It has been estimated that between 30 and 50% of all Americans with HIV/AIDS are either inadequately housed, unstably housed, or without housing altogether. Further, an estimated 60% of all persons living with HIV will face a housing crisis at some point in their lives. Service providers who work with homeless populations have observed a relationship between housing status and health and have designed ‘integrated services' programs to incorporate health and mental health services in their models of care. Like many of cities around the county, Bridgeport, Connecticut has been faced in recent years with providing services to a growing number of homeless and economically disadvantaged residents many of whom are HIV-positive. In 1997, supported by HUD/HOPWA's innovative Multiple Diagnosis Initiative, the City established the Bridgeport Multiple Diagnosis Initiative (MDI) demonstration project, designed to coordinate linkages with multiple AIDS service agencies to provide intensive outreach, emergency housing, transitional housing and supportive services to multiple diagnosed individuals and their families. The approach to interagency linkages was unique in that a collaboration of agencies operated the project, each responsible for a different component of the model of care. This presentation will describe and examine the Project's model of care. Using client assessment data, the effects of housing and integrative services on service engagement, treatment adherence, physical and psychological functioning and quality of life among the range of HIV/AIDS clients will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1) Understand the role of housing services for engagement with medical care and access to treatment for HIV clients. 2) Identify the complexities of providing a continuum of services to multiply diagnosed individuals. 3) Identify and understand the challenges of establishing system level interagency linkages for providing integrated HIV/AIDS services
Keywords: Homeless Health Care, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.