Housing and HIV/AIDS: A Public Health Issue
by Charlotte McCorkel, SMART University Intern, MSW Candidate, CUSSW
Research shows a direct correlation between stable
housing and stable health.
This is why housing is such an important issue for people living with
HIV/AIDS.
According to a 2004 report, "An Assessment of the Housing Needs of
Persons with
HIV/AIDS" based on New York City research, "If the City does
not plan appropriately to
meet the housing needs of the population living with HIV/AIDS by 2010,
it will face a
major public health crisis." Further, "When homelessness first
peaked in the late 1980s,
it was estimated that as many as 15% to 30% of all homeless New Yorkers
were HIV
seropositive; one study showed HIV infection levels higher than 60%."
It is clear that HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects
people who are homeless or
living in transitional housing. Likewise, people who are homeless or living
in transitional
housing are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Lack of stable housing,
inconsistent healthcare and the rise of intravenous drug use have greatly
contributed to
the number of people affected by HIV/AIDS in recent years.
Although many people conceptualize homelessness as
sleeping on the streets,
people in need of housing support and information include people living
in shelter
systems, in transitional housing programs, staying temporarily with family
or friends, or
in need of more affordable housing. This population also includes those
that need housing
after incarceration, hospitalization, or completing a treatment program.
HIV/AIDS case managers or caseworkers are often the
gateway to housing
support. Housing eligibility may depend on a number of factors including
financial
resources, stage of HIV/AIDS illness, age, gender, criminal records, and
other health or
mental health issues. HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) can provide
a
considerable amount of support but only works with people who have been
diagnosed
with AIDS or symptomatic HIV (Contact information on following page).
The need for more stable housing has become a public
health crisis because the
lack thereof is correlated not only with HIV/AIDS rates but also with
drug use, mental
illness, and other health problems. It is startling that, according to
the 2005 New York
City publication, The Health of Homeless Adults in New York City, "Compared
with the
general NYC adult population, homeless adults who use DHS (Department
of Homeless
Services) facilities had substantially higher death rates" and, "Among
women who used
the single adult system, the largest proportion of deaths was due to HIV/AIDS."
HIV/AIDS and housing advocacy groups are constantly
fighting for increased
access to affordable housing. Recently, thanks to community advocacy led
by Housing
Works, David Hansell, who is the New York State Commissioner of the Office
of
Temporary and Disability Assistance in Spitzer's new administration, announced
that
there would not be rent increases for people with HIV who live in rent-subsidized,
supportive housing. These increases had been on the agenda of Pataki's
administration.
While this is a major success for the HIV/AIDS community, there is always
more work to be
done to ameliorate both the housing and the HIV/AIDS crises.
Sources:
*Kerker B, Bainbridge J, Li W, Kennedy J, Bennani Y, Agerton T, Marder
D, Torian L, Tsoi B, Appel
K, Gutkovich A. The Health of Homeless Adults in New York City: A report
from the New York City
Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Homeless Services, 2005.
