Munson Healthcare announced on Thursday that it will donate $300,000 to Traverse Health Clinic over the next two years to help fund an expansion of the Street Medicine Program.

Launched in July 2022, the Street Medicine Program is a collaborative initiative between several local partners – including Munson Healthcare, Traverse Health Clinic, and Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Street Outreach team. The project is intended “to connect with people experiencing homelessness wherever they are and provide medical care.” Together, Street Medicine partners crammed the capabilities of a state-of-the-art hospital exam room into a box truck, which can now deliver care to patients at homeless shelters, encampments like the Pines, and other places out and about in the community.

According to Munson's announcement, the new funds will “help expand access for patients experiencing homelessness and complete accessibility upgrades to Traverse Health Clinic’s mobile medical unit.” The money will also “provide the opportunity to hire a full-time community coordinator position dedicated to supporting comprehensive wraparound services and managing operational costs for the program.”

Per Munson, the Street Medicine Program has been able to serve over 1,000 people since it got started in 2022.

“Those in our Northern Michigan communities experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable to significant illness or chronic health issues,” said Ed Ness, president and CEO of Munson Healthcare. “As we see these numbers continue to grow in our community and in our emergency rooms, Munson Healthcare is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need including preventative care.”

Traverse Health Clinic CEO Casey Kandow called the news “an exciting day for Traverse Health Clinic and our partners,” and praised Munson for “joining us to alleviate human suffering and help provide our unhoused population these critical healthcare services…”