In partnership with Huntsman Cancer Institute, Fourth Street Clinic hosts a Women’s Health Day every quarter to expand access to essential preventive care. During this event, unsheltered women receive mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, vaccines, and early HPV detection services in a supportive and welcoming environment.
This focus on high-quality care for women experiencing homelessness is especially important during Patient Safety Week in March, a nationwide effort to reduce harm and strengthen safe care practices across the health care system. By prioritizing preventive services and patient safety, Fourth Street Clinic works to ensure that every patient receives care in an environment built on compassion, trust and respect.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, women without stable housing are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, including domestic, dating, and sexual violence or exploitation, as well as stalking and human trafficking. The organization reports that 80% of women self-report trauma or abuse as the cause of their homelessness.
For Fourth Street Clinic and our Medical Outreach Street Team (MOST), the connection between gender-based violence and homelessness among women is clear. “A lot of the women we typically see while on outreach are either in or have experienced relationships where domestic violence occurs,” says Callie Larson, Supervisor of the MOST.
Fourth Street Clinic works to ensure women feel safe seeking care by fostering an empathetic and patient-focused environment. “Every day we tell our patients that we care about them and reassure them that we’re here for them; they aren’t alone. Helping them feel safe is centered around offering support and guiding them to resources that are available, if and when they are ready,” Callie says.
