Phoenix Rescue Mission Saves Lives With Street Outreach

Steve Harmon loads his car with water, hygiene kits, and something that could make the difference between life and death: Narcan, the overdose reversal medication.

As an outreach worker for Phoenix Rescue Mission, Harmon spends his days connecting with people living on the streets of Phoenix, many struggling with addiction. "She has Narcan ready out of the package ready to go. I still gave her some more," he says after approaching two individuals on a street corner.

For Harmon, this work is deeply personal. He hitchhiked to Phoenix in 1983 and ended up on these same streets, falling into addiction that led to crime and prison time.

Now he's on the other side, using his experience to build trust with people who need help most. Along with Narcan, he hands out his business card and offers a listening ear, meeting people exactly where they are without judgment.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission's street outreach program represents a practical approach to a growing crisis. Teams drive regular routes through areas where unhoused people gather, distributing lifesaving supplies and connecting individuals with services when they're ready.

Harmon carries enough Narcan to leave multiple doses with the people he meets. Many keep it ready to use on friends or themselves if an overdose happens.

The Ripple Effect

Each person Harmon reaches represents a potential ripple of hope through Phoenix's street community. When someone receives Narcan, they don't just protect themselves but everyone around them who might witness or experience an overdose.

The work also helps break down barriers between social services and people who often feel invisible. Harmon's consistent presence builds relationships that can eventually lead people toward treatment, housing, or other support services.

Phoenix Rescue Mission's approach shows how meeting immediate needs creates opportunities for longer-term change. By showing up regularly with practical help and zero judgment, outreach workers become trusted figures in communities that have often been overlooked.

The DEA notes that holding people accountable while providing prevention and education remains critical to addressing the crisis, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships in saving lives.

Harmon's transformation from someone who needed help to someone providing it proves that recovery is possible and that lived experience becomes powerful medicine when shared with compassion.