A free skin cancer screening event Sunday at the Harbor Light Center in Minneapolis looks to help unhoused individuals address potential health issues.
The Salvation Army is teaming up with the Dermatology Interest Group from the University of Minnesota according to Salvation Army Northern Division spokesperson Dan Furry.
"With all the things that homeless folks have going on, their health being among, one of the things that are of prime concern is that they also spend a lot of time out in the elements," Furry says. "And so, especially during summer when it's hot and the sun is bearing down, you know, they could be at higher risk for skin cancer."
The local group is comprised of students from the University of Minnesota medical school, and they are collaborating with The Salvation Army for the event.
Harbor Light is one of the largest facilities in the upper Midwest that provide emergency shelter and transitional housing services.
"Summer or winter, you know, you are exposed to sun rays and for folks who spend a lot of time out of doors, that might not be something that is top of mind," Furry explains. "And so we wanted to be able to work with dermatology interest group and the students there to offer this to folks so that they if if they had a concern about it, they could get checked out."
Furry says addressing health needs is among the first steps when helping individuals find stability.
The free screening event begins at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.