Telehealth continues to open new pathways for improving access to care, especially for those who face the greatest barriers. For individuals experiencing homelessness, healthcare is often the hardest to access yet the most urgently needed. Due to unstable living conditions and lack of transportation, traditional healthcare means do not meet the needs of this population. Alternatively, telehealth strategies offer a new way to bring medical support to the unhoused, meeting patients where they are and bridging gaps in access and equity.

Researchers from CARE for the Unhoused (CFU), a larger organization serving the unhoused in Charleston, South Carolina, examined this approach. In partnership with two community-based organizations, researchers implemented a hybrid care model at each site. Consisting of in-person visits, street medicine, and telehealth visits, this plan created flexible, more accessible care. The program included visits at a drop-in center, remote physician supervision during street-based appointments, and follow-up care in community centers the unhoused trusted.[1]

This program brought significant impacts. Unhoused participants reported improved mental and physical health, gained support for overcoming substance addiction, and increased access to necessary medical services. Because care was virtually provided in familiar, trusted community centers, patients were more likely to trust their providers and engage with treatments. Telehealth services served as a gateway to continuous, life-saving care for the unhoused

This study shows one of the many capabilities of telehealth advancing health equity. Though telehealth can not solve homelessness, it can play a critical role in improving health outcomes for the unhoused and other marginalized communities. Telehealth has the potential to transform how we deliver care, ensuring even the most marginalized populations receive consistent, high-quality healthcare.

  1. Kwikiriza, Stuart, et al. “Evaluating the implementation of a community engaged telehealth based intervention to improve health equity for the unhoused.” Frontiers, 8 May 2025, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1487842/full. Accessed 07 December 2025. ↑