Some of the names of the people profiting from the needle exchange program. Old, 2020
Update, September 2026: What the Public Records Show
No court cases were found against HACHR or its board in the last 6 years. HACHR received about $3.5 million from July 2017 to June 2025, almost all from grants and donations. Board members were unpaid; only the directors were paid.
About HACHR
HACHR is the Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction, a nonprofit based in Eureka that runs a needle (syringe) exchange program. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt since June 2015 (IRS EIN 47-2822261). Its tax year runs July 1 to June 30. The board list above matches HACHR’s IRS filing for July 2020 to June 2021.
Court cases
No lawsuits or criminal charges were found against HACHR or anyone on the board list in news reporting from the last 6 years. The main public fight was a 2020 dispute with the City of Eureka, which was a government dispute, not a court case:
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Dec. 16, 2020 | HACHR’s needle exchange inside Eureka city limits was suspended. |
| Oct. 2020 | The state recertified HACHR’s needle exchange for the rest of the county, but not inside Eureka. |
| Aug. 2020 | Eureka sent the state a memo opposing HACHR’s reauthorization, accusing it of being complicit in on-site drug sales and use. HACHR denied promoting drug use. |
| Jan. 2020 | Eureka began an undercover investigation after neighbors complained about noise, needle litter, public injections, drug sales and prostitution. |
Money received and spent each year
| Tax year (ends June) | Money received | Money spent |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $568,332 | $534,980 |
| 2024 | $710,357 | $627,003 |
| 2023 | $876,801 | $802,169 |
| 2022 | $342,272 | $613,333 |
| 2021 | $588,735 | $203,916 |
| 2020 | $130,142 | $167,256 |
| 2019 | $158,021 | $159,381 |
| 2018 | $122,670 | $93,806 |
Yearly income jumped more than fourfold in 2021 and peaked in 2023. Almost all of it (99–100% each year) is listed as “contributions,” meaning grants and donations. In 2022, HACHR spent about $271,000 more than it received, drawing on the 2021 surplus.
Government grants vs. other contributions
In the three most recent years, government grants totaled about $911,000. They were largest in 2023, when they made up 63% of income.
| Tax year (ends June) | Government grants | Other grants and donations | Government share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $184,750 | $383,578 | 33% |
| 2024 | $174,441 | $534,726 | 25% |
| 2023 | $551,849 | $324,952 | 63% |
The filings do not say which government agencies gave the grants. Earlier years do not show this split in the public data.
Pay and board members
Every board member is listed at $0 pay in every year. Only the person in the director role was paid.
| Tax year (ends June) | Paid director | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ethan Makulec, Executive Director | $30,544 |
| 2023 | Ethan Makulec, Executive Director | $0 listed |
| 2022 | Jasmine Guerra, Executive Director | $47,058 |
| 2021 | Jasmine Guerra, Executive Director | $19,567 |
| 2020 | Jessica Smith, Past Director | $36,760 |
| 2020 | Lasara Firefox Allen, Executive Director | $9,651 |
| 2019 | Jessica Smith, Executive Director | $26,143 |
The 2025 filing lists no paid officers. Staff wages were separate: about $328,000 in 2025 and $335,000 in 2024.
Sources
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction (IRS filings, 2018–2025)
- North Coast Journal – Eureka investigation and suspension
- North Coast Journal – HACHR Denies Allegations as City Opposes Needle Program
- North Coast Journal – State Re-certifies Needle Exchange Program, with Limitations