We’re proud to announce that TVHC’s Street Health Outreach (SHO) program has been awarded a $3,000 grant from Hayward Rotary Club to provide flexible support for unhoused community members in Hayward.

TVHC currently serves approximately 450 street health patients and 75 housing navigation clients each year. With the continued rise in the number of unhoused individuals in Hayward, this support comes at a critical time. Between 2022 and 2024, the unhoused population increased by 34%, with numbers expected to continue growing as we move into 2026.

This year’s grant will help provide much-needed resources, including the distribution of mobile phones to housing navigation clients. These phones help clients stay connected with our housing navigation team, reducing barriers to communication and supporting faster progress toward stable housing. This approach was piloted in 2025 with positive results and will now be expanded to 30 additional clients.

“TVHC’s Street Health team is part of a larger county-wide effort, with the goal of reaching and serving as many unsheltered people as possible within our designated geographical zone,” shared TVHC Director of Population Health Tora Anne Newcomer. “When we are able to secure additional funding to provide services and essential needs for our patients, we are grateful to provide an extra layer of support to care for their needs.”

Support from the Hayward Rotary Club complements existing funding from Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, which provides grants to support SHO across three zones in Alameda County, as well as housing navigation services.

The need for flexible support is expected to continue increasing as upcoming changes to Medi‑Cal and CalFresh may result in many unhoused community members losing benefits. These shifts highlight the growing importance of basic needs assistance, including access to food, transportation, hygiene supplies, and supportive services.

We are grateful to the Hayward Rotary Club for their continued partnership and for their longstanding support of TVHC programs, including dental and optometry services.