KWMUnity was created in response to the impending closure of 10 out of 12 safe consumption sites in Ontario due to Bill 223. As part of an interdisciplinary capstone course for my Collaborative Design Specialization, I worked with a team to develop a scalable intervention addressing the growing needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Our solution was to design a peer mentorship program that could offer continuous, non-judgemental support grounded in harm reduction, especially during critical transition periods like hospital discharge or housing changes.

• Provide structured, non-abstinence-based mentorship for PWUD
• Reduce overdose deaths and community stigma
• Build a sustainable model that fosters long-term reintegration and support

We used a mixed-methods approach grounded in secondary research, stakeholder interviews, and policy analysis. Key literature and stakeholder insights (e.g., from Sanguen Health Centre and the Centre for Motivation and Change) shape the mentorship model. Core design strategies included motivational interviewing (MI), community reinforcement, and peer-based delivery models. Out final outcome was a program roadmap with six-phase implementation strategy, including recruitment, training, matching, and a cyclical model where mentees could become future mentors.