Urban Survivors Union's Start of Year Fundraiser

During a frightening time in which drug users face a deadly syndemic composed of the overdose crisis, COVID-19, hepatitis C, and HIV,  only peer-led groups like ours know what our communities need most, and how to make life-saving low-threshold employment in organizing accessible to our members. We require some financial flexibility to sustain these vital efforts.  This fundraiser will fund our urgent harm reduction advocacy and start a methadone scholarship fund. Access to methadone saves lives, but clinics as well as state and federal regulation create SO many unnecessary and punitive barriers to access--which is why we need your help! Your donations not only help this national union of drug users and sex workers survive; they help us push back against  racist drug and anti-trafficking wars. 

Methadone Scholarship Fund

In the era of a poisoned drug supply, methadone is our best current hope of legal safe supply. CDC provisional data shows over 81,000 overdose deaths in the US in the 12 months ending in May, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period. Access to methadone is more important than ever. We're creating scholarships for low-income methadone patients stuck at private pay clinics to be able to keep receiving their medication at this crucial time. Pay for someone's dose: donate to the methadone scholarship fund.

General Fund

We know things are tough financially all around, especially after the holidays. And we know general funds are not glamorous. In order for us to continue doing essential work like this, we desperately require a small general fund. Otherwise, all of our money is attached to specific projects and has long since been spent during a time in which foundations are freezing grant cycles and it is difficult for us to secure more.  All of our efforts are built on the foundation of our primarily volunteer- and donation-based infrastructure. Without a general fund, our working groups will not be sustainable. 

Our 2020 Achievements:

2020 was a big year for Urban Survivors Union! To list just a few of our accomplishments in our various organizing teams: 

Methadone Advocacy Team

• conducted a broad patient survey on COVID-19 clinic policy reform implementation

• has a commentary being revised for publication in a major journal

• wrote an open letter to stakeholders on further COVID-19 methadone policy reform, signed by 140 organizations as well as individual signatories like Obama-era drug czar Michael Botticelli

• presented to the California Department of Public Health

Sex Worker Team

• finishing up a legislative project around proposed legislation targeting drug-using sex workers and trafficking survivors and their communities,  culminating soon with a meeting with Senatorial staff.

Grant-Writing Team

• secured funds for the methadone team's work

National User Union

• hosted an inspiring webinar by drug user leaders of color

• Our collaborative working group with the Center for Participatory Democracy did popular education on legislative, judiciary, and administrative federal drug policy issues.

• We're starting the new year now with a campaign calling for a moratorium on firing peer workers during the pandemic.

DONATE TODAY

We ask that you support the union by making as generous a contribution as you can to help us build a general fund. Please support us to pay for the kind of unforeseen expenses that inevitably come up as we continue serving our chapters and working on our life-saving projects. Donate today to fund this pivotal work! 

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