StreetReach is supported by a FOCUS award from Giliad Pharmaceuticals and is a collaborative effort between the Larson Institute, the UNR Orvis School of Nursing, and the UNR School of Medicine.
Active
Study Period: September 2025 -
StreetReach
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. Unsheltered homelessness in the area 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, they are 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 is a new UNR collaborative effort between the School of Public Health, Orvis School of Nursing, and the School of Medicine led by the Larson Institute supported by a FOCUS award from Gilead Pharmaceuticals. StreetReach will bring wound care, blood-borne virus testing, and linkage to community care to persons who are unsheltered in Reno. 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 in a centralized known location where individuals can seek care. Additionally, a faculty physician and resident from the School of Medicine will join the team on the streets on day a week. We have 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 Women’s Health Clinic, and Renown Medical Center, Volunteers of America, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Village on Sage, RISE, and others.
Starting in September 2026, we will incorporate experiential learning for a small number of 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 fosters 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.
