FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
City of Ithaca
Alan Karasin, Public Information Officer & City Clerk
City of Ithaca and Downtown Ithaca Alliance Support Return of REACH Medical Community Outreach Program
ITHACA, NY — The City of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance are supporting the return of REACH Medical’s Community Outreach Worker program in Downtown Ithaca.
The program provides street outreach services that help connect community members with immediate support and longer-term resources. REACH Medical’s outreach workers use trauma-informed and harm-reduction approaches to engage individuals who may benefit from additional services, including food access, personal care supplies, medical care, mental health resources, housing support, and financial assistance.
“This outreach work helps connect people to the support they need while strengthening the shared spaces that make Downtown Ithaca an inviting place to be. Through this partnership, we are investing in a thoughtful, community-based approach that supports residents, businesses, and visitors alike. We are proud to partner with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance for its return,” said Dominick Recckio, City of Ithaca Acting City Manager.
The outreach program is intended to support the broader Downtown Ithaca community, including residents, visitors, businesses, local service providers, nonprofits, transportation providers, and medical providers. The program also helps promote welcoming, inclusive, accessible, and cohesive public spaces for all who live, work, visit, and do business Downtown.
“We are grateful for the assistance REACH Medical provides to our community members. Our partnership with the City provides the support needed to ensure Downtown remains the welcoming and engaging heart of Ithaca,” said Nan Rohrer, CEO of Downtown Ithaca Alliance.
Community members can call or text REACH Medical’s outreach team at
Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with on-call support available after hours and on weekends.
For concerns outside of regular REACH outreach hours, the Ithaca Police Department’s non-emergency line is available as an alternate contact at 607-273-8000. For urgent emergencies, always call 9-1-1.
This pilot program is funded by the City of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.
