📍Ashland and Klamath Falls, Oregon
Street Nursing to Bring Healthcare to People Experiencing Homelessness
Challenge:
Individuals experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to healthcare, including lack of access, stigma, and unaddressed mental health needs. Traditional clinical settings often fail to meet these individuals where they are – both figuratively and literally.
Solution:
Oregon Health and Science University implemented a Street Nursing Team to bring care directly to people experiencing homelessness. The program included the following features to improve health care for people experiencing homelessness:
- Academic-clinical partnership: Collaborated with a health center to expand primary and mental health care access.
- Street as classroom model: Nursing students and faculty conducted clinics focused specifically on providing foot care and street rounds to provide direct care.
- Patient-centered approach: Integrated mental health support and other strategies to improve patient uptake of services.
- Education & workforce development: Trained future nurses on best practices for working with people experiencing homelessness.
Impact:
✅ Expanded access to essential healthcare services for people experiencing homelessness.
✅ Provided hands-on, real-world training for nursing students in community-based care.
✅ Strengthened academic-community partnerships to provide evidence-based support for people experiencing homelessness.