There are many issues that persons living with HIV/AIDS are faced with. Issues revolve around health, housing, medical care, stress, social support and others. Objectives: (1) To determine housing stability, conditions, and needs among males and females living with HIV/AIDS. (2) To analyze differences in housing between selected demographic characteristics. Methods: During the spring/summer of 1999, AIDS Alabama administered a statewide needs assessment to a sample of individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The survey was jointly developed by AIDS Alabama and faculty/students of Columbia University SOPH. Four-hundred and eleven participants from across Alabama completed the survey. Results: Sixty-six percent of the sample were African American, 31% white, 65% male, 35% female, and the average age was 37. Sixty-nine percent of the respondents indicated having their own place to live, of those 40% indicated that HIV/AIDS was the reason for having their own housing. Approximately 1/3 of the sample indicated that they would have to move if their monthly rent or mortgage increased by $50. Forty-seven percent indicated needing housing assistance during the time of the interview. Seventy-three percent of respondents indicate that they live in unstable housing conditions. Conclusions: It is clear that persons living with HIV/AIDS have special housing needs. Our findings suggest that persons with unstable housing conditions have increased risks associated with low medication adherence, increased tuberculosis, increased discrimination, and are more likely to request food and transportation assistance. It is recommended that programs and services be developed to assist persons living with HIV/AIDS with stable housing conditions.
Learning Objectives: 1. During this session, participants will be able to recognize critical housing issues as they relate to persons living with HIV/AIDS. 2. At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to describe outcomes of persons living with HIV/AIDS who have housing that is considered unstable
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Housing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, AIDS Alabama, Columbia University School of Public Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.