The news of  this innovative approach to addressing homelessness is from the Carondelet Heath Network.

Nationwide, there is a very conscious and concerted effort to end homelessness in America. From Long Beach to Fort Lauderdale there are volunteers dispatched to get an accurate census of the homeless population.

It is a bit sad to witness the population of young veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars joining in the ranks of homeless at such young ages.

Health Village for
KEY PARTNERS the Homeless
Southern Arizona Health
Village for the Homeless
brings the following groups
together for the first time to
work collaboratively toward
a common goal to end
homelessness:
HOPE FOR THOSE IN NEED
The challenge of providing health care services to homeless individuals is an issue every community
faces. The need for housing, food, job training and other basic necessities crosses medical,

behavioral and social services lines. Tucson’s homeless population includes about 4,000 people single

men and women, teenagers and families with small children. This population has grown as the economy has declined.

Carondolet Heath Network is the facilitator bringing these key partners together.
The Southern Arizona Health Village for the
Homeless collaborative was formed to develop
an integrated system of care. The program’s
flagship effort is a 38-foot air-conditioned
RV,known as the “Van of Hope,” which is
equipped to provide mobile medical services
at sites including soup kitchens, churches and
shelters. Carondelet Health Network and two
other primary partners, EI Rio Community
Health Center and Primavera Foundation,
work together to staff the van and connect
clients to community services.
Gwen Gallegos (Carondelet Health Network
and EI Rio) and Pam Gleason (EI Rio), family
nurse practitioners with extensive experience
in community outreach and care, are sharing
the role of nurse practitioner for the Van
of Hope. Medical Assistant Megan Griffie (EI
Rio) and Care Coordinator Lety Huerta (EI Rio)
work with the nurse practitioner to provide
care and community referrals. The van is
also equipped with telehealth technology for
providing services such as teledermatology,
telewound care, behavioral
health and other consultations
remotely.
• establish designated community-wide acute and
extended-care beds for homeless patients
who are discharged from the hospital.
• provide case management and social service
outreach to homeless children through school
systems.
• offer behavioral health screenings and
referral to Carondelet Health Network’s behavioral
health program with 24-hour crisis
assessment.
• conduct specialized health ministry training
for churches and faith-based communities
that already help the homeless with social
services.
The program was made possible by a grant
from an anonymous donor. In coordination with
local organizations, Carondelet Health Network
worked with Carondelet Foundation to secure
a financial commitment of $2 million from this
generous soul. The funds are payable at $400,000
a year over the next five years. This provides the
start-up funding for the staff and services offered
by the Van of Hope with the eventual goal of
creating a sustainable model of care.
• EI Rio Community Health
Center
• Interfaith Coalition for the
Homeless
• Pima Community Access
Program
• Pima County Health
Department
• Primavera Foundation
• Salvation Army
• St. Elizabeth’s Health
Center
• Veterans Administration
Telemedicine technology
on the van enables remote
access to physicians and
specialists.
Providing services to the
homeless
The goals of the Health
Village are to:
• reduce inappropriate
emergency visits and
inpatient admissions for
preventable conditions
that become acute due to
a lack of primary care.