September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to suicide, encourage conversations about mental health and remind people that help is available. When people think about suicide prevention, they often imagine a visit to a crisis center or an emergency room. Those moments are important, but suicide prevention can begin much earlier. Sometimes it begins with a conversation that takes a little longer than expected. Sometimes it is a provider asking one more question, a therapist noticing a slight change, or a case manager simply remembering a patient's name. At Fourth Street Clinic, we work with people [...]

Every vaccine represents an opportunity to prevent an illness before it starts. For many people, getting routine immunizations is as simple as making an appointment or stopping by a clinic. For people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, transportation challenges, limited insurance coverage and the demands of daily survival make preventative care difficult to access. At Fourth Street Clinic, we believe healthcare should adapt to the realities of our patients' lives rather than asking them to overcome the barriers that exist within a fragmented healthcare system. This belief is what makes our Vaccine Outreach Program different. Rather than waiting for [...]

In June, the Utah Office of Homeless Services and the Utah Homeless Services Board recognized Fourth Street Clinic for the extraordinary care our team provides to Utah's most vulnerable neighbors. In their words, our staff "meet people in the hardest moments of their lives with unwavering dignity, professionalism, and genuine compassion."  We were especially honored to be the only organization recognized during this presentation. As the award was shared, members of the Utah Homeless Services Board reflected on Fourth Street Clinic's impact and the vital role we play in our community.  Randy Shumway, Board Chair, Utah Office of Homeless [...]

When people think about health, they often focus on conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Yet oral health plays a critical role in overall well-being. Healthy teeth and gums affect our ability to eat, speak, sleep, work, and even connect with others. Poor oral health can lead to pain, infection and tooth loss and has been linked to many serious chronic health conditions. For individuals experiencing homelessness, maintaining oral health can be especially difficult. Most people take having access to a toothbrush, toothpaste, clean water and a safe place to store personal belongings for granted. For [...]