For many unsheltered individuals, accessing healthcare remains a significant challenge. StreetReach is changing that reality by bringing nurse-led care directly to the streets of Reno. The program focuses on low-barrier, relationship-based healthcare for people who are unsheltered, intermittently housed or otherwise connected to street-based communities. Services include wound care, testing for bloodborne viruses and connections to ongoing healthcare and social support.

Jasen Brooks and Jasdeep Buttar provide low-barrier healthcare directly in the community.

For Professor Jasen Brooks, MSN, RN, CNL, who provides nursing care through the program, StreetReach represents a shift from traditional clinical environments.

“Working without a clock, without multiple tasks to pull you away from the person you are caring for; this is what real holistic care really can be. Sure, the wind blows away your supplies, and you might be sitting on a curb in the rain, and it is uncomfortable, but that discomfort reminds us of what our unhoused neighbors experience. That is their reality on a day-to-day basis. Caring for our unhoused neighbors centers me and refocuses me on what nursing and healthcare should be.”

The StreetReach team prepares and transports medical supplies used to deliver care directly on the streets.

StreetReach launched in April 2026 to address a critical healthcare gap. The StreetReach team provides services three afternoons each week, with outreach around 4th street and dedicated clinic hours at Village on Sage.

Rather than one-time interactions, StreetReach emphasizes ongoing engagement, enabling providers to build relationships and respond more effectively to the complex, interconnected needs individuals face.

“We are building a system of mutual trust and wellbeing," Brooks said. "Many of the people we work with remind us of the bias against our unhoused neighbors in traditional healthcare settings. Here, we have an opportunity to shift away from those implicit prejudices and move back toward non-judgmental care. We need to show up with an honest, caring approach to help heal the wounds of systemic inequities, but it will take time to do so.”

The StreetReach team includes nursing, public health and community outreach professionals working together to expand access to care.

A key strength of StreetReach is its interdisciplinary approach, integrating hands-on nursing care with prevention-focused public health strategies.

The team includes Jane Fox, MPH; Natalie Davidson; Jasdeep Buttar and Cary Ballard from the Larson Institute at the School of Public Health and Theresa Watts, Ph.D. MPH, RN; Jasen Brooks, MSN, RN, CNL; and Molly Kokenge, Ph.D., RN, CNL from the Orvis School of Nursing.

“So far, our team has completed 28 blood draws, provided 12 wound care services and conducted 17 nursing assessments or referrals for additional care,” Professor Watts said. “We are helping people become aware of their HIV and hepatitis status and opening the doors for timely follow-up care.” 

Looking ahead, the program will expand to include nursing and public health students, creating hands-on experiential learning opportunities while increasing its capacity to serve more individuals. The goal is to broaden both the geographic reach and the range of services offered in the coming year.

StreetReach is supported by partners including Northern Nevada HOPES, Community Health Alliance, Washoe County Human Services, Volunteers of America, Village on Sage, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, helping ensure individuals can access follow-up care and long-term support.

“A core strength of this work is our collaboration with community, clinical and acute care partners, alongside the leadership of Orvis School of Nursing faculty practitioners who provide care directly in the community,” Professor Kokenge said. “Our goal is to meet people where they are, deliver high-quality, low-barrier care, and then thoughtfully link them to ongoing services within the care continuum.

“Many of our unhoused neighbors have experienced healthcare-related trauma or mistrust of traditional systems, which is why this model is so powerful. By showing up consistently, addressing immediate needs, and working hand-in-hand with trusted partners who already have deep relationships in the community, we are able to build care plans that are responsive, respectful and grounded in trust”.

As a Carnegie R1 and Community Engaged University, the University of Nevada, Reno is deeply committed to serving its communities. StreetReach brings that commitment to life by providing compassionate, accessible care and building lasting partnerships that support the health of Reno’s most vulnerable residents.