About one in five homeless people has a chronic substance use disorder, and a similar percentage experiences mental health issues, according to the U.S. Department of Health.
The mobile clinic will provide homeless individuals with access to a physician, a nurse, a mental health case manager and a chemical dependency professional, according to Capitol Hill Seattle. Workers will also direct homeless individuals to other long-term support services or treatment.
Parked in front of tent cities, food banks and other homeless services centers, the van will bring health services directly to homeless individuals, who might not otherwise seek them out, according to Fox News.
“The great thing about being mobile is you can go where people most need services and you can offer care on the spot,” Alicia Benish, manager of the Mobile Medical Program, told KGW. “That really helps with building trust and rapport with individuals who might not otherwise engage in services.”