Although the Community Health Van is referred to by some as the ‘needle van’, a recent report shows the majority of 1600-plus visits so far have been to access basics like food and clothing, not harm-reduction supplies.
Statistics recently reported by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health show 69 percent of visits to the van did not include access to any harm reduction supplies. In those cases, clients accessed other services the van provides, like food, hygiene products and/or clothing.
The van operates under a harm-reduction philosophy and it is intended to target services to people who are homeless, struggling with mental health and/or addictions issues, living in poverty and to those experiencing physical health concerns.
Community Health Van staff logged 746 unique visitors who accessed its services, with an overall total visit volume of 1,614 since October of 2017.
In 19 percent of those visits, clients accessed harm reduction supplies only and the remainder of visits, both harm reduction and a combination of food, hygiene supplies and/or clothing were accessed.
Clients ranged in age from 14 to 76 years old. Almost half of the clients who accessed the van were between 25 and 44 years of age.
Of the 746 unique visitors logged, 67 per cent were male and 32 percent were female. The remaining 1 per cent of clients did not identify as one sex or another.
The Community Health Van is a pilot project operated through a partnership between ARCH, Sanguen Health Centre and WDG Public Health. It began servicing the vulnerable population of Guelph one night a week beginning in October of 2017 and in February of 2018 it expanded operation to two days per week.
The concept of the van is simple, roll up to areas where you find the people who need the services help them. It is staffed by five people, including a Hepatitis C treatment nurse who can attend to nursing interventions and offer social and medical referrals to clients.
Also on board are outreach workers, social workers and a peer support worker from the three agencies that support it.
The van carries a number of supplies, including food and snacks, various hygiene products and clothing, as well as harm-reduction supplies like a needle exchange, crack and meth pipes, Naloxone and other drug paraphernalia.
Every Wednesday and Thursday evening, the Community Health Van team travels to various downtown Guelph locations where vulnerable people gather, like Wyndham House, Royal City Church and Carden Street.
Plans are underway to add a route to support the vulnerable individuals in Wellington County starting this fall.
The two-year pilot project is currently funded by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and through private donations.
