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Homelessness is both a cause and an effect of HIV infection.
People coping with homelessness are at greater risk of becoming infected with HIV and people living with HIV/AIDS experience high rates of housing loss and instability.
For people living with HIV, housing is one of the strongest predictors of their access to treatment, their health outcomes, and how long they will live. The National AIDS Housing Coalition estimates:
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Of the 3.5 million people who are homeless every year in the U.S. as many as 3.4 percent are HIV positive. This represents a rate 3 times higher than that of the general population.
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People with HIV who are homeless are 2 to 3 times more likely to use an emergency room and to have a detectable viral load than those in stable housing.
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More stable housing for people with HIV has been shown to reduce emergency medical visits by 35% and hospitalizations by 57%.
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Savings in health care costs support public investment in housing for people with HIV -- even before taking into account the savings associated with reducing risk and preventing new infections.
hiv/aids
HSI has a long history of serving the HIV/AIDS community, developing Highbridge Woodycrest Center, one of the first nursing homes in NYS dedicated to people living with the virus, in 1991.
Today, HSI offers a continuum of care for people living with HIV/AIDS, from congregate care with intensive case management, to more independent living in our scatter site program for individuals and families.
At HSI we know that housing is healthcare. With the stability of a secure home, our tenants living with the HIV/AIDS are able to focus on the care they need: regular primary care services, access to medication, nutritious meals, psychiatric services, and other services to promote their health and wellness.
30% of HSI's clients are living with HIV/AIDS
100% of them now have access to
life saving medical care