Beneath Branko's Bridge

Street medicine teams bring medical care direct to people experiencing homelessness in encampments across the state. There are currently 25 teams operating in the state, providing medical care, food, hygiene products, empathy and support to those in need. Street medicine teams provide both emergency and routine primary care, establishing relationships and building trust with the patients they serve.

A mobile diabetes clinic in Calgary brings comprehensive healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness or low income at community health centers. The team provides services including foot care, retinal scans, blood and urine screening with immediate results, dietary counseling, and connections to housing and mental health programs. The "one-stop-shop" model eliminates the need for patients to travel to multiple appointments, ensuring they get the care they need.

Street medicine is breaking down barriers to healthcare access that unhoused individuals face. It brings healthcare directly to them, rather than expecting them to navigate the system on their own. This type of care emerged in Pittsburgh in 1992 and has since created a national network of 85 U.S. cities, 15 countries and five continents. Chicago Street Medicine, specifically, serves about 4,000 patients a year, with the help of its 600 volunteers.

To reach more Nigerians who are used to self-medicating their ailments with whatever is available at the pharmacy, PureLife Health opened two CareHub Minute Clinics within Lagos pharmacy locations, offering diagnostic and consultation services with a doctor for common health concerns. Since the hubs launched, more than 4,000 people have accessed the clinics, with about 10 percent of patients being referred to a hospital or specialist for further treatment.

Community health workers are stepping in to deliver essential healthcare services where conflict has destroyed local health facilities. These locally-trusted health workers conduct door-to-door visits to provide immunizations, screen children for malnutrition, refer emergency care and offer mental health support to those who need it, bridging gaps where traditional services can’t operate.

Traditional birth attendants provide maternal care to women in hard to reach areas. With government help through the Mama2Mama program, several TBAs are undergoing training to provide safer, more effective maternal care.

United Diagnostics Services sets up screening events across the country to test firefighters for early signs of cancer, as it’s the leading cause of death among firefighters. The scan is easily accessible and covers nine parts of the body, and also screens for other health issues, like cardiovascular or other high-risk conditions, that need to be monitored by a doctor.

The G.R.O.W. syringe service program (SSPs) helps people who use drugs and those who need injection supplies for gender-affirming hormone therapy get access to clean syringes and safely dispose of needles. Community-based programs like G.R.O.W. also offer first-aid kits, at-home HIV tests, Narcan and personal care items. There are currently 13 SSPs registered in the state. In 2023, G.R.O.W. alone distributed more than 44,400 syringes and collected about 37,700.

California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, is piloting a program that covers rental move-in costs for low-income people in need, specifically those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The goal is to keep people out of expensive institutions, like emergency rooms, by providing services like housing assistance and healthy food. So far, 20 locals have received Medi-Cal’s housing move-in assistance.

Groups like the Sidewalk Project are gathering volunteers to provide street medicine and care to people experiencing homelessness, many of whom are trans sex workers in need of basic care items beyond just clothes and food. These volunteers come to those in need with lived experiences, as many of them have experienced homelessness themselves, making them easier to trust as they provide important services like HIV and trans wellness care.