Street Medicine

This fact sheet draws from a major research project and examines the experiences of Californians experiencing homelessness. They found that access to empathic care managers is crucial for navigating complex systems and that safe, stable housing helps achieve lasting recovery.

This issue brief provides a snapshot of contracting efforts between a sample of Medi-Cal managed care plans and street medicine providers. It examines the impact that those contracts are having on street medicine providers’ financial sustainability.

Although the health system cannot fix every part of the homelessness crisis, there are important roles it can play. CHCF envisions a future where different systems work together effectively so people are housed and healthy.

Sweeps cause patients to lose critical medications, identity documents, personal belongings, and even durable medical equipment. They harm people’s health, take an enormous emotional toll, and waste valuable health care resources, experts say.