Companion Care at DWW-SBSM: 

At Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine (DWW-SBSM), the Companion Care team walks alongside our community members experiencing homelessness, offering consistent support as they navigate complex health and social challenges. Companion Care’s volunteers are hands-on and grounded in compassion with the belief that quality healthcare should be accessible to all, regardless of housing status, documentation, or background. Companion Care operates exclusively in Santa Barbara and Goleta, reaching patients through a structured weekly schedule. 

Who We Serve

Companion Care focuses exclusively on individuals living on the streets, those without basic needs met, including shelter, hygiene, and regular access to food and medical care. Services are also extended to undocumented individuals through a once-a-month spanish clinic. Our patient population spans all ages, backgrounds, and languages. 

What We Do

Our Companion Care team provides hands-on, practical support with the following core services:

• Medical appointments:

We schedule and coordinate medical appointments on behalf of patients, connect them with resources to obtain insurance and identification cards, and work closely with local clinics and nonprofit partners to ensure continuity of care.

• Street-Based Hospitality and Care:

We distribute essential items such as hygiene products, clothing, electrolyte packets, sunscreen, menstrual items, ponchos, food, dog treats, and more.

• Vital Signs and Medical Assessments:

With the help of volunteer clinicians, we take vitals, distribute medications, and make on-the-spot medical assessments at all of our clinics.

• Relationship Building:

Companion Care is more than a service, we make companions on the streets. Our volunteers and coordinators learn names, remember faces, and build trust week after week. This relational foundation makes it possible to connect people with the care and resources they might otherwise avoid or be unable to access.

Volunteer-Driven, Clinician-Supported

At the heart of Companion Care are our student volunteers. They are not only the face of our organization but also its driving force. Volunteers handle appointment scheduling, distribute hospitality items, engage directly with patients, and work in tandem with coordinators and clinicians. Companion Care coordinators provide guidance, logistical support, are just as hands-on with our unhoused population, and provide transportation, while clinicians focus on medical assessments and treatments.

Our Mission

We companion the homeless during their time on the streets, standing beside them through the often overwhelming process of accessing medical care and securing basic necessities. Through honesty, relationship-building, and solidarity, we aim to eliminate the barriers that separate the most vulnerable members of our community from the care they deserve.