It’s a Thursday morning in March, and the red Toyota Sienna is ready to start on its route from the North End Community Health Centre on Gottingen Street through the streets of Halifax. To most, the van goes unnoticed. Besides the slightly raised ceiling, the only distinguishing feature on the van is a vanity plate that reads “MOSH.” But to the vulnerable community of people living on the streets of Halifax, this van is recognized as a lifeline.
The van is equipped with an examination chair where the vehicle’s backseats would normally be. The flooring has been replaced with industrial ceramic and a small cabinet has been installed, full of basic medical and harm-reduction supplies. A nurse waits inside.
Six days of the week, the Mobile Outreach Street Health team (MOSH) brings its clinic-on-wheels to shelters and soup kitchens around the city to provide access to medical help for homeless or insecurely housed people. From the van, the staff offer private appointments, give injections, perform on-the-spot care and connect people with physicians. Stepping into the van is like stepping into a doctor’s office.
Rick Swaine is an outreach nurse for MOSH, and Eric Johnson is a Spring Garden Road street navigator, someone who works with people living on the streets, helping them with housing, employment and other needs. Together, they patrol the streets of Halifax searching for people in need of medical or social care. This Thursday, Swaine has a list of names and descriptions of people who need assistance or a check in. The list is compiled by the North End agencies MOSH partners with in order to reach everyone in the community.