Munson Healthcare Renews Support for Rural Street Medicine Program Serving Communities Across Northern Michigan

Traverse Health Clinic's Street Medicine program will continue expanding access to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness across northern Michigan thanks to a renewed two-year, $150,000 annual commitment from Munson Healthcare.

The $300,000 investment builds on a partnership that has helped the program grow from a Traverse City-based initiative into a regional model serving rural communities including Cadillac, Kalkaska, Mancelona, Interlochen, and Ellsworth. As the program has expanded, it has demonstrated that the barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness are not limited to urban areas, creating a greater need for outreach-based healthcare in rural communities across northern Michigan.

Since 2024, Munson Healthcare has provided $150,000 annually to support outreach, care coordination, and program infrastructure. That investment enabled Traverse Health Clinic to hire a full-time Street Medicine Coordinator, strengthen community partnerships, and expand services throughout northern Michigan.

Medical care for the Street Medicine program is provided through a partnership with the Munson Family Medicine Residency Program, whose residents and faculty deliver direct clinical services in the field alongside the Traverse Health Clinic team. The collaboration helps connect individuals experiencing homelessness with ongoing medical care while exposing future physicians to the unique healthcare challenges facing underserved and rural populations.

"At Munson, we recognize that improving health outcomes requires meeting people where they are and supporting innovative approaches to care," said Peter Marinoff, President and CEO, South Region Community Hospitals. "As Street Medicine has expanded into our south region, in communities like Cadillac, we've seen firsthand the value of bringing healthcare directly to people who face significant barriers to accessing services. We are proud to continue supporting a program that is improving health outcomes and reaching some of our most vulnerable residents."

In addition to philanthropic support, Munson Healthcare and Traverse Health Clinic have partnered to secure federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant funding to further advance the program. Together, these resources have helped establish a sustainable, data-informed Street Medicine model tailored to the realities of rural homelessness.

"As this program grows, we're seeing how critical it is to meet people where they are, especially in rural communities where services are often spread out and difficult to access," said Casey Kandow, Chief Executive Officer of Traverse Health Clinic. "Munson's continued support allows us to build on what we've learned, respond to emerging needs, and strengthen a model of care that is improving health outcomes across northern Michigan."

With renewed support in place, Traverse Health Clinic will continue expanding partnerships, using research and data to guide services, and advancing long-term strategies that improve health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness throughout the region.

To learn more about Rural Street Medicine, visit https://www.traversehealthclinic.org/care-and-services/mobile-medical-unit.