Dry socks, doctor referrals and pregnancy tests: How Sarah Prylinski helps Erie's homeless

Article originally published in Erie Times-News on May 1, 2025 - Written by David Bruce

John Scott wanted someone to check the blisters on his feet, so he waited outside Sarah Prylinski's office at the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 1101 Peach St.

As Prylinski, a registered nurse, inspected Scott's feet, she asked how he was doing.

"I worked about 16 hours on my feet this past weekend, setting up for an event at the (Bayfront) Convention Center and then taking it down afterward," Scott said on April 28.

"Looks like your feet took a beating and you could use some dry socks," Prylinski said as she reached into a desk drawer. "I have some here. If those blisters get worse, see me tomorrow. Do you go to Community Health Net? No? Do you want me to help you get in to see a doctor?"

Prylinski meets with association clients each weekday from 11 a.m. to noon. They see her for over-the-counter pain relievers, pregnancy tests, help finding a primary-care provider, and many other health-related items.

She even stores their prescription drugs and doles them out a week's worth at a time, so they don't risk losing as many while on the streets.

The nonprofit association is just one of the places Prylinski visits regularly to make sure the basic health needs of Erie's homeless and other vulnerable people are being met. She also goes to Emmaus Soup Kitchen, the Refuge, Community Shelter Services, and First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.

"It's all about trust," said Prylinski, who has been a nurse for 28 years. "I go in with an open mindset and I don't know what the day will bring."

Prylinski has worked since October as clinical program manager for BUILD, a subsidiary nonprofit organization of Hamot Health Foundation. She helps lead Build's street medicine program, which delivers health care to nontraditional locations, including homeless shelters and encampments.

"One of the biggest obstacles to providing health care to people who are homeless and otherwise vulnerable is earning their trust. Many of them have poor experiences with primary-care providers and emergency departments," said Pat Stucke, executive director of the Mental Health Association.

"When Sarah first came here, she volunteered in the kitchen so people could get used to her and learn to trust her," Stucke said. "She started offering medical services a few months later and it has gained so much momentum."

Prylinski is so popular that a line often forms outside her medical resources office at the association.

Edward Thompson visited with her recently for help getting an appointment with a new primary-care provider. Prylinski immediately pulled out her cell phone and attempted to make an appointment.

"Sarah is the person who really goes the extra mile, the person who gets stuff done," Thompson said. "Not only does she do this, but she also comes to the places where homeless people gather and passes out things like blankets, socks and backpacks."

Prylinski also has volunteered in the Single Point In Time count of Erie County's homeless population.

COVID-19 pandemic spurred Prylinski's passion for community outreach

Before joining BUILD, Prylinski worked as clinical manager of UPMC Hamot's physician network.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prylinski gave shots at Hamot's vaccination clinics and even took doses to health-care workers who couldn't make it to the hospital.

"I learned during COVID that community outreach was my passion," Prylinski said. "I'm good working with the public and I know a majority of health care occurs outside the hospital."

MHA has seen health improvement among its clients

The street medicine program's goal is to improve the overall health of Erie's most vulnerable citizens by helping them control chronic illnesses and preventing acute ones.

Stucke said she has noticed an improvement in the health of her clients since Prylinski and another nurse started seeing them in late 2024.

"We have seen a dramatic increase in their overall wellness and health," Stucke said. "Sarah really helps get them to the appropriate resources and then follows up to make sure they are staying with their doctor's treatment plan."

Prylinski said she is thrilled to help people improve their health. She cited one example that has stuck with her.

"We were at Hamot's MammoMarathon last fall and I had 14 women get their first mammogram with me," Prylinski said. "We just made a day of it. We got our fingernails done and there were giveaways. It was an opportunity for these women to feel normal, not homeless, and that they belonged."