About

Mission

Peninsula Healthcare Connection (PHC), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community based organization serving people experiencing homelessness or exhibiting a high risk of experiencing homelessness, and providing them with comprehensive, client-oriented health and wellness services. 

Community Need

Traditional models of care lack the complex integrated care individuals experiencing homelessness require to reduce health risks and address behavioral health conditions impacting their wellness. The homeless population in Santa Clara County consists of roughly 9,706 individuals, accounting for .5% of the total Santa Clara County population, with 6.1% of the population living in poverty.

Integrated care models, the method of care delivery at PHC, addresses the many factors that impact individuals physical, mental and emotional state of being. PHC provides client centered healthcare for homeless individuals, in addition to helping them to enroll in eligible government aid for continued health and personal services, and community supports in order to become thriving community members.

History

Peninsula Healthcare Connection was founded in 2006 as a collaborative venture between the Community Working Group, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Stanford University School of Medicine. Formerly known as Opportunity Health Partners, PHC opened its medical clinic in 2006 at the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto to provide affordable healthcare to underserved and at-risk men and women, particularly individuals experiencing homelessness. In 2011, PHC became a California state licensed clinic, and in 2019 was officially designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Lookalike (FQHC-LAL). In 2013, PHC partnered with New Directions, an intensive case management program previously operated under the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, to provide community-based, wraparound services to individuals with complex medical and psychosocial needs.

For nearly 20 years, PHC has been delivering care to Santa Clara County’s most vulnerable populations. PHC has partnerships with Stanford Health Care and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in which both organizations provide volunteer doctors to donate their medical expertise serving PHC clients. These valued partnerships provide PHC with qualified medical providers, whom are familiar with the Palo Alto community and the most in need residents living in them. The unique staffing partnership with SHC and PAMF provides PHC with the advantage of reliable, high volume medical providers to assist in the PHC clinic and via the Backpack Medicine Program. This allows PHC to serve clients in a clinic setting and, in the community, reaching clients that are in high need for medical care but are unable to bypass the many social, financial and physical barriers to access healthcare.

Board Of Directors:

Paul Taylor, Board Chair

CEO, Momentum for Mental Health (retired)

Joined October 2018

Steve Emslie

City of Palo Alto, Planning Director (retired)

Partner, Lighthouse Public Affairs

Joined April 2022

Lisa Keamy

Family Physician (retired)

Joined May 2022

Lars Osterberg

Professor, Stanford School of Medicine

Joined April 2022

Melinda Golden

Momentum for Mental Health (retired)

Joined August 2020

Gary Goodman

Deputy Public Defender

Joined August 2023

Darcy Salas

Deputy Probation Officer

Joined July 2024

Alicia Garcia

COO, WeHOPE

Joined January 2025

Frank Benest

Frank Benest – self employed

Joined July 2025

Eileen Richardson, Ex-Officio

President & CEO

Peninsula Healthcare Connection