Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction Galveston, Texas, experiences a disproportionate rate of homelessness, approximately 57 per 10,000, surpassing the national average. Those experiencing homelessness have complex health needs that are often unmet by the current healthcare infrastructure and may be addressed through Street Medicine (SM) programs, such as Street Medicine Galveston (SMG). Methods Descriptive statistics were utilized to quantify the number of people served by SMG and volunteer engagement. Standard qualitative analysis procedures were used to evaluate responses to an anonymized post-service survey, which collected feedback on participants’ perceptions of homelessness. Results Over one year, SMG partnered with six community partners and trained 89 students in trauma-informed care. Twenty total street rounds were conducted, serving 253 individuals, approximately 83% of the known Galveston's homeless population. Qualitatively, volunteers reported that their SMG experience positively affected and broadened their perception of homelessness. Conclusion The SMG SM model effectively addressed social needs and healthcare barriers for people experiencing homelessness in Galveston. Ongoing development aims to enhance medical care and student education.
Published Version
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