Housing

Housing is one of the most important programs at AIDS Care Service. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “HIV/AIDS and homelessness are intricately related. For people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the costs of health care and medications are often high and they are in danger of losing their jobs due to discrimination or as a result of frequent health-related absences. As a result, up to 50% of PLWHA in the United States are at risk of becoming homeless.” The National Health Care for the Homeless Council reported that “Homeless people with HIV/AIDS encounter many challenges to their health. Due to factors such as poor hygiene, malnutrition, and exposure to cold and rainy weather, homeless people are already three to six times more likely than housed people to become ill.” This also increases emergency department visits and the length of stay in hospitals adding to the burden of cost.Housing affects the health of person’s living with HIV, and housing also affects the prevention of transmission in the community. According to the National AIDS Housing Coalition, “Rates of HIV infection are up to 16 times higher among persons who are homeless or unstably housed, compared to similar persons with stable housing.” That indicates a higher concentration of HIV among the homeless, which likely leads to higher transmission of HIV among both the homeless and general community if people engage in survival risk behaviors. ACS works to get homeless individuals into stable housing, which the National AIDS Housing Coalition reports, “Over time, persons who improved housing status reduced risk behaviors by half; while persons whose housing status worsened over time were 4 times as likely to engage in risky behaviors for housing.”

Our Housing Program provides temporary housing for up to five families at a time in our Horseshoe Apartments. We assist with finding affordable, permanent housing via coordination and administration of various government-funded housing programs. We also provide Emergency Housing Funding for assistance with rent and utilities. Thanks to the MAC AIDS Fund, we are also able to offer limited assistance with housing deposits and first month’s rent.