Haight Ashbury's Legendary Free Clinic Closes

The Haight Ashbury Free Clinic closed in July 2019 after 52 years of service.
Photo credit Health Right 360

A hippie-era landmark in the Haight has closed its doors. 

After 52 years of service, the Haight- Ashbury Free Clinic at Clayton and Ashbury streets closed in July. 

The clinic was started by Dr. David E. Smith in 1967 to offer San Francisco residents free, non-judgmental medical treatment at any hour of the day.

The patients in the Summer of Love were often treated for adverse reactions to drugs, sexually transmitted diseases or complications from living on the streets. 

Officials say the clinic at that location is no longer financially sustainable, but that a larger facility at Mission Street and South Van Ness Avenue

But a larger facility at Mission and South Van Ness, also run by Health Right 360, remain open.