Street Medicine & Outreach
Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net street medicine and outreach teams make “house calls” to people who are experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. We visit them in camps, alleys, under bridges and overpasses, and other places they call “home.”
We believe we can best address needs when we go to the people, meet them where they are in life, and show them we care – not just in our words, but more importantly, in our actions. This gives us a clear view of the realities and everyday challenges they face.
Our street medicine and outreach teams consist of one or more of the following:
- A certified registered nurse practitioner
- A behavioral health nurse
- A primary care physician
- An outreach specialist
- A medical student
- A non-clinical support person to assist with social services.
We offer:
- Basic medical care, including wound care
- Boots and sleeping bags (in winter)
- Food
- Water
- Socks
- Over-the-counter medicine, antibiotics, and medicine to help manage chronic conditions like diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure
- Referrals to health care and other human services
- Referrals to housing through the Allegheny Link at 1-866-730-2368.
Our teams deliver services on street rounds, at our Pittsburgh Mercy’s Emergency Shelter at Second Avenue Commons, and Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center, our primary care center.
By meeting basic human needs, developing trust, and fostering deep, personal connections, we help those we serve to find solutions to other problems that affect their quality of life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness and needs to connect with our street outreach team, please call 412-240-7366.
Page updated: October 23, 2025.