The Puerto Rico Project
The Puerto Rico Project
Founded in 2015, PRP is a response to the opioid crisis in Puerto Rico. A large population of people ended up on the streets in Chicago from Puerto Rico left without resources, food, or transportation and experiencing language barriers and culture shock. Melissa worked with the media to bring awareness to the Puerto Rico to Chicago pipeline situation. While there are not currently as many people from this pipeline on Chicago’s streets, the services we provide are still in high demand in our communities. However, we still push forward, continue to bring awareness to the opioid crisis, and provide resources to our communities.
The Puerto Rico Project serves individuals that are negatively impacted by stigma and harm. We began our outreach services by providing meals to folks experiencing homelessness, but quickly learned that we could be doing so much more for communities. Our current services include meals, harm reduction, and access to other basic human needs. We strive to connect with the people we serve so we can better understand and meet their needs.
Throughout the years, our operation has transformed in ways we never could have imagined. Thanks to the loyal support of our funders, we have grown to become a known resource in the community that provides quality care with compassion. To everyone who has supported us, thank you for making our dream a reality.
Illinois reported nearly 4,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2022 alone. This is an 89% increase compared to 2019. Despite government efforts to prioritize racial equity in response to overdose deaths, Black and Latine communities are disproportionately impacted by fatal overdose and are often left out of discussions about the opioid epidemic.
PRP’s mission is to improve quality of life for those affected by stigma and harm. Through expanding access to harm reduction supplies, our goal is to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in our community. We strictly adhere to a “nothing for us without us” model, which incorporates and uplifts the voices of Black and Latine people who use drugs (PWUD) at every step of our process.
This is important work. We serve a dynamic community of people that are often overlooked in society. Due to the incredibly damaging stigma against people who use drugs (PWUD), folks are left without resources or support. Harm reduction is more than just meeting people where they are at and showing up with compassion and empathy; harm reduction also means access to quality care, access to housing, and access to basic needs.
93 cents of every dollar we receive goes to our participants and community through direct services.
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Champion of Justice Award, June 2022
Award for serving the Latino community, November 2015
Community Award, October 2019
Award for Hispanic Heritage month by Chicago Public Schools Network 8, October 2023
