Oct 10, 2017

HACHR have you filed your 990s and required reports with the AG; why are different people on paperwork?

Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction puts out misinformation, confusing information or no information, then whine and "play victim" on their facebook page and during interviews.
They claimed they were not going to be doing cleanups in a local article as their volunteers were being harassed. Then seeing the documentation of needles and some concerns raised; they later said they would be doing clean ups. A commenter called them out on their facebook page.

http://kiem-tv.com/2017/09/14/hachr-suspends-community-cleanups-volunteers-threatened/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1425232120929331&id=748210225298194

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1408662842586259&id=748210225298194

Check out their facebook page and posts on support for AB186, including wanting names and titles to support AB 286.

This previous post, completely ignored by the rest of local media who still cover safe injection sites without addressing this issue.

http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/04/how-does-assembly-member-from-southern.html?m=1

I thought these two comment on one of my posts by Gabriele should be included in this post:

"As the organization is on file with the AG's State office oc charities, they can solicit funds as a non-profit organization but since the IRS has said they're tax-exempt, it looks like they haven't filed any 990s...

The Founding Documents list the following people as All Trustees or Officers:

Name BRANDIE WILSON Position BOARD CHAIR
Address 3237 GLEN ST
city EUREKA ZiP Code 95503

Name BOBBIE GOOD Position SECRETARY/TREASURER

Address PO BOX 278
city HYDESVILLE ZiP Code 95547

Name SARAH KERR Position BOARD MEMBER

Address 285 G ST
city ARCATA ZiP Code 95521

Name JULIA DRUPKEY Position BOARD MEMBER
Address PO BOX 436
city CUTTEN ZIP Code 95534

***Other paperwork shows different people***


This is their declared purpose as sworn to and on file with the Office of the Attorney General:

"The Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction will reduce harm to the Humboldt Community through advocacy, education, and services.
Humboldt County is well above state and national averages for homelessness and suicide as well as four times the state and national averages regarding death by overdose rates and Hepatitis C.
We intend to improve our rating on the Health Communities index, which includes overdose deaths, mental illness, suicide rate, and homelessness rates, etc. We believe that education and services will help bring the community together to create humane and compassionate approaches for these issues.
Practicing in a socially just manner, we intend to provide comprehensive community-wide education programs, trainings, and workshops; advocacy, empowerment, and support for drug users and other high-risk communities; overdose prevention; direct services, counseling, and referrals; safe injection supplies; and advocacy for more humane drug policies."

Very interesting:
"Article III. Members
Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction shall have no members. Any action
under the laws of the State of California, which requires approval of members, shall
only require the approval of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, all rights that
would otherwise vest in the members under law, shall vest in the Board of Directors."

And then we get to: 
"Article IV. Directors
Section 1. Number
Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction shall have no less than 4 and no more
than 12 Directors and collectively shall be known as the Board of Directors. The
number of Directors may be changed by amendment of these Bylaws.
Section 2. Powers
The activities and affairs of Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction shall be
conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by and under the direction of
the Board of Directors, consistent with the laws of the State of California and these
Bylaws."

Another comment by Gabriele:


"Every year they must file a report with the AG, including a statement of activities, gross annual revenue and assests. Their report period runs from July 1 to June 30. This is the only information on file (for 2016):
" PART A — ACTIVITIES
For your most recent full accounting period
(beginning 7/01/15 ending 6/30/16 )list:
Gross annual revenue $49,070 Total assets $21,789."

While this group's year ended June 30, 2017, the AG's office has not posted a copy of a report for that period.
There are also two letters asking for payment of the filing fee and no statement that it had been received.

Since they're not filing with IRS and there are no 990s, I can't tell where the money came from, where it went or anything like that.

It is my understanding that the most recent report to the State should be available for a member of the public to apply to examine, since as a charity, they exist to serve the public good and must respond to public requests to verify their fidelity of purpose and performance.

All the people mentioned in the letter, and in your comments John do not appear on any of the legal paperwork on file with the AG.

The website gives no information on how specifically to support their purported activities. To quote from the website:
"We are an established 501(c) 3, which means that all donations are tax detectable (sic).

Contact us to inquire about doating toards (sic) Harm Reduction in Humboldt!"

But going a little further I find more information here:
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-2822261

Which states: "IRS Filing Requirement This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N."

So they are remiss in NOT filing a 990-N."


Gabriele contacted the Attorney General's office. They responded to her inquiry:

"In response to your email the Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report (RRF-1) and IRS Form 990 for the year ending 6/30/2017 are not due until 11/15/2017.  If you wish to file a complaint against the organization I have attached our complaint form with this email.  You can send the complaint form via email or by mail to the address provided on the form."


Four Board of Directors have Humboldt State University connections; Sarah Kerr has an Open Door Connection and another board member is DHHS analyst. Were any Open Door connections and DHHS connections used to get the new location for HACHR. There is a thank you on the Facebook page to Open Door. Executive Director Brandie Wilson is,also a Humboldt State University graduate.



From website:
https://hachr707.org/about/the-board/

Sarah Kerr – Treasurer & Founding Board Member

Sarah Kerr is the Northern Region Administrator with Open Door Community Health Centers, responsible for operational oversight of six health centers. Sarah has worked in community clinics for the past 13 years in a variety of roles and settings. Her experience includes health care services administration, harm reduction program development, quality improvement program oversight, staff supervision and development and HIV patient services. Sarah has also worked as a health care consultant developing learning content for the California Primary Care Association and as a practice coach helping health care providers in both the private and public sectors to make improvements in clinical quality and operations. Her commitment to harm reduction principles is rooted in her work experiences running both Planned Parenthood clinics and a large Needle Exchange Program.

Sarah believes that harm reduction is an absolutely vital component in any successful public health endeavor.  She also sees harm reduction as a social justice issue, “by respecting people for who they are and honoring their life choices we come a step closer to achieving equity within our society.”

Earlier post:
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/10/what-i-and-many-dont-understand-is.html?m=1


3 comments:


  1. Sarah believes that harm reduction is an absolutely vital component in any successful public health endeavor. She also sees harm reduction as a social justice issue, “by respecting people for who they are and honoring their life choices we come a step closer to achieving equity within our society.”

    She's what I call, Bat Shit crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. People who abuse drugs are self medicating. Ask yourself why, all over this country we have so many drug users/abusers? We are a sick society.Broken homes, no homes, racism, homophobia, sexism.
    I need pizza!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. people who are enabled to use drugs will always be homeless; their drugged state of mind and their ferocious drug-seeking behavior the rest of the time will prevent them from being able to seek employment, to earn a living, therefore preventing them from paying rent - and the people who promote "harm reduction" call themselves "educated"?

    ReplyDelete

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