On the road with medical and recovery professionals
The need to reach out and help people where they are at – including those living on the street – is huge. Since 2010, when NightShift Street Ministries launched our first Care Bus, we have been providing street-level nursing and crisis-intervention counselling to vulnerable people in our community who often face barriers to accessing basic health care.
With the number of people dealing with homelessness, poverty, addictions and social disconnection continuing to rise, we are also seeing more opiate poisoning and desperation than ever before. NightShift continues to be committed to help alleviate the suffering of our friends on the street.
Our mobile crew that includes medically-trained volunteers now serves aboard an updated Mobile Outreach Unit on two nights of the week:
- Monday nights in Langley (5708 Glover Road), and
- Friday nights in Surrey (10635 King George Boulevard).
The Mobile Outreach Unit (MOU)
The Mobile Outreach Unit is just that – a vehicle designed to deliver outreach care to people in need in different locations. Launched during COVID in March 2021, this newly fabricated bus features two patient rooms, and an outreach space for storing and distributing care kits and more.
By reaching out and offering access to free, basic nursing, support and referrals from our MOU, volunteer nurses, counsellors, drivers and hosts continue to remove barriers and bring dignity, health care and recovery options to people who need it most.
“Bind up the broken-hearted…and set captives free.” Isaiah 61
Mobile counselling
The MOU’s counselling focus is primarily crisis intervention and community referrals. Individuals requesting more in-depth or longer-term counselling are referred to counsellors at NightShift’s The Care Centre and offered a sliding-scale rate.
Basic nursing
Professional nurses and medical volunteers provide basic care (assessing vital signs; obtaining medical history from the patient; administering wound care); distribute vitamins, meal replacement drinks and bars; educate patients about health and nutrition; and make referrals to the hospital or other healthcare facilities if further care is necessary.
Referral services
The MOU is also a way for people to connect, seek support and learn about other resources. We can direct people to NightShift’s other programs, recovery options and support services, and encourage them to meet with one of our resource workers to discuss their needs.
