Clinics

In order to truly erase homelessness, it’s important to address all the needs — physical, spiritual, and mental — of every man, woman, and child who comes through our doors.

Several local universities graciously donate their time and expertise to provide free health, dental, psychological, and legal-aid services for our guests. This gives the university students an opportunity to expand their education by serving a population of men and women in our community who are generally abused or ignored.

The UCLA School of Nursing Health Clinic

Men and women struggling to survive on the streets also suffer from common ailments like colds, the flu, or other illnesses. Others face the more difficult challenges of keeping conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure under control.

Because people experiencing homelessness have few places to turn for help, it’s not uncommon for simple medical problems like these to become life-threatening.

That’s why the UCLA School of Nursing Health Clinic at URM was established in 1983. This nurse-managed clinic is licensed by the State of California as a Community Health Center and is part of the National Health Care for the Homeless Program. It is one of only a few full-time clinics in the Los Angeles area devoted to caring for the primary medical needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Most of our patients have no health insurance or ability to pay for health care services. All services at the center are provided free of charge. The clinic averages more than 6,000 patient visits each year.

The UCLA School of Nursing Health Clinic provides the following services:

  • Physical assessments
  • Diagnosis and treatment of some acute and chronic illnesses
  • Medications
  • Immunizations
  • Limited diagnostic tests
  • Medical counseling and health education
  • Referrals to other agencies as needed

For questions or to ask about making an appointment, please contact (213) 347-6300 ext. 2249

USC Dental Clinic

Dental problems such as persistent pain, tooth loss, and gum disease can cause relentless suffering among men, women, and children experiencing homelessness.

That’s why the University of Southern California School of Dentistry opened a clinic at URM in 1999. Faculty, students, and interns from the USC School of Dentistry coordinate all patient services. The six-chair Dental Clinic provides comprehensive care completely free of charge and conducts more than 5,000 dental-care visits per year.

These services are not offered to URM guests alone — we have opened the doors of our Dental Clinic to all the neighboring shelters and programs serving underprivileged people in the downtown Los Angeles area. We are also the only dental clinic on Skid Row to offer care to children.

Our Dental Clinic provides the following services:

  • Cleanings
  • Fillings
  • Tooth extractions
  • Root canals
  • Dentures

For questions or to ask about making an appointment, please contact (213) 347-6300 ext. 2247

Pepperdine Mental Health Clinic

As federal and state services are undergoing drastic cuts, faith-based programs for the mentally ill are more important than ever. Many people in Los Angeles who are experiencing homelessness struggle with deep, psychological wounds. Some face serious neuroses, while others just need a compassionate, listening ear and practical, consistent guidance.

That’s why the Jerry Butler/Pepperdine Mental Health Clinic was opened in January 2001. This clinic provides essential psychological services for people as they climb the steep path of recovery in their struggle to overcome homelessness, dramatically increasing their chances for long-term recovery.

The Mental Health Clinic is staffed by doctoral interns from Pepperdine University’s Department of Psychology and supervised by a Pepperdine Clinical Psychologist. More than 1,000 sessions are provided to men, women, and children each year.

Our Mental Health Clinic provides the following services:

  • Psychological assessments to clarify diagnosis
  • Treatment plans
  • Individual psychotherapy sessions
  • Marriage counseling
  • Group therapy sessions 

For questions or to ask about making an appointment, please contact (213) 347-6300 ext 3337

Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic

Among people experiencing poverty and powerlessness, minor legal violations often create insurmountable difficulties and barriers as they try to rebuild their lives and re-enter society.

The Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic, which opened in 1999, helps men and women experiencing homeless at URM overcome their past legal issues so they can re-enter their communities as productive, upstanding contributors.

The Legal Aid Clinic, staffed by an attorney and student law clerks, is making a significant difference in the downtown community and receives more than 1,000 visits per year.

Justice tempered with mercy is our mission.

The Legal Aid Clinic provides the following services:

  •  Interviewing, advising, and counseling
  •  Assistance in resolving tickets and warrants
  •  Preparation of court paperwork in child support, custody, and visitation cases
  •  Expungements (dismissing criminal convictions)
  •  Government benefits
  •  Assistance with income tax controversies
  •  Preparation for Homeless Court

For questions or to ask about making an appointment, please contact (213) 347-6300 ext. 4413