Southside Harm Reduction Services

Southside Harm Reduction Services works within a harm reduction framework to promote the human rights to health, safety, autonomy, and agency among people who use substances. We do: naloxone, new syringe & works delivery, street outreach, skillshares to spread knowledge & resources throughout the community.

We facilitate conversations in communities about substance use and promote harm reduction principles. Embracing a harm reduction framework means we strive to: understand that people who use our services know what they need for their health, make available our services as low-barrier as possible, and destigmatize, validate, and acknowledge the humanity of all people who use drugs.

We follow the general Harm Reduction principles outlined by the Harm Reduction Coalition, and also Healing-Centered Harm Reduction (principles developed by Reframe Health & Justice)

SHRS aims to serve people that might not otherwise be able to or want to access syringe services.

We are always working to lower and remove barriers that prevent people from accessing our services. We deliver supplies directly to anyone in the Twin Cities free of charge, have street outreach teams, and rely on peer exchanges to reach those who need our services. Southside acts as a stepping stone to other services that people may want or need. Lowering the barriers to our services increases people’s access to medical, chemical, and other services.

"Right now, much of the landscape for people who use drugs in Minneapolis is similar to a burned forest. Southside hopes to emulate the grasses and wildflowers that emerge in the wake of a wildfire by being a stable, positive force in the communities we are a part of: an organization that supports the growth of bigger ‘trees’ such as drug user unions and other groups founded and run by people who use drugs; supportive care for people who use drugs across the health and social service system in Minnesota; overdose prevention spaces; and whatever else is organized or dreamed by people who use drugs." - Jack Martin, Executive Director

Want to know more about what we do and where our funds go? Check out our 2020 annual report; link below.

https://anyflip.com/xchmi/cakc/