About UNITE
Unsheltered Neighbors Interventions, Therapies, and Engagement, a pilot project, brings healthcare directly to unsheltered neighbors in Durham through mobile, street-based outreach. Our team meets people where they are – on sidewalks, in encampments, and other outdoor spaces – to provide basic medical care, health screenings, and compassionate support without requiring appointments, insurance or transportation.
Beyond immediate care, we focus on building trust and connection. We help individuals navigate and access vital resources such as primary care, mental health services, substance use support, housing assistance, and social services. By working alongside community partners, UNITE aims to reduce barriers to care and create pathways toward improved health and stability.
This pilot allows us to listen, learn, and respond directly to the needs of unsheltered neighbors, shaping a model of care that is respectful, accessible, and rooted in dignity.
Mission
UNITE brings healthcare directly to our unsheltered neighbors in Durham, meeting them where they are with medical care, compassionate support, and connections to vital resources.
Vision
Thriving, healthier lives for unsheltered neighbors through compassionate, accessible care.
UNITE Care and Stability Initiatives
UNITE Care & Stability Initiatives bring care and support directly to our unsheltered neighbors in Durham. We meet people where they are — on sidewalks, in encampments, and in community spaces — to provide medical care and help with disability benefits.
By offering mobile medical clinics and SOAR disability assistance, we help people take care of their health, apply for benefits, and connect to ongoing support. Our goal is simple: remove barriers, build trust, and help people move toward greater stability.
SOAR Disability Clinic
SOAR disability clinics help people apply for disability benefits if they are sick, hurt, or have mental health conditions and cannot work. The clinics help with the paperwork and steps needed to apply for Social Security Disability or SSI.
SOAR clinics are for people who:
- Have a serious health or mental health condition
- Are having a hard time working because of their condition
- Need help filling out disability forms
- Are homeless or at risk of losing housing
- Feel confused or overwhelmed by the disability application process
Why are SOAR clinics helpful?
Applying for disability benefits can be hard and take a long time. SOAR clinics make it easier by giving people one-on-one help, so they don’t have to do it alone.
When and where are clinics held?
Check out our calendar and social media to find the time and location for our next SOAR clinic.
Mobile Health Van
What are they?
Everyone deserves access to good healthcare. In many underserved neighborhoods in Durham county, transportation makes it hard for people to get to doctors and clinics. To help solve this problem, the Community Health Lab was created to bring care closer to the community.
What do they provide?
-Basic First Aid
-Wound Care
-Medicaid navigation
-Optical clinics
-Referrals to PCP, specialist, healthcare navigation
Where are they going to be located?
Check out our calendar and social media to find the time and location for our next Pop-up Mobile Health Clinic.
Concerned About a Neighbor
If you are concerned about the health and safety of an unsheltered neighbor, you can use this form to request outreach from our team. We provide street-based medical care and support for individuals with serious or ongoing health needs who may not be connected to care.
You can refer someone who may need help because of:
- Chronic wounds or untreated infections
- Uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, COPD, or heart failure
- Pregnancy without regular medical care
- Severe mental illness along with medical needs
- Recent hospital discharge with no follow-up plan
- Limited mobility or difficulty getting around
- Older adults who are experiencing frequent confusion or memory loss
Our team will review each referral and determine how we can best support the individual. Submitting a referral does not guarantee enrollment, but it helps us assess needs and prioritize outreach.
For Community Members
If you’re worried about someone living outside and their health, you can fill out this form to let us know. Share what you’ve noticed and where they are usually located. Our team will review the information and determine how we can help.
Referral(opens in a new tab)
For Partner Organizations
This referral form is intended for service providers and partner organizations who are concerned about a client’s medical vulnerability. Please include as much detail as possible so our clinical team can assess urgency and coordinate appropriate outreach.
Referral(opens in a new tab)
Resources
Looking for food, shelter, medical care, or help with benefits? Start here. This list connects you to local services in Durham that can support you today. If you’re not sure where to go, talk to our team — we’ll help you take the next step.
Urban Ministries of Durham(opens in a new tab)
Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD) the primary public homeless shelter in Durham, and they welcome neighbors regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or non-faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. They provide immediate relief to those experiencing chronic or temporary homelessness and work with clients to end their homelessness as quickly and responsibly as possible.
📍 410 Liberty Street, Durham, NC 27701
📞 (919) 682-0538
🌐 https://umdurham.org/
Families Moving Forward(opens in a new tab)
They help provide families with children a stable, safe, and loving environment while they are in the temporary crisis of homelessness. FMF now offers after-school tutoring, educational enrichment programming, and early interventions to children residing in our shelter as part of a multi-generation approach that aims to break the cycle of poverty in our community.
📍 300 N Queen St, Durham, NC 27701
📞 (919) 683-5878
🌐 https://fmfnc.org/
Durham Crisis Response Center(opens in a new tab)
The Durham Crisis Response Center provides free and confidential services to survivors of domestic, sexual, and family violence, and human trafficking. They provide emergency shelter, crisis interventions, legal advocacy, counseling referrals, and support groups and so much more to those who need it most.
📞 (919) 403-6562
📨 info@thedcrc.org(opens in a new tab)
🌐 https://www.thedcrc.org/
Lincoln Medical Center(opens in a new tab)
Lincoln Community Health Center is an outpatient primary care facility located in Durham, North Carolina. LCHC offers a wide range of health services including adult medicine, pediatrics, dental, social work/mental health services, family care nursing and outreach into the home.
📍 1301 Fayetteville St. Durham, NC 27707
📞 (919) 956-4000
🌐 https://lincolnchc.org/
Duke Health(opens in a new tab)
Duke Health is a top school and hospital system. It works to improve health in our community. Duke Health uses proven treatments to help people stay healthy and works hard to make sure everyone has a fair chance to get good health care.
📍3643 N. Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27710
2301 Erwin Rd. Durham, NC 27710
📞 (919) 246-5882
🌐 https://www.dukehealth.org/
Catholic Church of the Diocese
With dignity and respect at the forefront of all interactions, families are offered a hand up during their most challenging times by providing necessary nutrients and community enrichment.
📍 2020 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 30 Durham, NC 27707
📞 (919) 286-1964
🌐 https://www.catholiccharitiesraleigh.org/programs/durham-community-food-pantry/
⏰ Distribution times:
Wednesday: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday: 5:00 pm - 7: 00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Meet Me at the Bridge
They serve meals, distributed clothing and shoes, as well as many other items essential for their survival such as tents, sleeping bags, blankets, toiletries, and backpacks.
📍 Locations vary depending on the day.
📞 (919) 740-8365
📨 david@meetmeatthebridge.com
⏰ Days and times vary. See website for information.
🌐 https://www.meetmeatthebridge.com/
King's Park, House of Mercy
House of Mercy Food Pantry & Clothing Closet provides fresh, frozen and canned foods and gently used clothing to individuals and families. We serve our community. Spanish Speaking Community!
📍 1305 Odyssey Drive, Durham, NC 27713
📞 (919) 544-6304
🌐 https://kingspark.org/outreach/
⏰ Wednesday: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
St. Joseph's AME Church
St. Joseph House provides clothing and food services to those in need in the local community.
📍 511 Nash Street Durham, NC 27707
📞 (919) 683-1379
🌐 https://www.stjosephame.org/community-outreach
⏰Wednesday: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
St. Joseph's Episcopal Church
They share breakfast every weekday (Monday-Friday) with anyone who wants to join, and serve casseroles, grits, eggs, bacon and coffee in the Parish House.
📍 1902 W. Main St. Durham, NC 27705
📞 (919) 286-1064
🌐 https://stjosephsdurham.org/breakfast
⏰Weekday Mornings
Coffee begins at 7:00 am
Meal service begins at 8:00 am
Walltown Neighborhood Ministries
The purpose of the Food Pantry is to provide wholesome, nutritious food, paper supplies and cleaning products to the at risk, the underserved and income challenged persons in Walltown and surrounding areas of Durham, NC.
📍 917 Onslow Street Durham, NC 27705
📞 (919) 286-0332
🌐 https://www.walltownneighborhoodministries.org/ministries
⏰ 4th Thursday of each Month
Food Resource Locator
The Durham Area Food Resources Map helps you find:
- Food pantries
- Kid's no-cost summer meal sites (for children 18 years old and younger)
- Farmer's Market's that take SNAP and WIC benefits
- Grocery Stores that take SNAP and WIC benefits
Click Here for the Website
Alliance Health
There are many types of services and supports Alliance can help connect those facing mental health challenges to such as:
- Peer support
- Rehabilitation
- Medication management
- Outpatient therapy
- Supported employment
- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
- Housing
These are just a few of the many services and support Alliance can connect you to.
📞 (800) 510-9132
🌐 https://www.alliancehealthplan.org/tp-members/accessing-bh-i-dd-tailored-plan-services/mental-health-recovery-services/
⏰Monday - Saturday: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
El Futuro
El Futuro provides Spanish speaking individuals access to culturally-responsive mental health services.
📍 2020 Chapel Hill Rd. Suite 23 Durham, NC 27707
📞 (919) 688-7101
🌐 https://elfuturo-nc.org/services/
⏰Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Walk-in hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 am - 11:30 am
StandUp - SpeakOut NC
StandUp-SpeakOut of North Carolina offers comprehensive direct care services tailored to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Their holistic approach integrates mental health counseling, specialized support for survivors, case management, care coordination, and group therapy. They prioritize the well-being of our clients by providing support from a holistic perspective, emphasizing resilience and empowerment.
📍 3326 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard Service Road. Bldg. D, Ste. 200 Durham, NC 27707
📞 (919) 824-0494
🌐 https://susonc.org/
Healing Transitions
They offer innovative peer-based, recovery-oriented services to homeless, uninsured and underserved individuals with alcoholism and other drug addictions. The program is specifically designed to rekindle a person’s desire and ability to return to a meaningful and productive life.
📍 Men's campus: 1251 Goode St. Raleigh, NC 27603
Women's campus: 3304 Glen Royal Rd. Raleigh, NC 27617
📞 (919) 838-9800
🌐 https://healing-transitions.org/about/
Freedom House Recovery
Freedom House Recovery Center has an outpatient clinic in Orange County, Durham County, Person County, and Warren County. Our clinics provide a continuum of care that helps individuals manage their behavioral health diagnoses. We also work with community partners to ensure our clients receive comprehensive care and support for the reoccurring symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse.
📍 104 New Stateside Drive, Capel Hill, NC 27516
📞 (919) 942-2803
🌐 https://freedomhouserecovery.org/service/outpatient-clinics/
Trosa
Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, Inc. (TROSA) is a recovery program that empowers individuals with substance use disorders to change their lives. They provide a safe, supportive place for residents to realize and affirm their self-worth, and learn to live in recovery.
📍 1820 James Street Durham, NC 27707
📞 (919) 419-1059
🌐 https://trosainc.org/
StepUp Durham
StepUp Durham offers free employment readiness training, personalized job coaching, employer referrals, and supportive services to job seekers.
📍 112 Broadway Street, Suite B Durham, NC 27701
📞 (919) 813-0207
🌐 https://www.stepupdurham.org/
⏰ Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Kramden
They strive to eliminate barriers and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds through the power of technology. By equipping underserved communities with computer equipment and offering comprehensive courses on essential digital skills, individuals from all walks of life can embrace the endless possibilities offered by today's digital landscape.
📍 5010 NC Hwy 55, Durham, NC 27713
📞 (919) 293-1133
📨 info@kramden.org
🌐 https://kramden.org/get-tech/
⏰ Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Assurance Wireless
Consumers who qualify based on federal or state-specific eligibility criteria can obtain discounted or free phone service through the Lifeline Assistance program. This includes monthly data, unlimited talk and text for qualifying households.
📞 (888) 321-5880
🌐 https://www.assurancewireless.com/lifeline-services/what-lifeline
Wheels 4 Hope
Wheels4Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping economically challenged families and individuals by providing them reliable, affordable vehicles. We strive to be a leading provider of transportation in North Carolina so all individuals and families in need can thrive.
📍 411 E. Damam Road Cary, NC 27751
📞 (919) 832-1941
🌐 https://www.wheels4hope.org/
Durham Expunction & Restoration Program
They remove barriers to employment and housing by providing free legal services to Durham residents who cannot afford attorneys to expunge charges and convictions from their criminal records and restore suspended or revoked drivers’ licenses.
📍 510 Dillard Street, 6th Fl Suite 6400 (Drop Box) Durham, NC 27701
📨 jeremiahb@legalaidnc.org
🌐 https://www.deardurham.org/how-to-apply
Dress for Success
If you are ready to re-enter the workforce, Dress for Success Triangle is here to help you prepare for the next steps. They offer career coaching, free professional attire, and a confidence-boosting boutique experience to ensure you present your best self and achieve your career goals.
📍 701 William Vickers Avenue Durham, NC 27701
📞 (919) 286-2128
📨 trianglenc@dressforsuccess.org
🌐
Thank You to our Partner Organizations
