HepC Free: Corridor of Care - Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. proposes the HepC Free: Corridor of Care, a 3-year, community-driven HCV elimination initiative focused on unsheltered individuals and those living with substance use disorders, serious mental illness, or co-occurring conditions across Washington, D.C., Suburban Maryland, and Baltimore City. The project will be implemented under the umbrella of the Bishop Rainey Cheeks Center of Excellence in Harm Reduction, which serves as the integrated platform for Us Helping Us’ harm reduction service delivery, training, research, and policy work. Corridor or Care integrates low-barrier, mobile-based HCV testing and treatment with behavioral health and housing stabilization strategies, building on our trusted SAMHSA-funded infrastructure. The target population includes primarily individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability, with high prevalence of HCV, opioid and stimulant use, and untreated co-occurring behavioral health conditions. In Year 1, the program will focus on Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland, expanding in Years 2 and 3 to serve Baltimore City and the adjacent MD (Corridor) counties, including Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard. Service delivery will be led by four existing mobile health units, which will deploy peer navigators, a nurse care manager, and licensed behavioral health staff to provide case-managed: --Point-of-care (POC) and confirmatory HCV testing, integrated with HIV and Syphilis POC testing using new testing technologies, in mobile settings; --Same-day linkage to HCV treatment and Direct-Acting Antivirals; --Peer-led behavioral health triage and referrals to MOUD and mental health care; --Housing and insurance navigation services and transportation assistance; and --Culturally responsive harm reduction education and community outreach. Key strategies include traditional and non-traditional (e.g., late night, weekends) mobile deployment schedules; partnerships with local shelters, SSPs, and behavioral health providers; and community education campaigns to reduce stigma and increase awareness. Goals and Measurable Objectives: The overarching goal of the Corridor of Care initiative is to expand access to HCV testing and treatment and reduce the burden of HCV in structurally underserved communities. The project will screen and treat a total of 180 unduplicated individuals over three years; 1,000 screened/30 treated in Year 1 (Tier 1), 1,330 screened/60 treated in Year 2 (Tier 2), and 1,750 screened/90 treated in Year 3 (Tier 2). Specific objectives include: --Increasing same-day HCV testing by 50% in mobile outreach zones; --Initiating HCV treatment within 3 days of diagnosis for 90% of eligible clients; --Achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in at least 85% of treated individuals; --Enhancing behavioral health and MOUD referrals by 30% annually; and --Expanding HCV services from the D.C. into Baltimore City and Corridor counties. HepC Free: Corridor of Care is a natural extension of the organization’s SAMHSA-funded substance use treatment (For Me. For You. For Us.) and HIV prevention (Crossroads) projects deepening its clinical focus on HCV elimination while advancing regional coordination.
