Outreach at HCH
The concept of “outreach” – engaging people into services where they are, whether in shelter, abandoned buildings, under bridges, or on the streets – has been central to the Heath Care for the Homeless model since our inception in 1985. In the subsequent decades, our formal engagement in outreach activities has shifted periodically based upon client and organizational need. But our underlying commitment to the model has not changed: HCH goes out on the street to get people off the street – and back into the mainstream. 
Formal outreach activities are conducted by our Housing First initiatives and the Community Health Outreach Team (CHOT), comprised of a licensed social worker, client advocate counselors, a mental health outreach worker, and certified HIV testing and counseling personnel. Our outreach specialists travel throughout the city to connect people experiencing homelessness with the comprehensive services provided at HCH. Outreach team members also visit local shelters and detention centers to conduct HIV prevention activities. At our Baltimore clinic, CHOT works in collaboration with the Maryland State AIDS Administration to provide “rapid testing” for HIV and offers post-test counseling.
Additional outreach activities are conducted informally and as needed by staff throughout the organization in order to engage and maintain vulnerable individuals in services and housing. For more information, contact 410-837-5533 or info@hchmd.org.