World AIDS Day, December 1, 2003

Information by State  Print version   What's New In recognition of World AIDS Day, The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a Web site providing information on HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, research, and care, as well as public awareness tools to help individuals spread information about HIV/AIDS to the media and their communities. If a person is looking for vaccine research updates or an HIV testing location, planning a local event, trying to craft public-awareness messages, wants to work with local media, or needs educational materials such as posters, public service announcements, or fact sheets, they will find resources and answers to many of their questions on the site. more... Related Information CPD's Assistant Secretary Roy Bernardi spoke this morning about the success and the good work that organizations like the Comprehensive Care Clinic in Sarasota are doing. He also talked about the increasing need in prevention, especially among young people. more from Sarasota, FL... HUD's World AIDS Day Webcast Without Captions With Captions Information on HIV/AIDS is available on the following activities conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) including: Basic Science; Surveillance; Prevention Research; Vaccine Research; Prevention Tools; Treatment; Funding; Testing; Evaluation; Software; and Training. World AIDS Day, 2002 The theme for last year's World AIDS Day was, "Live and Let Live." more... Good Stories Faces of AIDS My name is Esscence. I am 4 years old and was born with a disease called HIV. more...

World AIDS Day

HUD will join with the Department of Health and Human Services and scores of other Federal agencies and international organizations on Monday, December 1, 2003 to observe World AIDS Day.

The theme of this year’s HUD observance is “AIDS in Rural America.” The observance highlights the successful HUD funded activities under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program and the Rural Housing and Economic Development Program (RHED). These HUD programs have provided funding for the examples below of success operation of AIDS housing programs and for technical assistance to improve the capacity of local organizations in addressing the special needs of these citizens and challenges in working in rural areas with limited health-care and human support systems. A number of other HOPWA recipients have developed specialized efforts in rural and smaller urban communities. Summary information on these model projects and other HOPWA programs can be found on the Statewide HOPWA Information Website.

The Supportive Housing Collaborative of the Southeast (SHCS)

SHCS is a comprehensive project sponsored by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of HIV/AIDS Housing, AIDS Housing of Washington and the Ford Foundation. Its mission is to increase housing options across the Southeastern states for low-income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS and other special needs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Southeastern states have among the highest rates of HIV infection of any region in the country. High rates of poverty and a largely rural population mean that this burgeoning HIV-positive population is also faced with a disproportionately small number of affordable and appropriate housing options.

SHCS has operated for two years now during which time consultants have traveled the nine state region (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) and the Florida panhandle, building relationships with providers, learning about the resources and gaps in resources, and providing technical assistance to strengthen the efforts in each state to increase affordable housing for special needs populations.

The work is challenging but each of these states has dedicated and creative providers that are eager to work collaboratively to make a greater impact. Currently SHCS is working in five of these states to link developers and providers on specific projects that will produce multiple housing units in each state. Throughout the region, statewide trainings are being held for the HOPWA program, Housing Care Plans, and Individualized Service Plans. SHCS has also provided a regional Community Leadership Institute with representatives from each of these states to increase their technical knowledge regarding AIDS housing and to encourage their personal leadership skills in order to utilize them in the broader community. The results of SHCS efforts thus far are stimulation of numerous collaborations, increased housing units and greater understanding of housing best practices.

	Session 503: Supportive Housing Collaborative of the Southeast
	AIDS Housing of Washington: Supportive Housing Collaborative of the Southeast

The Mississippi Delta Supportive Housing Initiative (MDSHI)

A primary focus for SHCS has been the MDSHI project which is funded by HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development program. This project covers the Mississippi Delta counties in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. It targets the most rural areas of these states. The project provides intensive outreach and technical assistance to providers in these areas to accomplish increased housing for special needs populations.

This project has been in progress for one year. It should be no surprise that the work has revealed a tremendous need for all kinds of information. There is interest in these areas to provide more housing but a great deal of outreach is necessary to help providers understand the importance of utilizing technical assistance. Much stimulation is needed to help these areas and linkages are critical yet more challenging.

Providers in these areas are incredibly dedicated but experience more isolation and a greater sense of the overwhelming nature of the challenges. The work here will be highly rewarding as it becomes more of a catalyst for change.