DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Connecting Point, a mobile navigation program serving communities throughout Douglas County, continues to expand access to life-saving resources through a harm reduction-focused approach and is inviting additional agencies and organizations to join its growing network of community partners.
According to HIV Alliance, the program currently operates three locations in Roseburg at the Roseburg Dream Center, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Opioid Treatment Program. It also provides mobile outreach services to Sutherlin, Myrtle Creek, Winston, Drain and Reedsport.
By bringing services directly into communities, Connecting Point helps reduce transportation barriers and improves access to care for individuals and families who may otherwise struggle to connect with support systems. Through its mobile navigation model, the program links residents to housing assistance, treatment and recovery programs, healthcare, behavioral health services, food resources and other critical supports.
“Connecting Point has been going strong since 2017,” said Dane Zahner with HIV Alliance. “We have continued to grow and expand since a once a week location in downtown Roseburg.”
“The ability to bring resources to people in Roseburg and surrounding rural communities is dear to all of our hearts,” Zahner said. “The data collected has shown what homelessness looks like in Douglas County on a day-to-day basis.”
Harm reduction is a practical, evidence-based strategy focused on reducing the negative consequences associated with substance use and other high-risk behaviors. It recognizes that recovery is a process and that every positive step toward stability matters.
Rather than requiring immediate abstinence, harm reduction prioritizes safety, dignity and trust. Services may include overdose prevention education, distribution of life-saving supplies, referrals to treatment and recovery programs, mental and physical health support connections and basic needs assistance.
Communities that embrace harm reduction often see reduced overdose deaths, decreased strain on emergency services and increased engagement in long-term recovery. Most importantly, harm reduction saves lives and opens doors to meaningful change.
The Connecting Point flyer is available on Douglas County’s website under the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council subpage within the Resources section. The Resources page includes a map feature to help people locate services throughout the county, as well as website links and phone numbers for referred partner organizations.
Connecting Point is actively seeking new partners across Douglas County, including healthcare and behavioral health providers, nonprofit and social service organizations, faith-based and community groups, recovery and peer-support programs and housing and workforce development agencies. By joining the Connecting Point network, agencies can extend their reach into underserved areas, strengthen cross-referrals and participate in a coordinated effort to improve community health and stability.