Are mobile health clinics for Sacramento’s homeless effective? County to review
Sacramento County’s Department of Health Services seeks to gain more grant funding to provide health care for homeless people. Staff will present at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday about their mobile and street medical service called Wellness Without Walls.
These mobile clinics have a variety of health care services, including HIV treatment, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and substance counseling, according to Sacramento County Department of Health Services’ website.
In partnership with the department’s primary health services and sexual health promotion unit, the program was created to eliminate barriers to accessing health care. Homeless residents don’t always have transportation needed for a doctor’s visit, or they fear losing their belongings while away at a clinic. These mobile clinics attempt to bridge the gap of accessing health care, the resolution states.
“These programs not only address immediate health concerns but also build trust within the unhoused community, encouraging individuals to seek ongoing care,” the resolution states.
Originally established in 2014, there are currently three mobile clinics and one dental clinic, the department stated. These mobile clinics have primary care services for clients as young as 4 years old. They also have wound care equipment and labs and medical referrals. The Department of Health Services stated that this program has served more than 2,000 patients since its launch.
The Department of Health Services wants to expand services through providing additional locations in Sacramento County, according to the presentation prepared for the Board of Supervisors. Many of the mobile clinics work in silos and Medi-Cal resources can be restrictive, with clients facing difficulties meeting criteria. The agency added the program has faced obstacles with getting care for uninsured clients. Consistency with client follow-up has also been met with difficulty.
Wellness Without Walls holds pop-up medical clinics throughout the county. Tuesday, the day of the presentation to the Board of Supervisors, the a clinic will be 9 a.m. - noon at 1492 Northgate Blvd. Upcoming locations can be found at https://bit.ly/4jivLR9
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
