This December, we’re honoring HIV/AIDS Awareness month by advocating for accessible treatment for all. Housing and substance use disorders (SUD) are crucial components of HIV/AIDS treatment and management.
HIV/AIDS and homelessness are intricately related. Unhoused people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) face many challenges in managing their health, including difficulties following medical routines due to their living conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “17% of people with diagnosed HIV experienced homelessness or other forms of unstable housing in 2020.”
Moreover, the CDC reports that SUD is closely associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and inhalants are common substances associated with high-risk behaviors that increase the likelihood of exposure to HIV. Substance use can accelerate disease progression, interfere with adherence to medical treatment, and worsen the overall consequences of HIV.
We offer programs like Uptown Safe Haven, *Community Harm Reduction Team (C-HRT) Safe Haven, ACCORD, and CERRC which provide housing stability and behavioral health services to unhoused individuals while supporting their overall health. By addressing these complex issues, we help improve the lives of PLWHA and reduce the spread of the disease.
How can you help?
1. Utilize our website to share information about our programs.
2. Encourage others to donate to our programs.
3. Continue discussing the importance of stable housing and SUD as factors for HIV/AIDS treatment. By having these meaningful conversations, we exercise compassion and aid in dismantling barriers that affect underserved communities.
4. Share the HIV Risk Reduction Tool with others.
*C-HRT Safe Haven, a new ECS program, will open by the end of December.