NightShift 2021
by NightShift
Posted on December 29, 2024
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NightShift recognizes that the need to reach out to people who are struggling is huge – and the need is only exacerbated for those experiencing life on the street.
Our friends on the street often face insurmountable barriers to accessing basic health care. We noticed that the number of people living in poverty and struggling with addictions was only continuing to rise and we were seeing more drug poisoning and desperation than ever before. For this reason, in 2011, NightShift Street Ministries launched its first Care Bus.
This was a vehicle designed to provide street-level nursing and crisis counselling to vulnerable people in our neighbourhood. The Care Bus would come out once a week and care for the physical needs of our friends. After a decade of serving our community well, in 2020 we determined that the Care Bus had run its course… but the need for accessible medical care was still great. Volunteer nurses would still come out to treat patients from our building, but we saw the need for a private, medical grade space. We also wanted to expand our nursing care to our Langley community, which would be impossible without a vehicle.
Enter the MOU (Mobile Outreach Unit). NightShift launched the MOU during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021 in replacement of the former Care Bus. This newly fabricated bus features two patient rooms, and an outreach space for clothing, care kits and more.
By offering free basic nursing and crisis counselling from our MOU, along with outreach services, NightShift continues to remove barriers and bring dignity, health care and recovery options to people who need it most in both Surrey and Langley.
Photographed are Brianna Kowalski (left) and Summer Hockin (right) checking in one of our friends on the street in Surrey.