AHN Receives $176,000 Grant from Staunton Farm Foundation to Support Street Medicine

Pittsburgh, Pa. -- Allegheny Health Network (AHN) has received a $176,000 grant from the Staunton Farm Foundation to support the ongoing efforts of the AHN Center for Inclusion Health (CIH) and its homeless health care service. The grant will go toward the AHN Street Medicine team, a comprehensive group of social workers, behavioral health specialists and physicians that works exclusively with individuals experiencing homelessness.

According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, an estimated 2.3 to 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year and experience poor access to health care leading to delayed clinical presentation, increased reliance on emergency departments, and higher rates of hospitalization, often for preventable conditions.

AHN’s CIH Street medicine teams work very closely with several community health partners including Healthcare for the Homeless, Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net and the City of Pittsburgh among others, to help address the lack of medical services available to the most vulnerable of patient populations.

“Staunton Farm Foundation is excited to join the community to back Allegheny Health Network and its critical service to those experiencing homelessness or unstable housing,” said Joni Schwager, Executive Director. “Through our continued support, we hope this grant will play a significant role and break the connection between homelessness and poor health through trusting and compassionate care.”

The most recent grant will help to fund critical nurse navigator positions on the Street Medicine team which will work to assist homeless patients navigate their care journey and connect them with the appropriate community, health and wellness resources. The team places a strong focus on caring for individuals with comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders (SUD), among other conditions.

“The health problems of those experiencing homelessness are expansive and multidimensional,” said Allie Quick, chief philanthropy officer at AHN. “With the generous funding from Staunton Farm Foundation, we’re even better positioned to provide sensitive, flexible care spanning mental health, medical, substance use treatment and social support.”

To learn more, please visit the AHN Center for Inclusion site.