CARES for the Unhoused

The CARES for the Unhoused (CFU) program is dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive, high-quality healthcare to the unhoused members of our community. We aim to ‘meet people where they are’ to offer medical care without an imposed agenda and in a space of trust. We recognize that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we strive to create an accessible and welcoming healthcare environment.

We have a hybrid in-person and telehealth-based model that involves resident physicians and undergraduate healthcare professional learners providing care at a community clinic and via street medicine outreach.

We understand that people experiencing homelessness face unique challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare as well as inequities in all social determinants of health. We are committed to partnering with our unhoused community and local organizations to address the full spectrum of unmet needs that impact the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

We further aim to foster a learning environment that emphasizes empathy, cultural competency, and health equity. We believe that everyone deserves to live a healthy and sustainable life, and we are committed to educating future medical providers through our drive to make this a reality for the unhoused members of our community.

The Navigation Center

CFU at The Navigation Center is a student-run free clinic that provides high quality primary healthcare in-person and via telehealth to people experiencing homelessness. We partner with the Navigation Center, an organization dedicated to helping the unhoused navigate the complex ecosystem of services they need to rebuild a sustainable independent life for themselves and their families. CFU provides the Navigation Center with an in-house medical center, and the two organizations work synergistically to meet the full spectrum of needs of our shared clients and patients.

Street Medicine

The CFU street medicine team consists of MUSC students, residents, and attending physicians in addition to community partners who provide medical care and social services at street-based locations and camps which are identified as high traffic for unsheltered individuals. We provide healthcare services such as wellness checks, treatment of acute conditions, chronic disease management, wound care, and vaccinations, and are always adapting to meet the needs of our unsheltered community.