Developing HIV Service-Enriched Permanent Housing in Five Cities

Abstract

Newer antiretroviral treatments are adding years to the lives of people with HIV. At the same time, the face of the epidemic is changing to include increasing numbers of people with other diagnoses, especially chronic substance use and/or mental illness, that compromise their ability to secure and maintain permanent housing. Social service providers are increasingly attempting to meet the need for permanent supportive housing. However, many social service providers are new to developing specialized permanent housing, and little practical guidance exists. We use the experience of five agencies participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Multiple Diagnoses Initiative to explore the potential pitfalls and solutions in developing these programs, from the point of view of providers from social service rather than housing backgrounds