Avivo receives grant to expand street outreach team to better respond to opioid epidemic

Thanks to a generous grant from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), Avivo is adding a harm reduction expert to its street outreach team. They will lead education on overdose prevention, manage harm reduction supplies and conduct trainings, and be the point of contact on harm reduction within the outreach team.

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), harm reduction is “an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives.”

“Avivo’s always been on the front-end of harm reduction in the Twin Cities and is being recognized for the work our teams are doing on a national level,” shares Justin LaBeaux, program director for Avivo’s Street Outreach Team and Avivo Village.

“Avivo’s always been on the front-end of harm reduction in the Twin Cities and is being recognized for the work our teams are doing on a national level,” shares Justin LaBeaux, program director for Avivo’s Street Outreach Team and Avivo Village.

“The need for harm reduction has grown exponentially over the past decade and especially over the past few years,” shares John Tribbett, service area director for Avivo’s Ending Homelessness division. “The tragic impact on people individually is growing, along with the strength of the drug supply, with fentanyl, xylazine, and other novel opioids. We’re working to save people’s lives.”

John shares that the team’s additional member will expand Avivo’s ability to respond to the increased need in the community, especially in Native American communities and communities of color, who have experienced a disproportionate impact from the opioid epidemic.

“The need for harm reduction has grown exponentially over the past decade and especially over the past few years,” shares John Tribbett, service area director for Avivo’s Ending Homelessness division. “The tragic impact on people individually is growing, along with the strength of the drug supply, with fentanyl, xylazine, and other novel opioids. We’re working to save people’s lives.”

According to the study Minnesota Homeless Mortality Report, people experiencing homelessness have a rate of death three times higher than the general Minnesota population.  People experiencing homelessness who identify as Native American have a five times higher rate of death than the general population. And the most striking disparity is seen with substance use-related deaths, where the death rate for people experiencing homelessness is more than eight times higher than the rate for the general Minnesota population.

In light of these grim statistics and the uptick in overdoses over the past few years, John shares that it’s important for Avivo’s teams to evolve to better combat an evolving drug supply.

“The growth of our team is needed,” shares Kassondra Davis, manager of Avivo’s Street Outreach Team. “Thanks to this additional funding, our team will be better equipped than ever to respond… The future is encouraging.”

“The growth of our team is needed,” shares Kassondra Davis, manager of Avivo’s Street Outreach Team. “Thanks to this additional funding, our team will be better equipped than ever to respond… The future is encouraging.”

Avivo’s street outreach team is one of several providers working together to connect with individuals and families living unsheltered in encampments or other places out of doors in Hennepin County. To learn more about Avivo’s team, check out this video. If you know someone in need of shelter, please refer them to the Hennepin County housing hotline at 612-204-8200.