A Collaboration Dedicated to Healing

According to United Way of Denton County, there are 627 households  experiencing homelessness in Denton County as of October 2024. Individuals and families experiencing homelessness face some of the most challenging barriers to healthcare access, often due to lack of financial resources, health insurance, and transportation. In addition, many who are experiencing homelessness have chronic mental or physical health conditions that require regular care and attention. Of the people experiencing homelessness in Denton County, 27.8% have a chronic illness, and 52.8% have a disability. Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) partners with Our Daily Bread (ODB), Denton County’s primary homelessness care center, to connect those experiencing homelessness to the essential healthcare they need. 

Reducing Stigma Through Trauma-Informed Care

In addition to other barriers, many people experiencing homelessness face stigma about their living conditions when they access healthcare services. This can be a significant deterrent to seeking care. HSNT provides compassionate care that is free of judgement, regardless of patients’ life circumstances or where they are in their healthcare journey. 

“You walk in [to HSNT] and you're treated the same way [as everyone else]. Even then, when they find out that your address is [Our Daily Bread shelter] it's not like ‘this is a homeless person coming.’ It's not like that,” says David, an HSNT patient and resident of ODB. “Everybody’s hopeful, and they don’t treat you any different.” 

Every patient has unique experiences that affect their healthcare needs and preferences. Many patients, especially those who are experiencing homelessness, are in the process of healing from trauma. HSNT practices trauma-informed care to make sure each patient’s needs are appropriately met. “I’m a survivor of childhood molestation and rape,” says Sharon, a resident of ODB. “I know I’m going to feel more comfortable with a female [healthcare provider]. Without hesitation, Renae [a case manager with ODB] and Health Services of North Texas took that into account immediately. I didn't even have to bother about it when I got there for my first appointment, it was right there on the paperwork. And they didn’t have any problem with that.”

Accessible and Affordable Care

HSNT provides medical care on an affordable sliding-fee scale, and no one is turned away due to an inability to pay. Our health care centers are in six high need areas of Denton and Collin County. The HSNT healthcare center at the Serve Denton  Center is located less than one mile from the ODB shelter. Healthcare center staff make every effort to accommodate patient needs in a timely manner. For many of our Denton County neighbors experiencing homelessness, this structure makes the difference between receiving healthcare and going without, which can lead to serious health complications. 

“I can call in starting at 8:00 in the morning when [the staff] get there and nine times out of 10, they'll get me in that day, if somebody has canceled or they know ahead of time,” says Mark. Mark, also a resident of ODB, receives care for his knee pain through HSNT and says his quality of life has improved greatly as a result. “Having excruciating bilateral knee pain affects everything. It affects my attitude, my outlook on life. I can't do things. I can't move. There's no exercise. There's no getting up and moving. It's a death sentence, eventually. But I'm at about 80% [knee function] now,” he shares. 

Sharon recalls a time when she was able to receive treatment for irritation caused by poison ivy she was exposed to while working at the local landfill. “[HSNT] got me in, they got me the medication. And this is before I had any money to pay for the medication. They waived the fee, and then once I started earning money, I started paying back my copay,” she explains. 

At the Center of It All, Compassion

ODB resident Bart came to HSNT with untreated Hepatitis C, resulting in liver disfunction that bordered on severe. He has seen great improvements in his health through his care at HSNT, but what he remembers most is the compassion shown by the HSNT staff. “That office there man, they've been so cool to me. I told you about my reading [difficulties], right? The ladies at the front desk help me so much,” says Bart, “They were just really good to me, man.”

When speaking about HSNT Family Nurse Practitioner Tami Barton, Mark states, “I was a paramedic for 16 years. My last year was in 1997. I've dealt with doctors, I've dealt with medical providers, she's one of the first people I've ever met, who is actually looking and listens to what you're saying…In conclusion, Tami rocks.” David, who is also a patient of Tami’s, agrees, saying “I wouldn’t go to anybody else.”

When asked for her overall impression of HSNT, Sharon smiles and shares, “I love them. I think they're friendly, they're professional. And more importantly, they're compassionate.”