Toolkit Harm Reduction in Rural Areas: A Workbook for Homeless Response System Staff

The Harm Reduction in Rural Communities workbook is designed to help rural areas implement harm reduction strategies, including Housing First principles. It addresses the unique challenges communities may face if they have not yet adopted harm reduction methods or have struggled to acquire the capacity and knowledge to do so. This workbook focuses on the practical implementation of these principles to encourage readers to think about how they can best adopt harm reduction and Housing First strategies in their communities. The following pages contain facts, implementation strategies, reflection questions, and links to more information.

Topics include:

• Principles of Harm Reduction in Rural Communities
• Myths and Facts about Harm Reduction
• Principles of Housing First in Rural Communities
• Harm Reduction Strategies and Implementation
• Advocating for Harm Reduction in Rural Communities