About:

Ozanam Inn (Oz) is a multi-purpose faith based community organization that offers aid, shelter and care to homeless men and women.

The Ozanam Inn Clinic focuses on primary care and is open on Sundays 11:45 AM – 4:00 PM. The patients range from staff, to residents in the inn, to homeless itinerants passing through. Oz provides resources as needed ranging from referring patients to urgent care to writing prescriptions. Over-the-counter medication is often provided on the spot. Depending on the patients’ needs, referrals may be made to University Medical Center (UMC) and Healthcare for the Homeless.

Prescriptions can be filled for patients free of charge through the clinic. TB tests are given and read every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. HIV tests are offered on site during clinic, as well as on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Oz also refers patients to community resources, the most popular requests being vision and dental care services. Working in Oz means being an advocate for your patient, their best interests and making sure they get access to the community resources for which they are eligible.

Volunteers can expect to learn and practice how to take vitals, properly document, conduct a myriad of physical exams, take a history, present a history to upperclassmen and an attending physician and, finally, advocate for their patients needs.

Ozanam Inn believes in not only aiding the homeless population, but also empowering the individuals they touch to change their circumstances. One of the tenants informing the work at Oz is, ‘we give a fish to eat today and teach to fish for tomorrow!’ This should serve as a guide for all who come to volunteer their time at Oz clinic.