Step-By-Step: The BRIDGE Framework for Equitable Outreach to People Experiencing Homelessness

The needs of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at a modern high, yet health-promotion programs typically operate from clinic-based models that do not reliably reach unsheltered settings. Street engagement, conducted with community partners, can support access to basic needs, trust-building, and continuity of care. We present the BRIDGE framework (Build trust, Rapidly assess, Identify needs, Direct connections, Guide handoffs, Evaluate follow-up), distilled from sustained community outreach with PEH in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, integrating harm-reduction, trauma-informed communication, and warm handoffs through practical tools (approach scripts, packing lists, and safety checklists). We collect feasible process indicators (e.g. number of contacts, referrals initiated, and successful connections) and provide a flow figure and protocol table to guide action. Embedded vignettes from multiple perspectives provide implementation context. BRIDGE operationalizes equitable health promotion for street engagement centered on ethics, safety, and trust and can be adopted by health departments, academic programs, and community partners to systematize outreach and strengthen continuity of care. A clear, replicable framework with minimal metrics can elevate street engagement beyond goodwill to accountable practice that advances health equity.