Volunteers work to get healthcare to the homeless

Healthcare for the homeless, it’s a problem many valley agencies are working together to solve. 

For some living on the streets,  the volunteers are their only source of medical care. 

“Their average lifespan is 20-25 years less than the average American,” says Rosa Lucas, a certified nurse practitioner spearheading the program. 

Every Tuesday night, dedicated volunteers from various valley health organizations pack up their supplies and offer routine checkups to those living in encampments. 

"We go out with teams to where the homeless are staying in encampments or individually in the junkyard behind stores and living sometimes on the street or in tents or just tarps or cardboard boxes," Lucas said.

Medical volunteers split into groups. Doctors, residents, nursing staff and students pack supplies. This particular Tuesday that News Channel 3 checked out was the group's 190th consecutive Tuesday practicing "Street Medicine."

Volunteers go out to encampments at night when they know their "patients" will be there. The teams spread out, performing routine check-ups in every tent. Some "patients" like Danny, they've known for years.

"Just being out here in the street…you gotta survive you know…with them…they show you that care…that love," Danny said.

Danny says the volunteers saved his life at one point.

"Absolutely. Yeah, they did because I had MRSA. And that was a bad thing to have," Danny said.

MRSA caused painful infections on Danny's skin. On top of that, it's resistant to most antibiotics. Volunteers ensured he was treated properly in the emergency room.

"I thank the doctors, Eisenhower, the volunteers, the students, for their time," Danny said.

As the night went on, the group continued to see patient after patient offering toiletries, antibiotics, ibuprofen, treating everything from rashes and bug bites to diabetes.

"We see a lot of GI problems because the people eat very poorly," Lucas said.

Volunteers established a no-judgment policy when treating patients.

"Some of them are heroin addicts and we treat their abscesses with incision and drainage or antibiotics," Lucas said.

Another important service the group provides, protecting people from the cold winters.

"I've got a pair of gloves and a hat. Anything we can do to help them take care of themselves, it really opens the door for them to trust us," said Brian Wexler, Ph.D, Director of Behavioral Health for Family Medicine Residency, Eisenhower Health.

"They trust us. That's a big factor. They will tell us things that are going on that they wouldn't tell anyone else," added Robert Cross-Carpenter, a retired combat medic who served in the U.S. Army.

Volunteers say many living on the streets were once working professionals, now isolated and disenfranchised.

"We're all just a couple paychecks away from it I guess," Cross-Carpenter said.

"When I've been out here, I've seen people I went to grade school with…friends that I knew in high school," Wexler said.

Wexler continued, "They don't want to go to the hospitals because they're dirty or treated badly."

The volunteer visits are not only physically healing but emotionally.

"They're so happy to see us we hug them we know them by name," Lucas said. "We know them as people."

Danny spoke about people's reactions when the volunteers arrive.

"They're happy. They're actually happy. Because maybe if it wasn't for that meal that made their day…or that hug…or handshake or smile on their face…to see somebody like that…it's very heartwarming. For all of us," Danny said.