Harm Reduction Community Catalyst Program
Request for Applications

This funding cycle for the Harm Reduction Community Catalyst Program aims to identify and support California-based, community- and BIPOC-led organizations in building their capacity to provide syringe services, with the goal of obtaining Syringe Services Program (SSP) authorization. Within the first six months of funding, partners are expected to be offering or begin offering harm reduction services and activities tailored to their local needs, experience and capacity. Programs are expected to describe their plan in this proposal.

Applications are due by October 31, 2025 at 5 p.m.

The California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative (COPHRI) promotes the health and safety of people who use drugs by supporting a range of harm reduction services operated by state- and locally authorized syringe services programs (SSPs). COPHRI funding for this opportunity is in collaboration with the National Harm Reduction Coalition and the California Department of Public Health’s Office of AIDS.

This funding opportunity seeks to:

• Reduce the incidence of both fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses.
• Provide funding and support for BIPOC-led community-based organizations during their capacity building efforts to become Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) – an essential component of the continuum of care for people who use drugs (PWUD).
• Partner with people who use drugs to co-create and deliver low-barrier services that promote health, safety, and dignity.
• Mitigate the spread of infections related to injection drug use, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, systemic bacterial infections, and skin and soft tissue infections.
• Support and strengthen connections to primary health care, substance use disorder treatment, and other health services.