ActionAIDS is pleased to announce that the City of Philadelphia, Office of Housing and Community Development will be funding ActionAIDS with a three-year grant to initiate Philadelphia’s first Housing First program for people with HIV disease.
The grant is expected to fund housing for 20 individuals.
ActionAIDS is proud to be partnering with Pathways to Housing in Philadelphia in this effort. Pathways to Housing in New York City were pioneers in developing and demonstrating the success of the Housing First model.
The Housing First model is a relatively new innovation in housing services and is grounded in the belief that housing is a basic human right and that housing is treatment. This model moves homeless individuals into housing immediately from the streets or homeless shelters, as housing is their primary need. Once in housing, staff utilizes a risk-reduction model of interventions designed to move the person toward healthy living. This model provides housing, primary medical care, psychiatric services, addiction treatment services and intense medical case-management services. The model utilizes accountability of the client and promoted self-sufficiency.
There is significant data to support this approach to housing services. In September 2010, Boston reported that its Housing First initiative had significantly reduced the homeless single-person population. Other cities around the country have reported similar results.
ActionAIDS is grateful to the City of Philadelphia and the Office of Community Development for this exciting opportunity.
