Sierra HOPE Receives $250,000 Grant To Launch Rural Health Program
Calaveras, CA– Sierra HOPE has been awarded a $250,000 grant from Dignity Health’s Homeless Health Initiative to launch the Calaveras Rural Street Health and Hospital Discharge Pilot Program. The new initiative’s goals are to address health service gaps for underserved populations in Calaveras County.
“We are proud to support Sierra HOPE’s efforts to expand access to essential health services in Calaveras County,” said Doug Archer, president of Mark Twain Medical Center. “This initiative aligns with our mission to improve the health and well-being of our community’s most vulnerable populations.”
The pilot program will have two key components: a street health outreach initiative and transitional housing for hospital discharges. The street health outreach component, led by the Calaveras County Public Health Division, will use a mobile clinic van and a newly acquired shower trailer to provide medical, dental, and hygiene services to individuals without permanent housing. Dignity Health’s grant allocates $75,750 for the shower trailer and additional supplies. Medical services will be delivered by contracted providers, with Mark Twain Medical Center providing lab services and Valley Springs Health and Wellness Center offering Telehealth support.
For the transitional housing portion, $165,000 of the grant will fund renovations at Sierra HOPE’s Hope House, creating three bedrooms and shared living areas to provide interim housing for Medi-Cal patients discharged from hospitals. The funding also includes $9,250 for furnishings and supplies.
“This grant is a game-changer for our community, allowing us to launch a program that not only addresses immediate health needs but also provides interim housing support for individuals recovering from hospitalizations,” said Sierra HOPE Executive Director Jerry Cadotte.
