BREAKING: NJ’s First Street Medicine Program Launches to Aid Unhoused

ELIZABETH, NJ —
May 20, 2026  | 
By DailyHudson Staff

RWJBarnabas Health brings mobile care to homeless residents across the state.

RWJBarnabas Health has launched New Jersey’s first-ever street medicine program to deliver critical medical care to unhoused individuals, aiming to lower mortality rates in this vulnerable population.

The program, which began operations this week, sends medical teams directly to encampments and streets where homeless residents live, addressing chronic health issues and emergency needs that often go untreated, especially in urban areas like Elizabeth.

The initiative, announced by the health system, deploys mobile clinicians including doctors and nurses to provide primary care, wound treatment, and mental health services.

The program targets reducing preventable deaths among people experiencing homelessness, which officials say are significantly higher than the general population.

Impact: For Hudson County residents, this means improved access to healthcare for those living on the streets, potentially reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

What Happens Next: RWJBarnabas Health plans to expand the program to more cities in coming months, with ongoing evaluations to track health outcomes and mortality rates.

The street medicine team will work closely with local shelters and outreach groups to ensure continuity of care for the unhoused community.

DailyHudson will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
Source: Newswise