Avivo’s Street Outreach Team awarded as Public Health Heroes
In recognition of their unwavering dedication to addressing the opioid epidemic and supporting people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in our community, Avivo’s Street Outreach Team has been named the City of Minneapolis 2025 Public Health Heroes award recipient in the category of Substance Use and Opioid Response by the Minneapolis Health Department.
Every day, Avivo’s Street Outreach Team brings compassion, resources, and critical support to individuals navigating substance use disorder and unsheltered homelessness throughout the City of Minneapolis and beyond.
“Our team getting this opioid response award feels incredibly validating and uplifting,” shares Kassie Davis, program manager for Avivo’s Street Outreach Team. “It’s a powerful acknowledgment of our team. Every day, they bring dedication, compassion, and resilience to the community while supporting individuals facing opioid addiction.”
“It’s a powerful acknowledgment of our team,” shares Kassie Davis, program manager for Avivo’s Street Outreach Team. “Every day, they bring dedication, compassion, and resilience to the community while supporting individuals facing opioid addiction.”
The team was nominated by Minneapolis Ward 10 Councilmember Council Vice President, Aisha Chughtai.
Chughtai shares, “Council Members are always asked if there are any organizations they would like to nominate, and I immediately thought of and nominated the [Avivo] Street Outreach team. Their focus on serving those who face the highest barriers to exiting homelessness, including our most vulnerable populations, is essential to addressing the Public Health Crisis of Unsheltered Homelessness in Minneapolis.”
“…I immediately thought of and nominated the [Avivo] Street Outreach team,” shares Minneapolis Ward 10 Councilmember Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai. “Their focus on serving those who face the highest barriers to exiting homelessness, including our most vulnerable populations, is essential to addressing the Public Health Crisis of Unsheltered Homelessness in Minneapolis.”
She continues, “I believe their work is a reflection of the ways Avivo works to end homelessness in the future while also servicing needs and saving lives right now. Over the years I’ve heard from folks in encampments and members of the surrounding community how much it has meant to see life-saving naloxone doses and harm reduction kits being distributed. My staff and I have run into outreach team workers who are always on site when encampments are evicted – transporting people to shelter and connecting them with services, helping break down tents, and doing everything in their power to make sure folks have a safe place to go next.”
The Public Health Heroes award is part of the Minneapolis Health Department’s annual recognition of outstanding individuals and organizations contributing to a healthier, more equitable Minneapolis.
As Mayor Jacob Frey stated, “From reducing opioid-related deaths to feeding the community, every single day Minneapolis residents are working to improve the health and well-being of their neighbors… Our Public Health Heroes are making a difference in the community.”
Commissioner Damōn Chaplin added, “The Health Department cannot thrive without its community partners and individuals who play crucial roles in transforming lives.”
Avivo’s Street Outreach Team stands out as a model of this collaboration. “We work collaboratively with community partners and continually adapt our strategies to meet the evolving challenges of the opioid crisis,” shares Davis. “Ultimately, our goal is to save lives, foster hope, and empower individuals on their path to recovery.”
You can support Avivo’s Street Outreach Team and other life-changing programs by making a donation now. Make a gift and subscribe to Avivo’s newsletter