Homeless Lifelines: Rural and Urban

Innovative Mobile Care Models Tackle Homelessness and ER Overuse, One Community at a Time

July 16, 2025

Hi there,

In this issue, we spotlight innovative programs bringing healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness whether in rural Oregon, the streets of New York City, or homes across Ohio. These models are rethinking care delivery, one visit at a time.

Let’s jump into it:

Trivia is Back!

Who's logo is this?

Bringing Healthcare to the Homeless: One Paramedic’s Mission in Rural Oregon

A sole community paramedic in Clackamas County, OR, takes healthcare directly to people living unsheltered—setting up clinics in tents and remote locations. The program fills a critical rural gap by providing on-site primary care, wound treatment, chronic condition monitoring, and referrals, especially where traditional services are inaccessible

NYC’s Mental Health RV: A Lifeline for Homeless New Yorkers

Project Renewal’s RV-style mobile clinic parks near soup kitchens and shelters twice weekly in Chelsea, offering on-the-spot psychiatric care—including medication, prescription management, and trauma-informed listening—without requiring insurance or referrals

In its first two years, the clinic has treated 2,400 people, with high retention stemming from its low-barrier, trust-focused approach, and the nonprofit plans to expand mental health capacity with additional dedicated vans

Community Paramedicine Expands in Ohio to Reduce ER Visits and Improve Home Care

Mercy Health is extending its successful Community Paramedicine program—originally launched in Champaign County in 2021—to Clark County (and Springfield, OH), offering follow-up medical care for at-risk patients after hospital discharge.

The initiative aims to reduce unnecessary ER visits by having paramedics conduct home visits, monitor conditions, provide medication management, and coordinate with primary care providers