
| Winooski | Monday 7:30 AM–5 PM; Tuesday 7:30 AM–3:30 PM; Wednesday–Thursday 7:30 AM–5 PM; Friday 8 AM–3 PM |
CHC asks new dental patients to complete the registration and dental medical-history forms. Completed forms may be returned using the approved instructions, including the official dental-triage address or fax. After the forms are received, the dental team contacts patients regarding scheduling.
- Call 802-652-1050 and ask whether new dental appointments are available.
- Explain whether you need routine dental care, treatment follow-up or evaluation of a dental concern.
- Ask for the correct new-patient forms and secure submission instructions.
- Tell staff if recent dental X-rays are available so records can be transferred as requested.
- Confirm insurance, sliding-fee eligibility and expected charges.
- Arrive approximately 15 minutes before your first appointment, as CHC’s new-patient guidance requests.
CHC Sliding-Fee Scale: Who Qualifies in 2026?
Community Health Centers offers a Sliding-Fee Scale Financial Assistance Program for income-eligible patients. It helps reduce eligible medical, dental and behavioral health expenses when patients cannot afford the full cost.
The official 2026 guidance states that households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level may qualify. Income, household size and program eligibility determine the discount.
| Patient situation | Financial assistance guidance |
|---|---|
| No health insurance | Ask Patient Support Services for a sliding-fee eligibility assessment. |
| High-deductible insurance | Patients may qualify for help with eligible out-of-pocket charges. |
| Medicaid coverage | Ask about available assistance for applicable services and costs. |
| Medicare coverage | CHC states that the sliding scale can apply to eligible Medicare coinsurance. |
| Income at or below 200% of poverty | Potentially eligible, subject to full application and household-income review. |
| Experiencing homelessness | Ask Safe Harbor about the Homeless Healthcare Program, which offers no-cost services to qualifying patients. |
Documents for Financial Assistance
CHC asks applicants to bring one form of government-issued identification and proof of household income. The official financial assistance page lists examples including:
- Two consecutive pay stubs from the past 30 days.
- Most recently filed tax return.
- W-2 or 1099 forms.
- Social Security, pension or disability benefit statements.
- Unemployment benefit statements.
- FAFSA documentation when applicable.
- Income information for relevant household members.
For applicants reporting no income, CHC describes a written self-declaration process with temporary eligibility subject to its program rules.
How to Apply for Sliding-Fee Assistance
Call 802-264-8124 and explain that you need help paying for healthcare.
Ask which household members and income sources must be reported.
Gather identity and income documents relevant to your household.
Use CHC’s current approved sliding-fee form. Staff can help you complete it.
Visit Patient Support during its open hours or follow the secure submission process provided by CHC.
Ask for your eligibility decision, effective period and estimated payment before non-emergency treatment.
Medical Insurance, Vermont Health Connect & Payment
CHC serves insured and uninsured patients. It can help eligible patients understand Vermont health insurance enrollment, participating coverage and financial-assistance options.
Patient Support Services includes certified Vermont Health Connect navigators who can help with Medicaid and marketplace coverage enrollment and explain available plan options.
Staff can also refer patients to resources such as 3SquaresVT, vision-related assistance and other community programs.
| Payment method | Published availability |
|---|---|
| Cash and check | Accepted under CHC’s billing guidance. |
| Credit cards | Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. |
| CareCredit | For dental patients only, according to CHC. |
| Online payment | Official InstaMed payment option. |
| Billing telephone | 802-264-8126 |
| Billing email | billing@chcb.org |
Ask for a Good Faith Estimate
Patients who do not have insurance or choose not to use it may qualify for a Good Faith Estimate of expected non-emergency charges. CHC explains that when a qualifying appointment is scheduled at least three business days in advance, patients are entitled to an estimate under the applicable federal rules.
If the final bill is at least $400 above the Good Faith Estimate, there may be a federal dispute process. Keep copies of the estimate and bill and contact CHC billing for clarification.
Homeless Healthcare: Safe Harbor Burlington
Safe Harbor, at 184 South Winooski Avenue, serves adults and families experiencing homelessness, including people staying in shelters, outdoors or temporarily with friends.
Eligible patients can access healthcare and mental health services through CHC’s Homeless Healthcare Program without treatment charges under the program.
| Safe Harbor | Hours / details |
|---|---|
| Appointments | 802-860-4310 |
| Monday–Friday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Lunch closure | Noon–12:30 PM |
| Thursday meeting | Noon–1 PM |
| Walk-in clinic | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8–11 AM and 12:30–3 PM |
| Saturday | No regular Safe Harbor Saturday appointments advertised. |
Walk-in hours are not a promise of immediate treatment. Depending on clinical need and staffing, patients may be scheduled or directed to another appropriate healthcare service.
How to Become a New CHC Patient
- Choose a location. Decide whether Riverside, South End, Pearl Street or another CHC location best matches the care you need.
- Call the correct scheduling number. Tell staff whether you need medical, dental or counseling services.
- Ask about new-patient openings. Not every clinician is continuously accepting new patients.
- Discuss insurance or sliding fees. Tell staff if you do not have coverage or are worried about payment.
- Complete the required forms. CHC publishes patient registration, health-history and other documents.
- Arrange records transfer. Ask how previous medical or dental records should be securely provided.
- Confirm appointment details. Record the date, address, department, clinician and check-in time.
- Prepare your visit. Bring requested documents and any relevant medical information.
What to Bring
- Identification, if available and requested.
- Insurance card, Medicaid or Medicare information if applicable.
- Current medication list and known allergies.
- Relevant medical history and prior test results.
- Previous primary-care provider information.
- Referral documents if requested.
- Immunization records for relevant child appointments.
- Income documentation for sliding-fee review.
- Questions about the appointment or treatment plan.
CHC’s new-patient guidance recommends arriving around 15 minutes early for your initial visit. Ask the team if extra check-in time or forms are required.
Patient Portal, Refills and Medical Records
CHC’s patient portal provides a route for established patients to manage supported healthcare-account activities, including prescription refill requests, reviewing available laboratory results and billing functions.
Prescription Refill Steps
- Check whether you have an active CHC patient-portal account.
- Sign in through CHC’s official website.
- Open the available prescription or medication-request feature.
- Choose the medicine and pharmacy information requested.
- Submit the request and allow the clinical/pharmacy team to review it.
- If the portal is unavailable, contact your pharmacy or the correct CHC location.
For medical records transferred from another provider, ask CHC which authorization or release-of-information form is required. Use approved secure channels rather than sending sensitive documents through an unrelated website.
Parking, Accessibility and Riverside Directions
CHC – Riverside
617 Riverside Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
Medical appointments: 802-864-6309
Riverside Parking Garage
CHC identifies a two-level patient parking garage at Riverside. From the garage, patients can take the elevator to:
- Level 1: Dental and patient counseling/psychiatry appointments.
- Level 2: Medical appointments.
For wheelchair access, language interpretation, transportation concerns or assistance locating the correct entrance, request arrangements when scheduling.
Comparing Community Health Centers and Patient Services
Community health centers across the United States often have similar missions but different appointment systems, service locations and financial-assistance rules. The following published guides provide useful comparisons—not alternative clinics in Vermont.
For another example of integrated family medicine, dentistry, behavioral health and reduced-cost care, read our Christian Community Health Center patient and sliding-fee guide, covering Chicago-area clinics.
Patients researching how federal qualified health centers handle insurance, medical and dental appointments can also compare the Florida Community Health Centers locations and services guide.
Our San Fernando Community Health Center guide to appointments and income-based fees explains how a different nonprofit provider organizes medical, women’s health and dental services in California.
For an example of a health center combining clinical care with food, benefits-enrollment and transportation assistance, explore the Serve the People Community Health Center assistance and patient-services guide.
Before Your CHC Appointment: Practical Checklist
- Confirm the correct CHC location and medical department.
- Check the clinic’s operating hours and any Thursday meeting closure.
- Ask whether your preferred clinician is accepting new patients.
- Confirm dental or counseling availability separately from medical hours.
- Bring insurance and medication details if available.
- Apply for sliding-fee assistance early when appropriate.
- Remember that Riverside Patient Support is closed Wednesdays.
- For Saturday medical visits, ask South End about appointment availability.
- Keep your appointment confirmation and arrival instructions.
- For emergencies, use emergency services instead of waiting for an outpatient appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Community Health Centers in Burlington, Vermont?
The main Riverside Health Center is located at 617 Riverside Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. CHC also operates South End, Pearl Street and Safe Harbor in Burlington, plus other nearby clinics.
What is the CHC Burlington phone number?
The Riverside medical appointment number is 802-864-6309. For dental appointments call 802-652-1050, and for financial assistance call 802-264-8124.
What are Riverside Community Health Center hours?
Medical, mental health and psychiatry hours are Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM, with a Thursday Noon–1 PM clinical meeting closure. Dental and pharmacy departments operate separate hours.
Is a Burlington CHC clinic open on Saturday?
Yes. The South End clinic at 789 Pine Street advertises Saturday medical appointments from 8 AM to Noon. Call 802-864-0693 to confirm availability.
Can I visit Community Health Centers without insurance?
Yes. CHC welcomes insured and uninsured patients and provides sliding-fee assistance to eligible households. Call Patient Support Services for help with eligibility and applications.
How do CHC sliding-scale fees work?
Eligible households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level may receive reduced charges. The discount depends on household income, size, service and eligibility review.
Does CHC Burlington offer dental services?
Yes. CHC offers dental care at Riverside, South End and Winooski. The central dental appointment number is 802-652-1050, and each clinic has its own hours.
Does CHC provide counseling and mental health services?
Yes. CHC provides mental health counseling and psychiatry services through selected clinics. Call the appropriate location to ask about available appointments and clinicians.
What is Safe Harbor Community Health Center?
Safe Harbor is a CHC location at 184 South Winooski Avenue in Burlington offering healthcare and mental health services to eligible individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Its appointment number is 802-860-4310.
Is parking available at CHC Riverside?
Yes. Riverside has a two-level patient parking garage with elevator access. Level 1 serves dental and counseling/psychiatry appointments, while Level 2 serves medical appointments.
Official Sources & Patient Resources
Community Health Centers is responsible for appointments, clinical services, insurance determinations and patient billing. Use the official resources below for completing patient-specific actions.
- Official CHC locations and contact numbers
- Riverside hours, medical/dental services and parking
- South End Saturday appointments and dental hours
- New-patient registration and appointment guidance
- 2026 sliding-fee eligibility, income requirements and forms
- Patient Support Services and insurance enrollment help
- Payments, billing assistance and Good Faith Estimates
- Official telephone directory and after-hours contact information
Community-center.org is an independent informational website and is not operated by Community Health Centers. It does not schedule appointments, access patient records, determine eligibility or provide medical advice. Always confirm clinical instructions with your healthcare team.