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April 9, 2007 • VOL. 45, NO. 7 • Oakland, CA
New medical van serves Tri-City’s homeless
For nearly
six months, homeless people in some parts of the East Bay have been visiting
a new state of the art medical clinic on wheels. The HOPE Project Van
has been making targeted stops in Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton to
help make it easier for the poor to receive health care. Among those charitable
agencies helping to make the van possible are the Sisters of the Holy
Family, headquartered in Fremont.
The Sisters, who are long-time social justice advocates on behalf of the
homeless and the poor, contributed $10,000 in matching funds towards the
purchase of the van. Holy Family president Sister Sharon Flannigan attended
the dedication last November.
The van, sponsored by the Tri-City Homeless Coalition in Fremont, goes
to areas where homeless people congregate to get food, shelter and other
services from that agency.
Built by Lifeline, a company specializing in state-of-the- art mobile
health clinics, and certified by HUD, the clinic consists of a professional
exam room with a sink, a small medical laboratory, two private counseling
rooms; a confidential case management interviewing room, space for educational
material and storage. The unit also has a covered outdoor area for people
waiting for services.
A case manager, a nurse practitioner, a substance abuse specialist and
a mental health specialist offer acute and preventative care, drug/alcohol
and group counseling, detoxification referrals, psychological/psychiatric
assessment and counseling, case management and referrals and assistance
in finding housing and employment.
Among its numerous stops, the HOPE Project van is at Corpus Christi Church
in the Niles area of Fremont from 11 a.m. until noon each Monday and Thursday.
