The Harris Health — Health Care for the Homeless Program (HCHP) overcomes obstacles faced by persons experiencing homelessness by providing patient-centered health care utilizing a service delivery model that provides care through shelter-based clinics and mobile units.

The HCHP provides health care, behavioral health therapy, dental services, laboratory services, pharmaceuticals, case management, social service information and referrals, and entitlement assistance onsite at multiple homeless shelters and day centers. Multiple mobile medical units and a mobile dental van unit provide additional services through a street outreach service delivery model.

Harris Health and HCHP use an integrated electronic medical record system, allowing off-site medical providers and team members to have instant access to progress notes, test results, referrals, and messaging.

Services

24 hour emergency on-call, Asthma treatment, Basic Needs, Behavioral/Mental Health Care Services, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Cancer Screening, Case Management/Social Services, Child Development Services, Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema, Contraceptives (issues w/counseling), Dental/oral care, Diabetes Testing/Care, Documenting Disability Services, Domestic Violence services, Electronic Medical Records, Family Planning, Financial counseling, Flu Vaccinations, Health/Nutritional Education, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Immunizations, Interpretation services, Labs, Medication Prescribing, Medication Dispensing, Mobile Medical Services, Outreach, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Physical Exams, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Shelter outreach, STD Testing, Street Outreach, Substance Abuse Treatment, TB screening/education, Tobacco cessation, Well Child Check-ups

Harris Health has a Consumer Advisory Board.

Linkages

Linkages include to medical services within Harris Health that are outside of the scope of the Health Care for the Homeless Program, and to housing, ID, employment, food pantries, and other social services programs.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 10,000 – 20,000

Patients served: 6,684 in 2024