Philadelphia FIGHT announced this week that it would not proceed with a suggested plan to take over the operations of HIV/AIDS housing agency Calcutta House.
Last month, outgoing Calcutta executive director Matt Teter said the two agencies were in discussions about a possible merger, but the FIGHT board decided last week against such a relationship.
Teter said Calcutta House is considering several other options for the the future course of the agency.
FIGHT director of development and communications Mark Seaman said he and executive director Jane Shull, along with Calcutta board chair Joe Drennan, toured Calcutta House’s facilities last week and, while FIGHT was impressed with what the agency has to offer, elected not to take over its programs.
“We were pleased with what we saw: a warm, clean and welcoming environment for people living with HIV and in need of housing,” Seaman said. “After careful consideration and much discussion, however, FIGHT’s board of directors came to the conclusion that the housing programs of Calcutta House are simply outside the scope of our mission.”
FIGHT offers comprehensive HIV/AIDS services, but Seaman said the agency is not currently able to branch off into the housing sector.
“FIGHT is dedicated to providing HIV treatment, case management, education and prevention services,” Seaman said. “Housing is not something we are currently in a position to deliver, but we will continue to promote the critical need for housing, and agencies such as Calcutta House, in ending the AIDS epidemic.”
Teter announced late last month that, after about two-and-a-half years at the helm of the organization, he was stepping down, effective next week.
Teter said the financial challenges the organization is facing, coupled with the increasing need for expanded housing options for those with HIV/AIDS, necessitated a major overhaul that could have included FIGHT absorbing the organization’s operations.
Calcutta House currently houses 31 residents in two separate facilities to whom it provides comprehensive medical and social-services assistance.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].