Overview
The StreetReach collaboration, supported by a FOCUS award from Gilead Sciences, brings together the Orvis School of Nursing and the Larson Institute at the School of Public Health to deliver nurse-led wound care and blood-borne virus, along with connections to ongoing health and social services. The initiative provides low-barrier care for people experiencing homelessness.
The problem
Unsheltered homelessness in Reno and Washoe County has hit record highs, driven by a severe lack of affordable housing and the loss of weekly motels. It is characterized by high mortality rates and a continued reliance on the Nevada Cares Campus, which serves as a large-scale emergency shelter. While the Nevada Cares Campus has 550 beds, it is at capacity nightly with hundreds more individuals without shelter in the community.
The population of unsheltered homeless in Washoe County is experiencing increased mortality, with over 90 deaths reported in 2025, and to date, there has not been a consistent community coordinated effort to provide medical care to unsheltered homeless individuals in Reno.
The solution
StreetReach launched March 2, 2026, with a team comprised of a faculty nurse, a program coordinator and a community health worker. Initially, the team will work in a two-block radius of the CARES Campus, which serves over 500 unsheltered persons nightly. Clinical services are provided three afternoons weekly – two afternoons on the streets and one afternoon at Village on Sage, where individuals can seek care. StreetReach has secured several community partnerships to support this work, including the CARES Campus, Northern Nevada HOPES and Community Health Alliance as care linkage sites, Washoe County Human Services, Renown Health, Volunteers of America, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Village on Sage, RISE and others.
Starting in September 2026, it will incorporate experiential learning for nursing and public health students. They will work in tandem with the team on the streets, providing services and health education. By the end of the first year, we plan to expand our service offerings and our geographic region.
The results
We anticipate three key outcomes from the StreetReach project:
- Improved access: By bringing care directly to the streets, we aim to overcome the significant barriers to traditional healthcare (e.g., lack of transportation, mistrust or fear). We will provide immediate care, such as wound care and testing for blood-borne viruses.
- Building trust and relationships: We will offer consistent engagement with our multidisciplinary teams to foster trust and allow for improved care engagement and long-term health management.
- Reduced Healthcare Costs: By treating illnesses early, StreetReach expects to reduce emergency room visits and hospital admissions, ultimately saving money in the healthcare system.