Reversebus brings freevend service to Center Township

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Dimitri Snowden wears a lot of hats. He is an engineer, a successful software designer, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and he was once homeless.

“A few years ago, I was on the ground in L.A.,” said Snowden. “I remember asking for some essential items, and the way I looked, the way they looked at me, it didn't feel good. And I was like, why are we so rude to each other? These are people. These are humans on the ground.”

That feeling stayed with Snowden. When he left California for Indiana and family, it followed him. As he rebuilt his life, the idea of doing something about how the homeless are treated in this country became a mission.

So, he started Reversebus. The organization brings services to those experiencing poverty with dignity. According to the reversebus.com website, the organization provides immediate, low-barrier access to free, essential resources for individuals experiencing poverty and episodic homelessness. It does so through a fleet of repurposed city buses, “freevend” machines, and other services.

There are two freevend machines in place – one at the Marion County Jail and once at the Center Township Trustee’s office in downtown Kokomo. Since February 1, the two machines have vended 4,228 essential items, free of charge, to those in need.

“I want to reduce that human barrier,” said Snowden. “You can just swipe a piece of plastic and then take what you need as you need it.”

When Center Township Trustee Andrew Durham encountered reversebus at a statewide trustees’ conference, he immediately wanted to know more. And once he and Snowden connected, a freevend machine was on its way to Kokomo.

“We wanted to do more, like our Hand Up food pantry,” said Durham. “As long as we're open, people come and get a card. We ask them to fill out a survey which helps Dimitri get some data and which we share. We have some questions about housing, homelessness, assistance, anything that they would need.

“We can use those statistics to find out if there's something else that they need as far as township assistance is concerned or even its just to visit our food pantry. Maybe you have food insecurity. Maybe we can help you with an emergency kit.”

Durham said that he is reaching out to other government agencies and nonprofit organizations to gauge interest in either sponsoring Center Township’s freevend machine or to install their own.

“This is a starting place,” said Durham. “If somebody needs baby wipes, they shouldn't have to go through all it takes to get township assistance. We're trying to offer something that anybody in the area can access.

“I want to get some other players in the community invested. We're all facing this, you know. It's not just a Kokomo thing. Homelessness is in your face, and we’re trying to find solutions and different things that can help them.”

Each vending machine is stocked with items that are most pertinent to those who may use them. For instance, Snowden doesn't stock laundry detergent in the machine located at the Marion County Jail, though food and toiletries are included there.

Participants may take up to four items from the machine each day. Selections are tracked electronically to help gauge what items are most desired at a given location. The information each machine generates is vital. A kiosk accompanies each machine, and through it, users can answer surveys about their living conditions. That information can be used to connect the user to additional services, and it can tell the community more about the service gaps that need to be filled.

“We have metrics that wrap around every single item vended,” said Snowden. “This level of detail gives us a data-driven conversation around what items are of need to the individuals that we're serving.

“We want to make sure that stuff is actually being used. If it's idle, if it sits, then we pull it and swap it out.”

Snowden insists that access to reversebus and freevend services remain low-barrier. He relies on partnering agencies to distribute the swipe cards with minimal fuss. He even offers a wearable device that works in the same way as the card. Again, there is no charge to the user. The waterproof wristband device can be tapped on the vending machine. The idea is that the wearable is less likely to be misplaced, but it also offers a level of dignity for the user.

“My whole mantra is to reduce friction in the human experience,” said Snowden. “How do we make this easier? How do we make sure the person experiencing the process can go through it with ease? If we're injecting more friction, it's not good.”

“I want people to feel good about the service they're consuming. When I was on the ground, I was like, why does everything look so crazy? It looks old. It looks unused. It looks like no one cares. I already didn't feel like you cared, and I didn't care about myself. That's why I was stuck there, right?

“They have a broken heart and mind. How do we make getting help feel good? So, I made sure freevend is bright and fun and friendly and safe, low-barrier, and free. Just come get some.”

For Center Township, the freevend machine is another tool Durham is using to get necessities into the hands of those who need them. The township recently launched its Hand Up food pantry, which allows people in need to obtain food twice a month. That frequency will grow as people in the community step up to assist. In fact, Center Township is holding a month-long food drive in March to assist the Hand Up Pantry.

The freevend machine at Center Township is stocked with food that is easily consumed without needing to be cooked. It also contains a variety of toiletry items. But Durham also focused on offering items for new mothers. Baby wipes, diapers, and even pacifiers are offered through the machine.

He said that already he is receiving communication from other township trustees across the state. All of them want to know more about Reversebus. But does it work? Center Township found out quickly that the need is there and it is strong. In just two weeks, the machine was empty. Snowden said the plan is to visit each machine weekly, fully restocking it and changing the product mix based on user data.

There is a cost for the machine. Reversebus asks for an annual donation of $25,000 to keep the machine stocked and in place. He estimates that the per user cost at a given location is about $3. That's much less than a $1,500 ER visit for frostbite treatment because a person didn't have socks, gloves, or a hat. It's also another location where those living in poverty can access necessities with dignity.

Durham intends to review the machines performance in April, and if he is satisfied with the results, it will remain in place until at least September. If there are people in the community who wish to partner with the township and keep it funded and accessible, Durham would be excited to partner with them.

Kokomo has yet to experience the other services offered by reversebus, namely, the reversebus itself. Snowden had the fleet of city buses refitted with specific purposes in mind. There is an “eatbus” that serves as a pantry. It gives out packages with 2,000 calories of nutrient-packed food, along with water and assorted juices. A “washbus” brings mobile showers, dry toilets, and hygiene items.

The “carebus” is packed with non-emergency healthcare items, such as bandages, splints, crutches, canes, and wheelchairs. It also offers thermal and hydration recovery. Finally, the “sleepbus” offers temporary sleeping shelter for up 12 people, segregated by gender. Those staying must board by 9 p.m. and must stay on board until 7 a.m. the following morning. They have access to charging stations a toiletry kit and a lavatory.

The buses also have a secondary use. They can be deployed to assist in times of crisis or as part of a disaster response. For more information, visit www.reversebus.com or stop by the Center Township Trustee’s Office, 213 W. Jefferson St., during normal operating hours: 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. until noon on Fridays.