Health and Housing: Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Supportive Housing

Since the inception of supportive housing programs for persons living with HIV/AIDS our organization has been at the forefront of addressing health disparities by recognizing the need for client-centered services aimed at stabilizing housing and health. At the start of the HIV epidemic, about 10% of New Yorkers with HIV were women; today estimates are as high as 33% . The impact of HIV/AIDS among women of color is particularly severe with African American women representing a majority of new HIV infections and AIDS diagnoses. As a supportive housing provider in a city with the highest number of women living with an AIDS diagnosis, we provide utilize motivational interviewing and a housing first model to address health disparities.

Data was collected for (158) women living in our supportive housing programs. Over half (57%) identify themselves as African American, 31% Latino/Hispanic, 2% are White, and 10% have mixed ethnicities. All have had a history of homelessness, with health issues such as mental illness and substance abuse. Comparative analysis of indicators for client immunological health and connection to medical care prior to and after placement was completed.

Evaluation has shown increased housing stability and improvements in immunological health among women residing in our supportive housing programs. Despite numerous health obstacles, 58% of women either stabilized or had improvements in their tcell and 68% maintained or achieved an undetectable viral load status.

This presentation will discuss supportive housing as a critical structural intervention that can stabilize health and mitigate health disparities.