When Healthcare Access Is Uncertain, Communities Come Together
May 26, 2026
More than 50 residents gathered in Crescent City to learn, share experiences, and identify priorities for healthcare access in Del Norte County.
For many families across Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, healthcare is already difficult to access.
Finding a primary care provider can take months. Specialty care often requires traveling long distances. Mental health services remain limited. For residents relying on Medi-Cal, understanding changing eligibility requirements can feel overwhelming.
Now, proposed federal changes to healthcare and public benefit programs are creating even more uncertainty.
On May 26, more than 50 community members gathered in Crescent City for a Health Coverage Town Hall organized by True North Leaders. The gathering created space for neighbors to learn about proposed changes to healthcare coverage, ask questions, share personal experiences, and identify the challenges facing local communities.
The event reflected a core part of True North's organizing approach: bringing people together to understand issues, listen deeply to one another, and shape solutions collectively.
Understanding What's Changing
Participants heard presentations from Legal Services of Northern California and healthcare partners about H.R.1, the federal legislation commonly referred to as the "Big Beautiful Bill."
Among the proposed changes discussed were:
New work requirements for SNAP and Medi-Cal recipients.
More frequent eligibility renewals and recertification requirements.
Additional paperwork and administrative requirements for maintaining coverage.
Potential impacts to healthcare access for immigrant families and other vulnerable populations.
Increased pressure on local healthcare systems already facing staffing shortages.
For many attendees, one concern rose above the rest: once healthcare coverage is lost, getting it back may become increasingly difficult.
What Community Members Shared
Following the presentations, participants broke into small-group listening sessions to discuss their experiences with healthcare access.
While concerns about Medi-Cal changes were common, the conversations quickly expanded into broader challenges that residents face every day.
The most frequently raised concerns included:
Access to care and provider shortages
Participants described long waits for primary care appointments, difficulty finding providers who accept Medi-Cal, limited dental and vision care options, and significant barriers to accessing specialists and behavioral health services. Several community members described Del Norte County as a "mental health desert."
Insurance eligibility and recertification concerns
Many people expressed fear about losing healthcare coverage because of paperwork requirements, eligibility changes, or administrative barriers. Participants worried that children, elders, people with disabilities, and medically vulnerable residents could be disproportionately affected.
Affordability and medical costs
Even for those with insurance, healthcare remains expensive. Participants discussed rising costs, medical debt, and concerns about the long-term sustainability of healthcare funding and services in rural communities.
Transportation and rural barriers
For many residents, accessing healthcare means traveling long distances for appointments. Transportation challenges continue to create barriers to receiving timely care and maintaining treatment plans.
Navigating complex systems
Participants repeatedly described healthcare systems as difficult to understand and navigate. Confusion around Medi-Cal renewals, insurance requirements, and changing policies often leaves people feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.
Throughout the discussions, residents also expressed broader concerns about the future of healthcare in rural communities, including workforce shortages, an aging population, and the long-term sustainability of local healthcare services.
A Community Looking for Solutions
While many participants expressed concern about the future, the gathering also highlighted a strong desire for collaboration, compassion, and community-centered solutions.
The conversations revealed common values shared across the room: dignity, stability, access to care, and a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive the healthcare they need.
"Because of the Town Hall, I feel much more informed. As a Medi-Cal patient, I was unaware of the many changes that are happening. I'm really glad I attended the event!" -Trish Cottrell, Participant
For True North Leaders, the gathering was about more than sharing information. It was about creating a public space where people could come together around an issue affecting families across the region.
"Many of the concerns expressed in our local tabletop discussions are mirrored in state-level conversations about the future of Medi-Cal and health coverage. Seeing the realities our community is experiencing reflected in these spaces reminds me that we are not alone in the work. This event was a powerful reminder that we can bring people together in honest conversation, partnership, and collective problem-solving to shape the future of health coverage and care in our region." -Jermaine Brubaker, True North Leader
This Conversation Is Just Beginning
The Town Hall marked an important step in a broader effort to better understand healthcare challenges facing residents across Del Norte and Humboldt Counties.
Over the coming months, True North Leaders will continue conducting listening conversations, meeting with healthcare providers and community partners, gathering stories, and identifying opportunities for action.
The goal is simple: ensure that the people most affected by healthcare challenges help shape the solutions.
"I was privileged to be a part of the team putting together the Healthcare Town Hall. Even I was surprised by the quality of information shared. I can't wait to see what we create in August." -Leann Greene, True North Leader
Community members are invited to continue the conversation on August 1 at Beachfront Park in Crescent City, where Leaders will share what they've learned through ongoing research and listening conversations and discuss possible next steps for strengthening healthcare access in our region.
This work is just beginning, and there is room for everyone who wants to be part of it.