H+H Homeless Health Care

People experiencing street homelessness often have complex mental health and substance use issues that require specialized care and treatment.

New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) uses a trauma- and harm reduction-informed approach to build trust with New Yorkers experiencing street homelessness and connect them to care:

• in mobile clinics (S.H.O.W. vans)
• on the street (S.H.O.W. street medicine)

• at brick-and-mortar clinics (Safety Net clinics)

• by phone or on the computer (ExpressCare)

Clients can get prescriptions for opioid treatment, anxiety treatment, colds, flu and other conditions.

For long-term health management, NYC shelters and safe havens are encouraged to refer clients to Safety Net Clinics if they have more than two medical/behavioral health conditions and are not currently engaged in primary care.

If your client is unable to attend an in-person visit at the clinic, shelters and safe havens are encouraged to refer clients to speak with a doctor via ExpressCare, which they can access by phone or on the computer.

H+H Street Health Outreach & Wellness (S.H.O.W.) Vans

Picture: S.H.O.W. mobile unit

H+H S.H.O.W. vans bring medical care to patients experiencing homelessness who have challenges traveling to medical facilities.

These mobile clinics provide:

• health screenings

• vaccinations

• wound care

• substance use screening, brief intervention and referral

• overdose training and naloxone

• hygiene kits

• referrals to social services, medical and behavioral health care

S.H.O.W. vans park in locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. See S.H.O.W. van locations and schedule.

H+H Street Health Outreach & Wellness (S.H.O.W.) Street Medicine

Picture: Jose Capo, H+H S.H.O.W. addiction counselor and Andre Jordan, H+H S.H.O.W. peer counselor, follow up with a patient

Street Health Outreach & Wellness (S.H.O.W.) team members travel to bridges and other homeless encampments to reach New Yorkers experiencing street homelessness. They educate people on safer substance use, give them naloxone and drug testing strips, and connect them to medical care, safe havens, shelters and opioid treatment.

“For those who are homeless with multiple medical related issues, the S.H.O.W. team was able to convince a few of these individuals to seek support from the safety net clinic within Lincoln Hospital. Recently both me and Jose (Capo) were able to have a few patients picked up by staff from community-based partner Bronx Works due to their status of being chronically homeless and placed in their Safe Haven Hunts Point location to receive the support and services they are willing to receive,” Andre Jordan, Peer Counselor.

Read more about S.H.O.W. street outreach

H+H Primary Care Safety Net Clinics

For patients who are able to travel to receive on-site care, H+H offers primary care safety net clinics specifically for people experiencing homelessness at four locations:

• Bronx (at Lincoln Hospital)

• Brooklyn (at Woodhull Hospital)

• Manhattan (at Bellevue Hospital)

• Queens (at Elmhurst Hospital)

These clinics are staffed by doctors, nurses, social workers, and community health workers providing dignified, trauma-informed care. Patients receive comprehensive medical care, social support, addiction treatment, and
care coordination.

Staff have expertise in housing navigation and insight into the daily challenges of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Patients receive longer and more frequent visits to address their more complex social and medical needs.

To refer a client: Email the referral to the appropriate clinic location (see flyer for referral email address). In the email, provide your client's full name and DOB, H+H MRN (if known), client phone number and email address, patient eligibility, secondary contact info (e.g. case worker, family/friend), and urgency of the appointment.

H+H ExpressCare

H+H's virtual ExpressCare is a fast, easy way for patients to see a health care provider from their phone or computer, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

ExpressCare treats:

• COVID-19, colds, flu, sore throats
• Allergies and asthma
• Minor cuts and burns, pains or sprains
• Upset stomach or diarrhea
• Substance use disorders
• Withdrawal
• Anxiety
• Depression

ExpressCare accepts most insurance plans or can help you enroll in NYC Care if you do not have insurance. Learn more about ExpressCare