Breaking Barriers and Building Health in San Francisco

Hi everyone! My name is Cameron De La Huerta (he/him) and I am serving with the National Health Corps (NHC) in San Francisco. There, I support the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Whole Person Integrated Care division (WPIC) as a Shelter Health Coordinator. The Shelter Health team was born out of an aspiration to end health inequities and barriers to care for the unhoused community members of our city. Shelter Health is comprised of a diverse group of individuals ranging from doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers, and so many others working towards the common goal of improving the health and well-being of everybody in the community.

On any given day, you can find me at any of the Shelter Health team’s 15 affiliated shelters or Navigation Centers located throughout the city, which are primarily found in resource-dense neighborhoods like the Tenderloin and SoMa. Many of these shelters are hotels that were converted into Shelter-in-Place (SIP) Sites, which began during the pandemic with the goal of reducing COVID-19’s impact on individuals experiencing homelessness. Other types of provisional housing exist, too, and these come in the form of Navigation Centers. They provide services and resources as seen in more traditional shelters, like food, shelter, and access to resources with trained case managers, but their focus is on a “low-threshold” environment which allows residents an alternate, intermediary housing option. Many traditional shelters place stringent requirements on who can access their services, so this model has been beneficial to those wary of traditional shelters that can be much less accessible.

So, what can a dedicated volunteer contribute to the communities utilizing these resources? During my time serving with the National Health Corps, I’ve had the opportunity to make my impact in a range of capacities, from assisting patients navigating overwhelming amounts of resources to helping medical teams make rounds around the shelters. No matter how big or small, every act of service with the NHC has allowed me to witness firsthand the positive change that can be achieved through a commitment to engaging with our communities.

Everyday I’m discovering something new about myself and about the populations I serve. Whether that comes from learning a fresh way to best support the clinics or listening to a new patient’s incredible story of resilience, each day continues to enrich my perspective and inspire my commitment to public health and service. It’s this constant growth that has made my time with AmeriCorps such a transformative experience, and as I move forward with my service term, I can’t wait for every new opportunity to make a meaningful difference.