A group of students from multiple Dalhousie faculties has come together to support Halifax’s homeless and low-income populations. Through the Halifax Outreach Prevention Education Support (HOPES) project, students in many of Dal’s health-focused programs are collaborating with students from Mount Saint Vincent University and Medavie HealthEd paramedic college to bring health care and education to some of the city’s most marginalized individuals.

Braydon Connell (BSc’13, MSc (Occupational Therapy)’15), a two-time Dal alumnus and second-year student at Dalhousie Medical School, is one of HOPES’ co-executive directors.

As of early February, 2017, senior students from HOPES administer free health care services on Sunday afternoons at the Dalhousie Student Health Services location on campus, while junior students provide health promotion and education at the nearby St. Andrew’s United Church during the church’s free Sunday supper.

In an interview with CBC News, Connell explained that HOPES aims to provide better access to health services that are more difficult to access through the public health care system, such as occupational therapy or nutrition.

The student-run health initiative not only provides much-needed accessible health care and education, but also offers an opportunity for students across Dalhousie’s health-related disciplines to obtain hands-on experience helping patients.

HOPES allows students to interact with “a community we’re not always exposed to,” said Connell.

The project also provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration among future doctors, dentists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, dietiticians, health administrators, pharmacists, and more.

With interest from over 200 students and 150 students trained as volunteers, HOPES is leveraging an impressive interdisciplinary array of students to make a difference in the Halifax community.

Really excited to have our team all together for our first day! #volunteerhopes pic.twitter.com/Y0bgjvg6hm

— HOPES Health Centre (@HOPESHealthCent) February 12, 2017

Read more in “Student-run health centre will turn to church supper to find clients” on cbc.ca.

Images: HOPES website; Jelsi Mynott