Reconnecting and Rebuilding: Mobile Clinic Project at UCLA

The Mobile Clinic Project is composed of students, physicians, and advisors from multiple spheres at UCLA. Our organization combines the expertise of our undergraduate, medical, and public health students to provide compassionate care for the unhoused. Approximately 50 undergraduate students serve as caseworkers to take social histories, provide social service referrals, and distribute tangible items such as hygiene kits, clothing, and various medical supplies. UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) medical students, overseen by attendings and residents, work alongside caseworkers to take clients' medical histories and treat acute medical conditions with supplies from our mobile clinic truck. UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (FSPH) students assist in providing and distributing other social services including providing our clients vouchers for public transportation.

Pictured above is our weekly Wednesday clinic in Hollywood. The back of the truck operates as the site for item distribution for our clients. To the right of our truck (out of the picture) are tables set up for our tele-referrals services. To the left of the truck (out of the picture) is where our clients can consult with medical students and physicians.

Rain or shine, we provide our clients with a safe space to receive compassionate medical care in a judgment-free space. By taking a holistic approach and providing open ears and hearts, we ensure that our clients are treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

The pandemic has led to the closing of public services or the transitioning of healthcare visits to only online or phone services, which many of our clients cannot access. Furthermore, many shelters were impacted by COVID-19 and we know that 30-40 million Americans are at risk for eviction as soon as the eviction moratorium lifts. These recent increases in housing insecurity are occurring as the number of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles increased from 56,267 in 2019 to 63,706 in 2020.

87% prefer our clinic over another free clinic
90% preferred MCP over ERs for non-emergent conditions

Every Wednesday, we provide in-person medical and social services to people experiencing homelessness in Hollywood. We aim to reduce barriers to care and strive to dismantle the stigma that unhoused individuals face when receiving care. Our low-barrier services are more important than ever as the pandemic has forced service providers to limit access to care.

Photo of client and caseworker taken before the COVID-19 pandemic. We work to meet our clients wherever they're at and strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for all. Before the pandemic, our undergraduate caseworkers and medical students would work together with their clients. Now, our medical students continue to provide in-person care while our undergraduate team has transitioned to providing virtual social services via video conference on clinic laptops.

Our program is completely student volunteer run, therefore all funds go directly to our clients and services. Our project is unique in that our clinic is mobile, so we meet our clients in the community and work with them to address both their medical and social needs.

MCP supports our clients by building trust and establishing long-term relationships so they feel more comfortable sharing their needs for any medical or social concerns. Through partnerships with the UCLA DGSOM and FSPH, as well as with local nonprofits and generous contributions from donors like you, our project is able to address the acute medical and social needs of our clients through a variety of services and referrals:

We serve approximately 900 clients per year. In order to serve our clients, some of our clinic expenditures include:

$5,500 for truck maintenance and transportation.
$10,000 for medications (OTC and Prescriptions).
$15,000 in supplies for our clients (clothing, hygiene kits, menstrual kits, etc...).

Our clinic and clinic partners provide:

Vision checks + glasses provided by our partner Mobile Eye Clinic
Rapid HIV testing provided by our partner AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Hygiene supplies
Menstrual supplies
Clothing
Prescription medications
OTC medicine
Blankets
Transportation (public transit passes)
During the pandemic we’ve made extra efforts to provide:
- Tents
- Prepaid phones
- Sleeping bags
- Gift cards
- Laundry vouchers