Walking Beside Our Guests: How Rasheeda Connects People to Life-Saving Care

At Broad Street Love, Radical Hospitality means walking alongside people on their journey to wellness and stability. For Rasheeda, our Medical Concierge, that’s not just a philosophy—it’s her daily work.

“My role is to make sure people who need mental health, behavioral health, or medical care get the referrals they need,” Rasheeda explains. “Sometimes that means walking them through a crisis intake, sometimes it means making sure they don’t lose access to the medication that keeps them alive.”

Her work goes far beyond handing out phone numbers or appointment cards. She advocates for guests in overwhelming situations and helps navigate what can be an intimidating healthcare system—especially for those carrying the weight of past trauma.

The Hidden Battle: Insurance & Access to care

One of the biggest challenges Rasheeda tackles isn’t what most people expect.

“The biggest piece of my day-to-day work has to do with medical insurance,” she says.

When coverage lapses, guests often arrive frantic—or already in crisis. Rasheeda helps them secure emergency appointments, often through our partnership with Philadelphia FIGHT, so they can stay on life-saving medications. From there, she begins the complex process of restoring coverage, which often includes connecting people to partners like The Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) for identity documents or setting them up with a mailbox at Broad Street Love so they can establish residency.

Meeting Urgent healthcare Needs And Staying the Course

Many guests who seek Rasheeda’s help don’t just need paperwork fixed—they need immediate care.

“We see a lot of people with foot problems, skin infections, open wounds, heart issues, and diabetes,” she says. “Sometimes they come in saying, ‘I think I’m dying today.’ That’s why it’s so important that Philadelphia FIGHT and Dr. Kevin are here. Guests can get immediate relief—and then we begin the longer process of securing coverage and supporting good health practices.”

That ongoing commitment can make all the difference. Guests like Marquise and Jerome came to Broad Street Love at breaking points, but because someone was there to walk alongside them, their stories didn’t end there.

Stories of Change That Keep Us Going

When Marquise first came through Broad Street Love’s doors at age 23, he was bruised and battered from a gang fight—and terrified to leave for fear of being attacked again. Rasheeda didn’t just hand him a referral. She walked with him to the NeT Center for a crisis intake. He stayed. He completed the program. Today, at 25, Marquise is in stable housing, working toward a safer neighborhood, and taking care of himself.

Jerome’s first conversation with Rasheeda revealed a man in crisis—hallucinating, convinced his mother was in the room, and self-medicating with substances. Rasheeda helped him get into treatment, and today he’s living in a halfway house, maintaining sobriety, and planning his next steps.

For Rasheeda, these moments are why she does what she does. They’re proof that even when someone comes in saying, “I think I’m dying today,” there’s a path forward—with the right support.

Rasheeda’s story reminds us that Radical Hospitality is more than a warm welcome. It’s advocacy; it’s persistence. It’s walking beside someone when the road is long and steep—and celebrating with them when they reach solid ground.