City of Santa Ana, CalOptima and AltaMed announce launch of Street Medicine Program

The City of Santa Ana celebrated the launch of a new Street Medicine Program in Santa Ana with a press conference at Santa Ana City Hall on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

After years of advocacy by City of Santa Ana officials, CalOptima agreed last year to expand their Street Medicine Program into our community. The program started here in March and is operated by AltaMed, joining the cities of Garden Grove, Costa Mesa and Anaheim. The Street Medicine Program uses a vehicle that is essentially a mobile doctor's office on wheels to deliver medical care, behavioral health services, peer support and housing navigation.

Mayor Valerie Amezcua shared that the program will have a direct impact on unhoused individuals living in Santa Ana, helping to reduce emergency room visits, improve public health, and ultimately get people off the streets and into shelter and housing. She was joined in the press conference by County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and officials with CalOptima and AltaMed, along with Councilmembers Benjamin Vazquez and Jessie Lopez in attendance.

More than 1,100 people have been enrolled in the Street Medicine Program since it started in 2023, helping 52 participants move into permanent housing. The expansion of this program into Santa Ana builds on our ongoing leadership in Orange County to address homelessness through our street outreach teams operating seven days a week, our 200-bed homeless shelter with wraparound services, and helping fund nearly 500 units of permanent supportive housing in recent years.

To report an unhoused person in need of support, please call our outreach team at (714) 242-3706.