College of Medicine Rockford Launches Street Medicine for Unhoused and Underserved Populations

Posted on February 25, 2026
Three students being observed by a faculty member as they interact with a standardized patient outside on a fall day.
Family medicine residents working with standardized patients on the Rockford campus to learn street medicine. (Photo: College of Medicine Rockford)

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford has launched a project to train family medicine residents to deliver care to unhoused and underserved populations in non-traditional settings. A $2.5 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration is funding the Primary Care Training and Enhancement-Residency Training in Street Medicine Project over five years. During that period, the project aims to train 34 family medicine residents per year in comprehensive street medicine. The project also includes partnerships with community-based and faith-based groups, as well as medical-legal collaborations, to address the complex needs of homeless populations.