Addressing Health Care Needs in the Homeless Population: A New Approach Using Participatory Action Research

This article explores a unique approach to addressing the health needs of a rural homeless population using core principles relevant to community-based participatory research (CBPR). The objective of the Healthcare for the Homeless Suitcase Clinic (HHSC) project is to create a community-based practice model of health care through unconventional portable, mobile “Suitcase Clinics” staffed by volunteer providers and a Nurse Case Manager. These clinics address complex health concerns of the homeless in five unique shelter settings in a rural Mid-Atlantic community. Using CBPR, community-academic partners worked systematically to explore the issues of homelessness in one community using data collection cycles, reflection, and capacity building. This program description discusses the various aspects of the development, implementation, and evaluation of the HHSC and the expansion of services that have resulted from this project.