Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Health Outreach Program 

The Coalition's Health Outreach Program was founded in 2002 to increase access to healthcare for the homeless.  By taking healthcare on the road, and delivering healthcare in the evening hours, the HOP helps address typical barriers to healthcare like lack of transportation or scheduling difficulties for the working homeless.

In April 2007, the Coalition upgraded services with a 37-foot mobile medical clinic. The vehicle travels with a physician or nurse practitioner and a medical assistant and has two treatment rooms and a lab on board.

Each week, the mobile medical clinic makes scheduled stops at homeless shelters and drop-in centers across Denver and at Colfax Avenue motels that have become a shelter of last resort for many families. It is an active collaboration between the Coalition and other homeless service providers.

Services include medical exams; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses; wound care, general health maintenance; pre- and post-natal care; gynecological services; TB and STD exams; and mental health evaluations.

Staff can set up appointments and refer patients for follow up treatment at the Stout Street Clinic or with other community resources.

The Health Outreach Program addresses three critical healthcare barriers typically faced by homeless individuals: 1) The mobile medical clinic travels to homeless facilities, eliminating transportation issues; 2) It is available both during daytime and evening hours, eliminating hardships for the working homeless or for homeless adults who are enrolled in other service programs; and, 3) The comprehensive health services are free of charge to homeless individuals. 

The Health Outreach Program is a general asset to the wider community by reducing the number of costly emergency room visits by the uninsured.