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An SOS Team Member takes a clients blood pressure.
photo credit: Caitlin McCaffrey, Metta Foundation
SOS Team Members reach out to a vehicularly housed woman.
photo credit: Caitlin McCaffrey, Metta Foundation
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Street Outreach Services
San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 450
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 355-2220 main
(888) 784-5365 toll free
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| Program Overview |
Street Outreach Services (SOS) is the mobile outreach component of SFCCC’s
Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program. Since 1988, SOS has provided
high quality, non-judgmental health services directly to homeless people
in places where they live and congregate. The main goal of SOS is to connect people to primary health care.
Traveling in a medical van to sites throughout San Francisco, the dedicated
SOS team of doctors, nurses, outreach workers, and volunteers creates
“clinics without walls” at soup kitchens, on city streets,
and in parks. SOS also provides its services at San Francisco's Project
Homeless Connect events. In other words, anywhere homeless
San Franciscans can be found, the SOS team finds itself.
Respect and understanding are key to the success of SOS. By
going directly to homeless people — meeting them on their own turf
and terms, in their neighborhoods — the SOS team builds a relationship
of trust, and breaks down the barriers that keep them from the care they
so greatly need. |
Services:
The SOS team provides critically needed preventive and urgent
health care services; distributes hygiene and health supplies; helps people
to complete applications for benefits; and refers clients to citywide
clinics for more extensive care — assisting with transportation
to be sure they get there. They also connect clients to an array of social
services and guide them to gain access to these programs. Additionally,
SOS provides vitamins, condoms, and clothes, as well as information regarding
various resources, including drug detoxification and rehabilitation programs,
housing, and medical and social services.
Schedule: For SOS van routes, please click here.
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Population Served:
SOS provides services to low-income people who are experiencing extreme
poverty and homelessness. Clients include veterans, immigrants, sex workers,
and vehicularly housed individuals, as well as people suffering from mental
illness and drug addiction disorders. SOS provides a variety of medical
and social services free of charge. Many acute health problems are treated
on site, while those patients requiring more extensive care are given
appointments in community clinics or are referred to S.F. General Hospital. |
SOS Partners:
Martin de Porres House of Hospitality
Most Holy Redeemer Church
Native American Dental Clinic
Project Homeless Connect
San Francisco Department of Public Health
San Francisco State University
University of California, San Francisco
University of San Francisco |
SOS Successes in 2010:
- Provided over 900 homeless people with 1,955 service visits to help improve their lives and move them off the streets (exceeded contract expectations).
- 854 Medical visits
- 420 Physician visits
- 434 Nurse Practitioner visits
- 764 Case management visits
- 302 Health education visits
- 35 Nursing visits
- Hosted 15 medical students and 24 Community HealthCorps members for site visits focused on introduction to homeless health issues.
- Demonstrated over 100% improvement in screening and treatment rates for intimate partner violence; incorporated use of a standardized assessment tool; trained key staff to conduct appropriate assessments and interventions.
- Administered seasonal flu shots and other immunizations to over 100 patients.
For a complete list of 2010 SOS highlights please click here. |
| Help SOS |
Volunteer:
SOS is currently not recruiting new volunteers.
However, interested parties many email a resume and cover letter detailing their experience with and/or interest in providing homeless medical outreach services to mgonzalez@sfccc.org for consideration when future openings occur.
Donate:
Clothes* and Outdoor Gear:
- Rain gear
- Waterproof jackets
- Ponchos
- Rain pants
- Tarps for shelter
- Cold weather gear
- Warm jackets
- Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Camping gear
- Scarves
- Gloves
- Hats
- Socks (especially wool and cold-weather socks)
- Comfortable Shoes (sneakers, boots, etc.)
- Women’s casual clothing (all sizes)
- Men’s casual clothing (all sizes)
*Please no formal, professional, or children’s clothing. Please ensure that all items are clean & in good condition.
Medical and Hygiene Supplies:
- Travel sized toiletries and medical supplies
- Soaps, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, etc.
- Unopened, unexpired over the counter nonprescription medications** (Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.)
- First aid supplies (bandages, gauze, ace bandages, etc)
- Hand sanitizers (Wet Wipes, Purell)
- Other
- Sewing kits
- Reading glasses
**Please no prescription medications or herbal medications
We also welcome gift cards to San Francisco retailers
(e.g. Costco, Walgreens, and Safeway)
Cash donations may be made online at www.sfccc.org or payable to SFCCC- SOS and mailed to our office at 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 450, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Donations may be dropped off Mon-Fri between 10am-4pm.
Questions? Please contact (415) 355-2222 & ask for SOS.
Thank you for your generous support of Street Outreach Services! |
| Other Information |
San Francisco Free Help Charts provides the following information on free services. Charts are available
in English and Spanish.
Free Eats Charts - lists where to get free meals
Free Pantry Chart - lists where to get free groceries and/or produce
Free Shelter Chart - lists where to find free shelter
Free Medical Chart - lists where to get free medical services and the
types of services provided
Free Mental Health Chart - lists where to get free mental health services
and provides a list of 24 hour crisis lines |
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