Moment of Silence
SPARC: Options for Needle Clean Up
Concern about how to manage needle clean up as a community. There’s a syringe service/Baltimore Health Department needle exchange program at the corner at the Hollins and Carey St and JR is concerned about a lack of needle clean up.
SPARC–provides harm reduction services for women and people who do not identify as men for people in south and southwest Baltimore, one of the challenges is needing to meet people where they are. Options that SPARC uses–can come and clean up syringes–email SPARC and they will come and clean up if they have capacity, have been discussing options for public needle disposal with Pigtown, Friends of Carroll Park, and UM Drug Treatment Center. Can also provide sharps containers for neighbors. Email for SPARC: kevans44@jh.edu. They will come to areas south of Baltimore St, technically the service area is south of Pratt St.
SPARC–provides low barrier healthcare services (testing, linkage to care), provide basic needs (showers, laundry) prior to covid were a drop in center, haven’t been able to offer drop in services since covid, offering services on the sidewalk/outside houses–bring snacks, wound care, clothing, winter weather gear, testing and vaccination services
Thomas asked how the program was funded–through the Maryland Harm Reduction funding from the Maryland Health Department. Is concerned that there are not disposal methods in the plan. SPARC does attend community meetings and does have a disposal plan for syringes during their syringe program distribution.
Committee discussed the mission and goals of needle exchange programs.
Patty asked for the contact information for the exchange van in southwest because it’s supposed to be at Carey and Pratt and not Hollins and Carey.
Committee discussed safe injection sites and the potential impact on communities: https://health.baltimorecity.gov/hiv-std-services/community-risk-reduction
Bike Rodeo
JR would like to start planning for it. Had tentatively scheduled for the Saturday of spring break in April at the BioPark parking lot. Meghan will reach out to Black People Ride Bikes, Velocipede might also be a good source of vendors. Also talked about having scooter safety.
Alley Gates
Pretty cold to be installing gates. Working on installing gates, two locations where ground work still needs to be done. 1200 block of Lexington St and two in Union Square. Did not get funded for another round of alley gates, but folks who are interested in alley gates should still consider applying.
Public Safety Roundtable
- Could hire someone part time to walk the alleys and identify buildings for boarding, and then have a direct pipeline to the City boarding unit.
- Could also have community members doing the walking and inspecting in there is a pipeline to the City to the boarding unit
- SWP can have an easy form to submitting 311 requests that need boarding
- Commander of Southern District retired
- Howard would like to have City representatives (housing ,police fire to address concerns)
- Lisa also raised a concern about space heaters
- Brian gave an update on the Rebuilding Together project–homeowner repairs. Townes and the Terraces are going to be rehabbed–goal is to have finance applications to lenders by Easter, and then may get approval by the end of 2022. Hollins Market approved to start spending funds on tenant upgrades through Transform Poe
