The C.D. Doyle Clinic in downtown Austin provides free services to the homeless population and a place for students of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work to sharpen their professional skills and connect with the homeless community.
“We see clients at the end of their visit to the clinic, and help them with any resources they may need,” said social work student Kara Robbins. She added that some clients mostly come to connect.
“One Sunday, a gentleman was telling me about how people ignore him. We had a great conversation about what he is reading, what’s good in his life, and how he actually gives money away to people who are struggling more than he is,” Robbins said. “That’s where social work comes in: We can be that person who is there for him, in that moment.”