Who We Are

“The key to success in the streets is a basic trusting relationship with someone who cares.”

Portland Street Medicine is coalition of volunteer medical providers, social workers, care managers and lay people dedicated to reaching our most forgotten citizens.

Core Values

  1. We respect the dignity of any patient anywhere, meeting their needs directly but also accepting their limitations.
  2. We deliver reliable, high quality medical care equal to that delivered in a traditional medical setting.
  3. We encourage our patients to seek a path out of homelessness, but also respect their right to self determination.
  4. We advocate for this vulnerable and under-served community.
  5. We foster interdisciplinary coordination and collaboration with colleagues across the spectrum of community services; we actively collaborate with those with experience living on the streets to help guide the team.
  6. We use our position and voice to tell the story of homelessness in order to highlight both the crisis at hand and the human lives involved.
  7. We aim to be a lean and efficient organization focused on sustainability and impact.

Dr. Toepper speaks with a patient.


Thoughts and quotes from the Street Medicine Symposium, 2017


“A permit is not required to exercise justice and democracy”

"The streets will tell us what we need"

"Sharing is suffering, but with joy"

"If you can care for street people, you can care for anyone"

“Not having street medicine is like not having a fire department”



Newsletters

PSM newletter #3.pdf