Expanding Access

Foundation-supported ARCH and HOST Partner to Reach the Unhoused in Ames

A growing partnership between Mary Greeley Medical Center’s ARCH (Alternative Response for Community Health) program and the City of Ames’ HOST (Housing Outreach Support Team) initiative is providing a vital lifeline to individuals experiencing homelessness. Through collaborative outreach, these programs are working together to remove barriers to care and create new opportunities for people struggling with chronic health issues, behavioral health concerns, and housing insecurity.

Launched in 2022, ARCH is funded in part by the Mary Greeley Foundation and was designed to reach individuals with complex medical and social needs who often fall through the cracks of traditional healthcare systems. Many of those served by ARCH are frequent visitors to emergency departments or rely on 911 services as a last resort, often because they lack access to regular, coordinated care.

By combining ARCH’s health-centered approach with HOST’s housing-first strategy, the teams are finding more effective ways to intervene, build trust, and connect people to the long-term support they need.

Meeting People Where They Are—Literally and Emotionally

The ARCH and HOST teams work closely together in the field, visiting shelters, encampments, and other public spaces to engage individuals who are often disconnected from any formal care system. For Susan Moore, Social Worker at Mary Greeley Medical Center, this model is essential to the program’s success. 

“There are individuals in our community who haven’t seen a primary care provider in years,” Moore says. “Some haven’t been able to get their prescriptions filled, others are dealing with unmanaged mental illness or addiction. These are issues that can’t be addressed by one agency alone. That’s why this partnership is so powerful.”

The HOST team helps people navigate housing applications, obtain identification, and access shelter services, while ARCH steps in to provide medical assessments, care coordination, mental health screenings, and substance use referrals.

“We’re building trust in the community,” Moore adds. “And that’s not always easy. But by showing up consistently and being willing to listen, we’re seeing people open up, engage, and accept help—sometimes for the first time in a long time.”

A Complementary Partnership

For Nick Toornstra, Paramedic at Mary Greeley Medical Center, the partnership brings necessary depth and responsiveness to their efforts.

“There’s been a real gap when it comes to meeting both the housing and medical needs of the unhoused population,” Toornstra says. “ARCH fills that gap. They help us take a more holistic approach, and that increases the likelihood that someone will not just get housed but stay housed.”

Toornstra notes that healthcare needs—especially untreated mental illness or chronic medical conditions—are often a key factor in housing instability. Being able to bring those resources to the same conversation creates momentum and accountability, both for the system and the individuals it serves.

Breaking Down Barriers to Care

ARCH’s mission is built around removing barriers—physical, financial, and emotional—that prevent individuals from accessing care. Unlike traditional clinic models, the ARCH team goes directly into the community to meet people where they are.

“This is about reducing friction in the healthcare system,” says Becky Lundy, Social Worker at Mary Greeley Medical Center. “We see people who’ve been rejected or dismissed so many times that they’ve stopped trying. We’re trying to rebuild that bridge.”

Lundy says the ARCH-HOST collaboration allows the team to respond in real-time and build personalized care plans. “Whether it’s replacing a lost ID so someone can get into housing or connecting them to behavioral health care, we’re looking at the full picture,” she says. “And we’re not giving up after the first try.”

Making the Work Possible: Foundation Support

The Mary Greeley Foundation plays a pivotal role in the creation and continued operation of ARCH and the medical center’s mental health community outreach efforts. By funding staff positions, outreach supplies, technology, and consulting support, the Foundation ensures the team can continue to work in high-touch, high-need environments without being limited by funding constraints.

“This is something that’s not available in most communities,” Moore says. “We wouldn’t be able to sustain this kind of outreach without the Foundation’s commitment. It’s what makes this work possible.”

A Model for the Future

In the months ahead, ARCH and HOST plan to expand their outreach strategy, refine data collection efforts, and share lessons learned with other health systems and community agencies. They also hope to build more public awareness about the scope of homelessness in Story County—and how collaboration can change the outcome.

“Everyone we work with has a story,” Lundy says. “It’s not always about ‘fixing’ someone. Sometimes it’s just about showing up with compassion and consistency—and then helping them take the next right step.”

The ARCH program is a key part of Mary Greeley Medical Center’s broader mission to deliver equitable, compassionate care across the region. And with continued support from donors to the Mary Greeley Foundation, its reach and impact will only grow.