Founded in
2020
Our Mission
To provide outreach medical care to unhoused individuals, affirming their value, dignity, and humanity.
1700
In the St. Louis region, approximately 1700 people reported unhoused
6,000
In Missouri, almost 6,000 people are unhoused
1 M
Across the US, 1 million people access homeless services yearly
582,000
Approximately 582,000 people in the US are unhoused.
About Street Med STL
Street Med STL is a collective of individuals working to address the severe health challenges of homelessness. Started in 2020, with one person and a humble backpack of wound care supplies, we have now grown into a robust team including health professions students, nurses, social workers, and doctors.
Through strategic partnerships with community partners, we’ve amplified healthcare access, distributed vital supplies, and provided essential medications to some of the most vulnerable in St. Louis. Our approach is anchored in a harm reduction philosophy, specifically designed to address the immediate needs of those living on the streets.
Get Involved
Become a Volunteer
If you’re a medical professional, you can lend your skills to the front lines by volunteering with Street Med STL, making a tangible difference in the lives of the unhoused.
Donate Today
Our work is funded largely through donations. Our generous supporters provide the financial means to purchase wound care supplies, medications, and supplies to ease life on the street.
Read the Blog
Dive deep into narratives and reflections on our work, to better understand the urgent need to care for our unhoused neighbors.
Why Homelessness?
St. Louis faces a complex web of factors that drive homelessness. Years of disenfranchisement has left large parts of our community struggling with structural inequities. This is compounded by escalating housing costs, wages not keeping pace with inflation, a substance use crisis, and gaps in mental health services. These systemic problems are complicated by personal hurdles such as trauma, legal issues, substance dependencies, medical debts, and chronic health issues.
Health Consequences
The health risks for the unhoused are dire. Homeless individuals experience mortality rates up to 10x higher than housed people, with life expectancies between ages 55-60. The true health consequences of homelessness are often undocumented, as many are hesitant to report being homeless when interacting with the health system. Further, many unhoused people lack access to primary care, relying on emergency departments when catastrophic health events occur. This highlights the critical need for services like those offered by Street Med STL.
A unique Solution
Street Medicine describes the process of providing healthcare outside the walls of clinics and hospitals. Relying on our dedicated volunteers, we actively reach out to unhoused individuals offering medical support. Our approach prioritizes the dignity of those we care for, using a harm reduction focus. Beyond material aid, we strive to bridge the profound healthcare gap, fostering relationships and ensuring that these vulnerable are seen, valued, and truly cared for.
The Future
of Street Med STL
Street Med STL aims to expand its services without compromising its foundational ethos. We’re committed to developing a robust infrastructure to track patient journeys over time, nurturing ‘the classroom on the street,’ and continuously innovating to meet the evolving needs of St. Louis’ unhoused community.
At the core of all our future endeavors, remains the Street Med STL philosophy: to genuinely see and stand with people in their reality, emphasizing that every individual, regardless of circumstance, holds value and deserves compassionate care.