Primary care training and enhancement -- residency training in street medicine - the 'training internal medicine physicians to provide excellent care for people experiencing homelessness' is a project…

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professionals awarded Washington State University $498,764 on July 1, 2026, under the Primary Care Training and Enhancement program (CFDA 93.884) to expand residency training in street medicine.

Washington State University's Internal Medicine Residency Program in Everett will deliver longitudinal training in primary care for people experiencing homelessness through clinical rotations in non-traditional settings, partnering with CHAS Health of Spokane. The residency will operate two distinct clinical rotations—one based in Everett and one in Spokane—where residents will provide primary care services and work alongside interprofessional teams including attorneys, community health workers, and behavioral health providers. CHAS Health operates a street medicine program six days per week in collaboration with emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and soup kitchens, and facilitates the Cascadia Street Medicine Alliance, a partnership of organizations providing street medicine across the Pacific Northwest. The Everett clinical rotation includes collaborations with three clinical partners already engaged in care for people experiencing homelessness in non-traditional settings. The project addresses the core need of increasing the number of residents graduating with strong preparation and training to provide care for people experiencing homelessness.

The award covers a five-year period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Washington State.

Primary care training and enhancement -- residency training in street medicine - the 'training internal medicine physicians to provide excellent care for people experiencing homelessness' is a project of washington state university's internal medicine residency program- everett taking a longitudinal approach to provide comprehensive and insightful training in the primary care of people experiencing homelessness in washington state. With the funding available through the 'primary care training and enhancement - residency training in street medicine' program, the WSU everett residency plans to expand training in primary care for people experiencing homelessness with a focus on clinical rotations in non-traditional settings. The project has been created in partnership with chas health of spokane, whose street medicine program operates six days a week in collaboration with community-based organizations like emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and soup kitchens. Chas health's providers and staff also facilitate the cascadia street medicine alliance, a partnership of organizations providing street medicine across the pacific northwest with an interest in developing new programs and mentoring providers. The core need addressed by this project is increasing the number of residents who graduate from the WSU internal medicine residency with strong preparation, training, and education to provide care for people experiencing homelessness. To address this need, the WSU internal medicine residency in partnership with chas health will provide primary care services within two distinct clinical rotations, one based in everett and the other in spokane. The everett clinical rotation will include collaborations with three clinical partners already engaged in care for people experiencing homelessness in non-traditional settings. Residents will learn and work alongside an interprofessional team including attorneys, community health workers, behavioral health providers and social workers. Outside of clinical experience residents will also participate in education and training specific to health care for people experiencing homelessness and the social pressures they navigate. A part of this education will be opportunities for structured conversations with community members navigating both healthcare and homelessness. The populations served will be people experiencing homelessness including individuals in emergency shelter and transitional housing. As a part of submission for the 'primary care training and enhancement - residency training in street medicine' program, the WSU everett residency requests the 'training internal medicine physicians to provide excellent care for people experiencing homelessness' project be considered for funding priority based on its qualification for training residents in rural settings. Additionally, the program requests consideration for funding preference as a new training program operating within medically underserved communities.