Charleston Campus

Project CHASM

Charleston Homeless and Street Medicine (Project CHASM)

  • Project CHASM (Charleston Homeless And Street Medicine) is an organization composed of multidisciplinary healthcare providers who seek to serve the medical needs of the homeless community in Charleston, WV.
  • We are modeled after Project Safety Net in Pittsburgh, PA and MUSHROOM (Multidisciplinary Unsheltered Homeless Relief Outreach of Morgantown) in Morgantown, WV.
  • Our organization unites medical, pharmaceutical, social work and other dedicated community volunteers on "street rounds". We go by foot to those places where we are needed most: along the Kanawha river, under bridges downtown, and in the local homeless shelters.

Our Mission

Setting out on foot, Project CHASM will strive to seek out the homeless, bridge gaps, & break down barriers to ensure that all members of our community have access to basic medical needs and are treated with the human dignity & respect that everyone deserves.

Our Goals

We will…

  • Provide opportunity for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, students, & community allies to come together to fulfill our common ideals.
  • Seek to become familiar faces - developing meaningful relationships with our patients & providing continuity of care
  • Care for each individual in their entirety, providing not only medical needs, but also steps to a healthier lifestyle.
  • Advocate shared decision-making, considering the opinions of our patients & molding each healthcare plan to fulfill their individual needs.
  • Walk to where they live & meet them on their terms
  • Treat each individual as a human being, with the dignity & respect that we each deserve.
  • Provide care without discrimination, accepting people from all walks of life.
  • Maintain a standard of healthcare that we ourselves would be happy to receive.
  • Believe that those we serve have the ability to live their own lives & make their own decisions. We will remain fully open to them as they consider their actions.
  • Provide care in a manner that is suitable to their individual situations
  • Uphold a standard of conduct befitting those of our professions.
  • Strive to make Charleston a healthier community.

Student Rounds

WVU Charleston Campus Medical Students and faculty members head out on a chilly December evening to distribute toys, gifts and warm clothing and supplies to children and families at the YWCA Sojourner’s shelter in Charleston. The group also visited the men’s shelters downtown supplying blankets, clothing, snacks and attending to basic medical needs like blood pressure checks. The group spends time visiting at each location, offering warm smiles and an attentive ear. The students are recognized from monthly rounds and the outreach and time spent is a positive time for all.

As the weather gets colder and the Holidays approach, CHASM reminds us all of the true spirit of the season lies in the heart.