COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) — Hospitals, clinics and the city of Costa Mesa launched a street health program this week to provide both medical and social service services to homeless people.
Residents who live near Lions Park in Costa Mesa frequently encounter homeless people while walking around.
Anderson Seale was out walking his dog, Brutus, on Wednesday morning.
“They’re going to be lined up across here,” Seale said.
He is aware of the impact homelessness has on many of them.
“There’s a lot of things that aren’t being taken into consideration in terms of health, nutrition, that sort of thing,” Seale said.
CalOptima Health has partnered with the City of Costa Mesa and Celebrating Life Community Health Center to develop a Street Health Program that provides primary care and behavioral health services to those who need it most.
“We’re seeing everything from wounds to swelling in the legs to elevated blood pressure to substance use and definitely mental illness,” said Alex Bradberry, a nurse with CalOptima Health’s Costa Mesa Street Medical Team.
Garden Grove was the first city in Orange County to launch a mobile clinic last April.
“Since then, more than 315 unhoused people have been assisted through this program, and we’re really proud that 12 of those people have been able to find permanent housing,” said Yunkyun Kim, chief operating officer at CalOptima Health.
Costa Mesa’s street medical team has been operating in the area for more than a week.
Bradbury said they are already building relationships with people living on the streets.
The street medical team hopes to help 150 people over the next 18 months.
“Every time we come here there are new faces and people we interact with and thankfully the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive,” Bradbury said.
“There are other things that need to be done, but it’s good to put our resources to work to help those in need,” Seale added.
CalOptima Health plans to expand to a third city in the coming weeks.
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