BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo is teaming with local health officials to care for the homeless on Buffalo's west side.

The university held a free foot clinic Saturday at Holy Cross Shelter on Niagara Street, providing boots, socks, clothes and health check-ups.

The event focuses on common feet issues seen among the homeless population, including fungal infections, ingrown toenails and other serious ailments that coincide with diabetes.

UB Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs Dr. David Milling says it’s very important they work to build trust within the community, especially since COVID-19 has made it harder to provide health care to the homeless community.

"We go out and do street runs twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays," Milling said. "But today we are doing a foot clinic. Which helps to make sure that we can identify individuals who have problems with their feet related to disease like diabetes, before it gets too cold."

The clinic is run by UB HEALS, a student-run street medicine group providing care to Buffalo's disenfranchised communities since 2016.

Participating students are members of UB's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.