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Introduction

Unhoused populations face disproportionately high burdens of chronic disease, food insecurity, and barriers to primary care. Studies show high rates of malnutrition, psychiatric illness, substance use disorders, and inconsistent healthcare and nutrition access [1-4]. Despite a growing unhoused population in Westwood Village, key service gaps remain. Most live in isolation and lack access to consistent nutrition, primary care, and housing resources. To address this gap, we developed and implemented a student-led street medicine initiative to understand key needs and provide hot meals, medical care, and connection to social services.

Methods

We partnered with a local organization to conduct initial outreach and establish rapport. Then, we implemented weekly street medicine rounds with the UCLA Student-Run Homeless Clinic over twelve months. We provided hot meals, medical care, and assistance with social services. Semi-structured qualitative interviews, clinical observation, and surveys were used to assess housing, food insecurity, primary care access, medical conditions, demographics, and basic needs. The study included 77 individuals, representing nearly the entire Westwood Village unhoused population. Data was analyzed to identify recurrent needs, chronic conditions, and barriers to care. Thematic saturation was achieved after encounters demonstrated consistent patterns of unmet need and disease burden.

Results

78% were solitary men, most commonly aged 40-50. Key unmet needs included shelter, food, primary care, mental health services, and basic resources. Many reported difficulty finding shelter following hospital discharge or incarceration, with barriers including long waitlists, limited social worker access, and lack of phones. None identified a reliable source of free hot meals; most relied on informal sources or government assistance. Chronic medical conditions were common and poorly managed, with inconsistent primary care, low medication use, and limited engagement in health behaviors. Barriers included geographic inaccessibility, competing survival priorities, and medication storage concerns. A centralized Westwood location for medical care, hot meals, and case management is needed.

Conclusion

Continuity and consistent outreach through hot meals were key to establishing rapport with this community, gaining the trust necessary to initiate complex healthcare and housing navigation. This population faces profound, interconnected barriers, including severe food insecurity, housing instability, and very limited access to primary care. These challenges perpetuate unmet needs and untreated health conditions, reinforcing barriers to care. Community-based street medicine outreach can address immediate needs while building trust and connecting individuals to housing and healthcare services.

References

1. Style H, Vickerstaff V, Brown A. Nutrition Status of People Experiencing Homelessness Residing in Temporary Accommodation in London. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025;38(1):e70024. doi:10.1111/jhn.70024 
2. Adams EJ, Lu M, Duan R, et al. Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):2430. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-16790-6
3. Laporte A, Vandentorren S, Détrez MA, et al. Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Addictions among Homeless People in the Greater Paris Area, France. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):241. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020241
4. Feldman CT. HOUSED BEDS: A Clinical Tool for Taking a History on an Unsheltered Homeless Patient. National Health Care for the Homeless Council; 2024.