Introduccion: la indigencia en Colombia ha aumentado de manera significativa por problemas como el desplazamiento, desempleo, drogadiccion e incapacidad del Estado para formular politicas sociales que respondan a esta realidad. La presente investigacion describe como la poblacion habitante de calle de Medellin accede a los programas de promocion y prevencion establecidos por la resolucion 412 del 2000, con el fin de generar informacion, tendiente al mejoramiento de su atencion en salud. Metodos: estudio descriptivo tipo Cross Sectional: n = 372 individuos que asisten al programa de atencion para habitantes de calle. Se caracterizo demograficamente la poblacion, y las variables de interes fueron analizadas a traves de X2, OR (IC 95%) y p <0.05. Resultados: los programas de atencion a la tuberculosis, vacunacion, infecciones transmitidas sexualmente y atencion del parto, son los de mas alta demanda por esta poblacion; sin embargo, problemas economicos, falta de interes y mala atencion del personal medico, son razones importantes de abandono de los mismos. La creencia acerca de la no gratuidad en la atencion en salud (OR = 3.39) y la no gratuidad de los programas de promocion y prevencion (OR = 1.32), son factores asociados a la inasistencia de esta poblacion a dichos programas. Discusion: el 76% de los encuestados conocen sus derechos en salud, situacion que favorece la demanda; sin embargo, la falta de titularidad, aunado a la exigencia en atencion de manera poco cordial y el desconocimiento de los profesionales acerca del abordaje de esta poblacion, dificulta dicho proceso. Abstract Introduction: indigency in Colombia has increased significantly because of problems such as displacement, unemployment, drug dependency and the inability of the State to formulate social policies that respond to this reality. This research describes as the homeless of Medellin, go to the promotion and disease prevention programs established by resolution 412 of 2000, in order to generate information for improving their health care. Methods: cross sectional descriptive study type. n = 372 individuals attending the care program for street people. It was marked demographically the population and the variables of interest were analyzed through X2, OR (95%) and p <0.05. Results: care programs for tuberculosis, immunization, sexually transmitted infections, and care during childbirth are the most demanded by this population, however, economic problems, lack of interest and poor attention of medical personnel are important reasons for abandoning them. The belief is not about the free health care (OR = 3.39) and no free program advocacy and prevention (OR = 1.32), are all factors associated with the non attendance of this population to those programs. Discussion: 76% of respondents know their rights in health, a situation that favors the demand but a lack of ownership, coupled with the aggressive attitude on the demand of the resident population of street, the design of the forms of health care that come in clear contradiction with the sense of immediate lifestyle of this population and the lack of professionals about the approach of this population, hinders that process. Keywords: public health, health promotion, primary prevention, homeless persons, primary health care, health services accessibility