HIV Alliance

03/09/2026

We are excited to share some details for the upcoming BIPOC Community Dinner!

For those who have been unable to attend this year, please note: our day and location has changed! We are serving dinner from 5pm-6:30pm at the new Lavender Network location, on 1590 Willamette Street. Our dinners are now the last Tuesday of every month, making it fall on March 31st!

This month’s menu will be a meat and vegan lasagna! For dessert, we will have a French apple cobbler and fruit. We’ve had a couple of folks ask if they are allowed to bring food to the dinners—please know you are always welcome to bring food to share!! We just ask that you let folks know of any allergens that may have been used while cooking. It’s heartwarming to see the community come together and want to participate in our dinners, thank you for showing up with us.

And now, our regularly scheduled announcements/reminders:

Our intention with these dinners is to create opportunities for BIPOC folks to be in community and share joy—this space is open to anyone who identifies as BIPOC. We ask that when sharing flyers and information about these dinners, folks keep that intention in mind ❤️

ALSO:

The BIPOC Community Health Worker Program is accepting new clients! Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) are certified assisters who can help folks sign up for insurance through OHP and Marketplace. We are also able to help unhoused community members (and those who are under threat of being unhoused) get on Lane County’s centralized waitlist through Front Door Assessments. Our CHW program was created to help Lane County’s communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color navigate medical care; we can help community members by attending medical exams with them, sending appointment reminders, helping with transportation, and more. We are also working to create a culturally responsive and sensitive network to refer clients to, including SUDs and behavioral health treatment and beyond. Please feel free to connect with us via the contact information and QR code on the second slide!

03/09/2026

We will be at The Lavender Network next week for LGBTQ+ Health Week…on Wednesday our provider Caitlin Myers will be doing a PreP Q&A and we will be there on Friday doing testing at the open house and dance party!

SAVE THE DATE
LGBTQ+ Health Week is March 16th-20th and The Lavender Network will be hosting a variety of health related events throughout the week and capping it all off with an Open House and Afterparty on Friday 3/20. Check out lavendernetwork.org/healthweek for continued updates!

02/16/2026

An EPIC time was had by all at The Lavender Network ribbon cutting ceremony last week - we’re still feeling the good vibes 🌈

02/16/2026

Our next dinner is coming up quick - this time we are presenting THE BATTLE OF THE CHILI 🌶️ ! In the red gloves, weighing in with a hearty 10 lbs with 0 losses: a traditional meat based chili served with chips. In the green gloves, weighing in at 7.5 lbs with 1 tie on record: a vegan green enchilada chili served with chips. Who will be crowned the victor? You decide! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone Tuesday, February 24, at 5pm at The Lavender Network’s new location at 1590 Willamette from 5-6:30pm. Contact Tiana Lopez for more information tlopez@allianceor.org

02/16/2026

Join us Wednesday March 4 from 5:30-6:30 for the next Alliance Insider at our Eugene office. Our Executive Director will host a tour, stopping at locations throughout the building where you can hear directly from our staff about our programs and services, including Care, Prevention, Patio, Clinic, Peers, Volunteering and more.

This is a great opportunity to hear more about our work, ask questions, and see how you can get involved to help us end the HIV epidemic and support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Light snacks and beverages will be provided, and we hope to see you there!

02/16/2026

All HIV Alliance offices are closed today, Monday February 16, for President’s Day. We will resume normal services and business hours on Tuesday. See you then!

02/13/2026

Thank you Eugene Pride 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 💪🏻

02/13/2026

HIV Alliance will be at the University of Oregon's UO LGBT Education and Support Services for free, confidential rapid testing for HIV, HEP C, and Syphilis! We will also have HRT injection supplies, Narcan, and other harm reduction supplies.

Swing by the Lease Crutcher Lewis Room in the EMU next week on 2/17/26 to check out our services!

02/11/2026

Thank you Eugene Chamber of Commerce Greeters for your incredible support during yesterday’s The Lavender Network ribbon cutting ceremony! These photos are A+!

02/06/2026

BILL SB 1573 would essentially make it impossible to operate a mobile syringe exchange in rural communities. We asking folks to submit opposition by the end of the day today.

This is time sensitive!

Here is the Link to the bills page:

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Measures/Overview/SB1573

This is the link to submit written testimony: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Testimony/SECBH/SB1573/0000-00-00-00-00?area=Measures

Key points:
2,000 feet exclusion makes it very challenging or impossible to find a location. This will impact rural communities who are already disproportionately impacted by HCV and overdose, some may lose access to safe disposal.

SB 1573 limits our ability to respond to HIV and HCV outbreaks in communities across the state, but in particular in rural communities.

The liability burden on syringe exchange providers is unfair and will result in closure of services.

We carefully locate our syringe exchange sites in collaboration with local communities, law enforcement, local government, community partners and public health. We provide free, no cost disposal options throughout the region.
SSPs are effective and proven to reduce discarded syringes, prevent HIV/HCV and overdose and improve engagement in substance use treatment and other social services.

Harm reduction and syringe services programs are a vital part of the continuum of care for people who are using substances and restricting access to these lifesaving services will harm our communities. Syringe services are an evidence-based practice to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis.They are a vital part of our overdose prevention efforts as a major source of naloxone distribution to communities at the highest risk of overdose death.

Without these programs, our already struggling health care and public health systems will be dealing with the increase cost of caring for people who have injection related injuries and deaths associated with overdoses.

The requirement may make the service inaccessible to rural residents. Syringe exchange services are proven to prevent HIV/HCV and overdose; therefore, loss of sites in rural communities is likely to increase the burden of substance those communities face. In addition, loss of SSP in rural locations will likely result in an increase of discarded syringes. In many communities, mobile SSP is the only resource for safe disposal of syringes.

We encourage open dialogue about any verified incidents related to SSP location and advocate for a community-based approach to placement of sites rather than the state telling communities where to place sites. Each community is different and has different needs, and SSP providers and communities benefit from active engagement with local law enforcement and local county and city leadership. This is what results in safe placement of critical public health services.

Syringe Service programs strive to foster trust with people who are using drugs and this trust leads to increased connection to the health care system and to the drug treatment systems.

Placing the burden of liability on syringe exchange programs is unreasonable. Many pharmacies sell syringes without offering the wrap around services that syringe exchange programs provide.

As syringe service programs are often the only means people have to safely dispose of their syringes, cutting off these programs could lead to an increase in syringe litter rather than less of it.

Testimony submitted is made publicly available and becomes part of the public record. Do not submit testimony containing personal information that you do not want to be made public.

02/04/2026

In recognition of Black HIV Awareness Day (February 7), we are giving away free t-shirts between 2/4 and 2/11 at any of our listed testing locations if you come in for (free) testing! Just show your tester this post! Stay safe, know your status and grab a free tee while they last!

01/30/2026

Time is running out to be entered into our special VIP prize raffle! Buy your BIG NIGHT tickets before January 31 to be included….Your ticket purchase will help us raise money and support our preventative services. Dinner and a drink ticket are included in the price. BIG NIGHT will be held at Shadow Hills Country Club on Saturday, May 2, and will feature live and silent auctions, a wine wall, a golden ticket raffle, and an abundance of good vibes all around. It’s a hugely fun event that you will not want to miss! See y’all there…

Get tickets now at: https://hivalliance.org/event/big-night-2/

Tickets: $125
Half table ticket(seats 4): $750
Full table ticket (seats 8): $1500