Munson Healthcare announced a donation of $300,000 to Traverse Health Clinic over the next two years to support the expansion of the Street Medicine Program. Launched in July 2022, the Street Medicine Program is a collaborative initiative between several local partners – including Munson Healthcare, Traverse Health Clinic, and Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Street Outreach team. The project aims to provide medical care to people experiencing homelessness wherever they are located.
The Street Medicine partners transformed a box truck into a state-of-the-art hospital exam room to reach patients at homeless shelters, encampments, and other community locations. The new funds from Munson will help expand access for patients experiencing homelessness and complete accessibility upgrades to Traverse Health Clinic’s mobile medical unit. The money will also fund a full-time community coordinator position to support wraparound services and manage operational costs for the program.
Since its inception in 2022, the Street Medicine Program has served over 1,000 people in Northern Michigan. Munson Healthcare president and CEO, Ed Ness, emphasized the importance of providing care to vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness to prevent significant health issues. Traverse Health Clinic CEO, Casey Kandow, described the donation as an exciting development that will help alleviate human suffering and provide critical healthcare services to the unhoused population.