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NewsBringing hep C treatment to the streets works. A qualitative study published in JAMA Network Open found that 80% of unsheltered homeless adults completed a street-based hepatitis C treatment program, with 67% achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), meaning they were effectively cured. Participants also reported meaningful psychosocial benefits, from improved outlook to peer-to-peer outreach encouraging others to seek care.
A new qualitative study out of Keck School of Medicine of USC shows that meeting unsheltered homeless adults where they are — literally on the street — can drive impressive hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment outcomes. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study followed 15 adults (mean age 48.8 years; 80% men) receiving HCV care through a street-based program in Los Angeles County.
The results challenge assumptions about this population's ability to complete treatment. Researchers found that low-barrier supports — like weekly medication dispensing, field-delivered testing, text reminders, and pillboxes — combined with trusting, non-stigmatizing provider relationships were key to success. Notably, clinician confidence scores at baseline did not predict who would actually complete treatment, suggesting providers may be underestimating patient readiness when the right structural support is in place.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: HCV elimination is a global public health goal, but the U.S. continues to fall short — largely because the highest-risk populations, including unsheltered homeless individuals, remain hardest to reach. This study offers a scalable, replicable model for closing that gap.
