The Hennepin County Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) is housed within Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department.

Hennepin County HCH works to decrease barriers to accessing health care by bringing critical services to the homeless population by locating clinics where people experiencing homelessness go for emergency shelter and other services. Health services and care coordination are provided in area shelters, drop in centers and other agencies serving homeless individuals by a mobile, interdisciplinary HCH team.

Services are provided at eight shelters, drop-in centers, and other community-based facilities in the downtown Minneapolis area.

Services

24 hour emergency on-call, Asthma treatment, Basic Needs, Behavioral/Mental Health Care Services, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Cancer Screening, Case Management/Social Services, Chemical Health Assessment, Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema, Contraceptives (issued w/counseling), Diabetes Testing/Care, Electronic Medical Records, Family Planning, Financial counseling, Flu Vaccinations, Health/Nutritional Education, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Housing navigation and placement, Immunizations, Interpretation services, Labs, Medical Respite, Medication Prescribing, Medication Dispensing, Outreach, PATH services, Pediatrics, Physical Exams, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Shelter outreach, STD Testing, SOAR services, TB screening/education, Tobacco cessation, Transportation Services, Well Child Check-ups, X-rays

Linkages

Chemical and mental health services are arranged through on-site coordination with Hennepin County’s PATH funded services providers as well as through referral relationships service providers in the community who specialize in treating homeless patients. Patients with tuberculosis or HIV are managed in collaboration with Hennepin County’s Public Health Clinic. Strong collaboration occurs with the local safety net hospital, Hennepin County Medical Center’s (HCMC), for emergency coverage, urgent care, specialty clinics, and electronic medical records system.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 5,528

Patients served: 3,866 in 2018