M2
Slide 18
CONTENT
Innovative Healthcare Delivery Models
Street Medicine, Mobile Clinics, Outreach Teams and Telehealth
Given the substantial barriers to healthcare access experienced by people living in homelessness, traditional clinic-based service models are often insufficient. Health systems designed around stable addresses, appointment scheduling, and administrative documentation do not match the realities of housing instability.
In response, several innovative healthcare delivery models have emerged. These approaches aim to reduce structural barriers, improve continuity of care, and align services with the lived realities of marginalised populations.
Street Medicine
Street medicine involves delivering healthcare directly in places where people live outdoors or in temporary settings. Services may include:
Basic medical assessment
Wound care
Chronic disease monitoring
Mental health support
Harm reduction interventions
Vaccination
Referrals to specialist services
Street medicine teams are typically multidisciplinary and may include physicians, nurses, social workers, and peer support workers.
STRENGTHS
Lowers access barriers
Builds trust through consistent presence
Reaches individuals who avoid formal institutions
Provides early intervention before conditions escalate
LIMITATIONS
Resource-intensive
Dependent on sustainable funding
Cannot fully replace stable primary care infrastructure
May struggle with follow-up continuity
Flexible, long-term support
Street medicine is most effective when integrated into broader care systems rather than functioning as a parallel service.
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