Dignity Health is committed to investing in the total well-being of the communities we serve and reaching our most vulnerable patients and neighbors. With this guiding mission in mind, we’re constantly seeking ways to engage in compassionate and collaborative efforts beyond our own hospitals’ walls.
Homelessness is a public health crisis across the state, and individuals experiencing homelessness face a multitude of challenges when it comes to finding permanent housing solutions and managing their health. New and innovative approaches are desperately needed to effectively reach this population. That’s why Dignity Health’s Homeless Health Initiative has partnered with The Salvation Army and donated nearly $1.1 million to help support and expand its homeless outreach program in communities across California.
In cities like Stockton, The Salvation Army’s Street Level Mobile Homeless Outreach Program is making a meaningful impact by taking support services to the streets with vehicles that serve as a caseworker’s office on wheels. Its primary goal is to help people improve housing stability in their lives, whether that means going from the streets to a shelter, a shelter to permanent housing, or helping those without shelter to connect to the services and resources they need and find employment.
This strategy focuses on meeting people where they are in a non-threatening, trust-building and consistent way to help them find resources appropriate for their situation. Outreach teams are often led by those who were previously homeless, providing authentic experiences to further trust and support.
Since the program began in 2021, outreach teams have reached thousands of homeless individuals and are making a real impact throughout California’s Central Valley and in San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.