Abstract

Homelessness is a global occurrence that transcends cultural and geographic bounds, affecting heterogeneous populations in developed and developing countries and in urban and rural settings. Homeless individuals face adversity in many aspects of life, not the least of which involves challenges related to increased burden of disease and barriers to obtaining medical care. Four specific barriers to medical care for homeless persons are the perception of stigma, limited finances and lack of insurance, unreliable transportation, and competing survival priorities. In contrast to hospital and clinic settings, Street Medicine outreach programs attempt to bring services directly to the targeted homeless populations on the streets for their convenience. A review of current literature was performed to select medical outreach programs that are representative of physician-led, emergent and comprehensive care models. Results were evaluated on their ability to address the aforementioned barriers to care. By targeting the prominent barriers to obtaining medical care, Street Medicine models are capable of promoting increased access and ultimately improved health for homeless individuals.