Abstract

Introduction: Homelessness is a systemic issue throughout the United States,¹ with several counties in South Florida being among the top largely suburban communities affected.² The overall objective of this project was to establish a partnership with a community homeless shelter and aid with their specific needs during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Initially, we contacted several community homeless shelters and ultimately established a partnership with the Lotus House Miami due to their mission of improving the lives of women and children affected by homelessness. We conducted a needs assessment by surveying Lotus House employees as well as researching available public health data.

Results: From the needs assessment, we determined the current needs of this organization to be various items, such as masks, gloves, pillows, sheets, and diapers, as well as available educational materials regarding COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, we conducted a donation drive of both physical supplies and monetary contributions (via Instagram), of which we raised $923.61. Additionally, we created and distributed pamphlets on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines, in both English and Spanish.

Discussion: We fulfilled our primary objectives of raising awareness of the homelessness prevalent in South Florida, meeting the needs of Lotus House, and educating those experiencing homelessness. Our approach can be used to not only build partnerships with local organizations and homeless shelters, but also foster greater medical student involvement in the local community. In the future, we hope to maintain our partnership with Lotus House through an NSU MD Registered Student Organization.