• Information & Referrals - Connections to services for: health, mental health, substance abuse, shelter, social services, housing, benefit programs, food, and other services. Walk up information and referral services and toll-free assistance by phone.

• Benefits Advocacy - Assistance in establishing eligibility for health insurance and income support programs.

• Access to Medical Care - Guidance and practical assistance in accessing medical care. Access to care for uninsured individuals through a special program within MediCruz for most types of outpatient medical services. Eligibility can be established through both HPHP and MediCruz staff. Primary Care is provided through County General Medical Clinics and referral providers in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, and through a contract with Salud Para La Gente in the Pajaro area of Monterey County. After-hours and emergency care are provided through hospital emergency rooms and reimbursed through MediCruz.

• Medical Care and Treatment - Special funding is available for medical care for homeless adults/children at the following locations (please call to make same-day or next-day appointments): 

  • Coral Street Clinic - (831) 454-2080 
    115-A Coral St., Santa Cruz, CA., 

  • Santa Cruz Emeline Health Center - (831) 454-4100
    1080 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, CA.

  • Watsonville Crestview Health Center -  (831) 763-8400
    9 Crestview, Watsonville, CA.

  • Santa Cruz Women's Health Center - (831) 427-3500
    250 Locust St., Santa Cruz, CA.

  • Planned Parenthood (Westside Clinic) - (831) 426-5550
    1119 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA.

  • Planned Parenthood (Clinical Mariposa) - (831) 724-7525
    40 Penny Lane, Watsonville, CA.

  • Oral Health Care - Provided by Dientes Community Dental Clinic - (831) 464-5409
    1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA.  Call for appointment, some walk-in appointments available. Referrals for uninsured individuals are made by HPHP nurses.

• Alcohol & Drug Use Concerns - Outreach, counseling, and support to adults and youth with the goal of reducing the harm caused by alcohol and drug use. Practical support to clients wishing to find and enter a treatment program matched to their needs. Case management continued through and after treatment to increase the chances of long-term recovery. An HPHP contract with Janus Inc. funds a 30-day treatment option for many homeless adults.

• Overcoming Barriers - Practical support, encouragement, and guidance in accessing appropriate health and social services, e.g.: assistance with transportation, paperwork, appointments, language and cultural differences, etc.

• Education & Prevention - Teaching and assistance with self-care and management of acute, chronic and/or communicable health conditions including wound care and medication management. Staff teach and reinforce behaviors to reduce the risk for undesired pregnancy and HIV, STDs, and other infectious diseases.

• Case Management - Two types, brief assistance in coordinating care and services as well as an intensive, longer-term case management approach offered to clients working toward goals of increased stability, self-reliance and a transition from homelessness. Case management efforts are client-centered and client-driven. The intensive case management approach involves a commitment from the client; a thorough assessment of client strengths, aspirations, barriers to success; and an emphasis on the relationship between case worker and client, who together work on a plan to reach client goals.

Client Eligibility:
Those eligible for the above services include youth, adults and families in Santa Cruz County who are:

• Living without shelter

• Living in substandard structures, threatening to health or safety shelter, under crowded conditions

• Staying in a shelter or transitional housing program

• Housed in a residential alcohol and drug treatment program with no stable housing to go to upon program completion

* Proof of legal residency is not a requirement.

Referrals to HPHP
Staff respond to referrals and requests for assistance from hospitals, clinics, many community programs, as well as from private citizens. Referrals can be made by either calling our project directly at 831-454-2080, or by directing clients to our next most convenient outreach site or office hours. 

Much of the work of the project takes place out in the community at outreach sites located near food and shelter programs, homeless camping areas, motels, etc. 

• HPHP distributes a monthly outreach calendar which includes scheduled Nursing Office Hours at the Coral Street office, as well as days and times of scheduled outreach sites throughout the county to which clients can be referred during the month. Call to have an outreach calendar mailed to your office each month.
  

• Drop-in social work and nurse hours are scheduled weekly at the Coral Street office. The 115-A Coral Street office is open to homeless persons for hygiene and prevention supplies and information about HPHP and other community services 8-12 and 1-5 Monday through Thursday; 8-12 and 1-3 Friday.
  

• Services Provided at Community Outreach Sites:

  • Nursing health assessments

  • Help with self-care for injury or illness (including supplies and OTC medications)

  • Teaching about health concerns, harm reduction, and self care

  • Establishing eligibility for medical overage and referral to clinics

  • Information and referral

  • Outreach, counseling and referral regarding alcohol and drug use

  • Case management