Lowell, MA, September 3rd, 2024 – Riverbend will be launching a mobile engagement program in the City of Lowell, aimed at reducing social determinants of health for individuals experiencing homelessness. Through Riverbend’s new mobile unit, the Outreach team will continue providing harm reduction supplies and education, linkage to support services, acute wound care, nursing assessments, and referrals to appropriate levels of treatment, but in a safer more secure environment.  

“This new mobile unit will be a game changer for the accessibility of services to the individuals we serve, and the safety and security of our staff.”, said Gianna Sandelli, Outreach Program Director at Riverbend. “By taking our services that we currently provide on a street level, and bringing them into our mobile unit it will give the individuals we serve more privacy, and allow our nurse a cleaner environment to provide care.” 

 In addition to the work that the Outreach team already provides, the expansion of the mobile unit comes with a new contract with the city for the safe syringe program. The inclusion of the safe syringe program is a continuation of the harm prevention work that the Outreach team already does. Additional programs through the mobile unit will include screening and testing for infections, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and viral hepatitis.