Facts from the Frontline: HUD HOPWA / HRSA SPNS Project Contact Information

Facts from the Frontline: HUD HOPWA / HRSA SPNS Project Contact Information AIDS Alabama, Inc. The JASPER House Project P.O. Box 55703 Birmingham, AL 35225 Project Director: Randall H. Russell, MSW Telephone: (205) 324-9822 ext. 331 E-mail: randyr2@bellsouth.net Project Period: 9/97-9/00 Target Population: Homeless, multiply diagnosed persons who have HIV/AIDS in central Alabama Description: AIDS Alabama s JASPER House is a 16-person, continuous care facility for persons with HIV, mental health and substance use issues, who cannot live independently. JASPER House will provide nurses, a social worker, resident advocates, a cook, and many on-site services to address the needs of multiply diagnosed residents. This project began as an attempt to fill a gap in Alabama's continuum of care, which did not adequately serve the most needy HIV-positive homeless individuals. J = John A= Allen S = Steven P = Pauline E = Earl R = Ron The name of the home is in honor of these six people early AIDS Alabama clients who died premature deaths due to a lack of adequate supervised housing. During the three years of attempting to develop and build JASPER House, the agency has encountered numerous conflicts and delays with site control, city ordinances, neighborhood opposition and lack of support or funding on a local level, despite a 10-year history of providing AIDS housing. JASPER House construction is scheduled to begin in September 2000, with an opening date of January 2001. Baltimore City Office of Homeless Services HOPE Project Grantee: Baltimore Office of Homeless Services Lead agency: Health Education Resource Organization (HERO) The Maryland Community Resource Center 1734 Maryland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 Project Director: Indira Kotval, HERO Telephone: (410) 685-1180 Project Period: 1/98-12/00 Target Population: Multiply diagnosed, homeless, HIV-positive individuals in Baltimore City and county Description: An estimated 80 percent of the 2,900 persons with AIDS and the 38,000 infected with HIV in the Baltimore EMA live in poverty. Most are African American. Thirty percent are women and 75 percent have a history of substance abuse. Fifteen percent of this population also suffers from mental illness. The goal of the HOPE project is the coordinated provision of services at a community center to help stabilize and transition the homeless into stable living situations. The Resource Center is located at HERO, a community-based AIDS agency, with facilities targeted to the homeless, including meals, child care, support groups, voice mail, lockers, showers and laundry facilities. Human services including medical, mental health care and substance abuse counseling are provided by a network of different AIDS providers located at the Center. Housing counselors and case managers help the clients with locating housing and providing the support to help these individuals remain in housing. Vocational training assists with

preparing those who are well enough to return to work. Emergency transitional housing for the medically fragile is provided by Project Phase that serves up to 75 persons per year, for a period of one to three months depending on their medical condition. The clients are referred there by the housing counselors and other HOPE staff located at the Resource Center. It is anticipated that seven hundred persons will be assisted by the end of the project period. These activities address unmet needs specified in the metropolitan area's 10-year strategic HIV housing plan for greater Baltimore. Bernal Heights Housing Corporation Positive MATCH (Mothers and Their Children with HIV) 3266 Sacramento Street San Francisco, CA 94115 Project Director and Contact Person: Kathleen Manthe Telephone: (415) 202-0935 Project Period: 10/96 09/00 Target Population: Homeless families with dependent children living with HIV/AIDS and who are impacted directly by substance abuse and/or mental illness Description: One-third of the 3,200 people with HIV/AIDS on a centralized housing wait list in San Francisco can expect to wait two years for housing subsidies. The shortage is acute for homeless women and children living with HIV, as there has been only one nine-unit facility available. HOTS aids 45 families, about 95 adults and 120 children. The program allows acquisition of four units of permanent, supportive housing for service recipients. It also provides a one-stop, integrated case management service delivery system that includes mental health and substance abuse services, AIDS care, and supportive and children s services. A child-centered approach focuses on the needs of the entire family prior to and after the death of a family member. A long-term plan for child placement after guardian s death begins in advance of the crisis. The project runs an aftercare program for children and guardians, and conducts educational forum on health issues, skill development, domestic violence, and parenting. An additional 900 clients and 30 agencies receive related outreach and educational services. Catholic Community Services Operation Link 619 Grove Street Jersey City, NJ 07306 Project Director: Christian Carroll Project Evaluator: Elaine V. Cohen Telephone: (201) 656-7201 E-mail: christian.carroll@ccsnewark.org or evcohen@ccsnewark.org Project Period: 2/97 1/00 Target Population: Homeless persons with HIV/AIDS and mental illness and/or substance abuse Description: Although local homeless service providers have reported an increase in the need for health, housing and social services by mentally ill and HIV-positive homeless persons, there is no integrated health and housing model to provide these services. Operation Link is a specialized emergency shelter in Jersey City, New Jersey for homeless persons with HIV/AIDS who are multiply diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems. With a goal of progressive engagement through a highly supportive low- demand environment, Link offers a 24/7 shelter with support services designed to link a traditionally underserved and hard-to-serve homeless population with a wide range of community services. Among its innovations is the use of peer counselors to engage and support clients in their efforts at change. The support helps clients navigate the social service system and achieve a more stable, healthy and independent lifestyle.

Catholic Community Services Canaan House 3040 Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 798-9900 Fax: (201) 656-1707 Project Director: Elizabeth Patterson E-mail: elizpatt@excite.com Project Period: 11/97-1/01 Target Population: HIV-positive, multiply diagnosed adults who are physically and psychologically ready for supportive, permanent housing Description: Among the many unmet needs of people with AIDS in Hudson County, none is felt more urgently than the need for permanent housing. This is especially true for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS who are in treatment for severe, persistent mental illness and/or addictions. In response to this need for housing and services, Catholic Community Services has developed Canaan House, a permanent supported independent living facility that will serve up to 10 men and women in the Jersey City, New Jersey area who are members of this vulnerable, multiply diagnosed population. When it opens it doors in 2001, Canaan House will provide its residents with housing and supportive services in a nine-unit apartment building. Each unit will have a full bath, efficiency kitchen and elevator access. A communal meeting room, client and program storage space and a program office will be located on the ground level. Maintenance services will be provided to the building. Supportive services to be provided include on-site residential coordinators (who will be accessible on a 24/7 basis), a tenant s group and transportation. Catholic Community Services anticipates that the provision of stable housing and supportive services will have a positive impact on each client s physical health, thus allowing each client to live in the community as independently as possible for as long as possible. The Center for Children + Families NYC Youth MDI Housing Project 295 Lafayette Street, Suite 920 New York, NY 10012 Project Director: Carl Siciliano Telephone: (212) 354-7233, ext. 306 Contact Person: Richard Herstein, MSW E-mail: ccfsafe@panix.com Project Period: 9/94 12/98 Target Population: Homeless HIV-positive, multiply diagnosed minority youth aged 18-24 in New York City Description: The NYC Youth MDI Housing Project uses aggressive street and institutional outreach to provide homeless multiply diagnosed youths who have HIV/AIDS with comprehensive services. Services include intensive case management, assistance in obtaining entitlements and documents, housing and primary health services, specialized clinical assessment, treatment for mental illness and substance abuse, tutoring and GED instruction, training in independent living skills and vocational readiness, job and internship placement, individual and group counseling in Living with HIV, and assistance in the development of healthy interests in culture and recreation. The NYC Youth MDI Housing Project aims to improve transitional housing with client-driven conflict management methods and to engage clients in assistance to improve life skills and rebuild trust in relationships. The program reduces service fragmentation and helps remove other barriers to treatment. Church Avenue Merchants Block Association, Inc. (CAMBA) Housing Start

1720 Church Avenue, 2nd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11226 Program Manager and Contact Person: *Maria Romero Telephone: (718) 282-5575 E-mail: mmilagrosromero@yahoo.com Project Period: 01/98 12/00 Target Population: Homeless persons with HIV/AIDS who are also alcohol and drug addicted and/or mentally ill in Brooklyn, New York Description: CAMBA s Housing Start is a service-enriched, scatter-site supported housing program assisting persons with AIDS carrying a MICA diagnosis and their families achieve and maintain a stable home environment. The program offers case management, advocacy, referrals, psychiatric and substance abuse assessments, auricular acupuncture treatments, independent living skills workshops, recreational activities and apartment maintenance. Residents live in apartments in the community and receive financial assistance in meeting rent, telephone, utility and furniture costs. Coping with the many medical and emotional challenges of HIV/AIDS requires positive attitudes and healthy choices. The goals of the program are to provide residents with the structure, skills, resources and opportunities to successfully reintegrate into the community and to refocus on the challenge of finding meaning and satisfaction in their daily lives. * At the time of this presentation in Washington DC, Brenda Pulaski was Program Manager and Contact Person. Columbia University School of Public Health SPNS Program National Evaluation Technical Assistance Center 600 West 168th Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10032 Project Director: Peter Messeri, Ph.D. E-mail: pam9@columbia.edu Project Period: 10/96 09/01 Description: The SPNS Program National Evaluation overall evaluation coordination for the cross-cutting, multisite evaluations of the Partnership Steering Committee (PSC) grant projects. This effort includes: (1) supporting the development of local evaluation capacity of PSC grant projects by providing targeted technical assistance; (2) providing leadership in the development of a collaborative multisite evaluation strategy that addresses the replicability, efficiency, and effectiveness of innovative HIV service delivery models; (3) developing data collection protocols; (4) training PSC project directors, local project staff, and local project evaluators in common procedures; (5) managing PSC data; (6) conducting evaluation analyses; and (7) using a variety of methods to disseminate results of PCS multisite evaluations. Connecticut AIDS Residence Coalition (CARC)/City of Bridgeport Bridgeport s AIDS/HIV Housing Initiative 56 Arbor Street Hartford, CT 06106 Project Director: *Ethel Higgins Telephone: (203) 372-4301 Project Period: 09/97 08/00 Target Population: Homeless adults and families with HIV/AIDS and severe mental illness and/or chronic substance abuse issues in Bridgeport, Connecticut

Description: Bridgeport s AIDS/HIV Housing Initiative is an innovative collaborative of the City of Bridgeport and seven project sponsors to provide transitional housing and comprehensive case management to homeless, multiply diagnosed people with HIV/AIDS. This mini-continuum provides coordinated outreach, emergency shelter placement, and referral to three new transitional housing sites, one each for single adult females, males, and families, and each with 24-hour coverage. A Bridge Fund that provides security deposits, short-term subsidies, and money for basic furnishings and moving expenses helps facilitate the transition to independent living. Project sponsors and CARC help access permanent scattered site or congregate supportive housing programs. Project funds support a project director and four case managers that include specialists in mental health services, substance abuse services, vocational services, and child/youth advocacy. Each case manager is cross-trained in HIV/AIDS, mental health, substance abuse, and issues regarding homelessness. Program participants who are ready for competitive employment are referred to local workforce development initiatives and welfare-to-work programs. *At the time of this presentation in Washington DC, Marinel Reyes-Medina, LCSW was Project Director and Stan demello Principal Investigator. Health Care for the Homeless, Inc. Diamond Project 111 Park Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 Project Director: Laura M. Gillis, MS, RN E-mail: lmgillis@hchmd.org Project Period: 10/96 09/01 Target Population: Homeless individuals in Baltimore City with HIV and substance abuse and/or mental illness Description: An estimated 25,000 homeless people, predominantly from cultural and ethnic minorities, seek shelter each year in Baltimore. About 1,800 of them are HIV positive and are also mentally ill and/or substance abusers. Due to their multiple problems, many of these individuals have difficulty accessing existing services. The Diamond Project concentrates on their needs. It augments existing services in order to facilitate access to comprehensive primary care, support services, and housing for 300 clients. It utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach that begins on the streets and continues until a client is housed. Two outreach teams, consisting of a peer leader (a former homeless person), a registered nurse and an addictions counselor, engage homeless people living on the street. From there they facilitate entry into on-site primary medical care; case management; substance abuse and mental health services; health education; and assistance with entitlements, transportation, and housing. Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz County Multiple Diagnosis Initiative: HIV/AIDS Housing 2160 41st Avenue Capitola, CA 95010 Program Director: Randy Chelsey Telephone: (408) 427-3900 E-mail: randyc@scapsite.org Project Period: 10/96 09/99 Target Population: HIV/AIDS positive homeless individuals who face substance abuse and other challenges Description: Primarily rural Santa Cruz County has the highest per capita rate of AIDS in central California. The Santa Cruz Initiative provides short-term emergency funds, long-term scattered-site housing assistance, and intensive supportive services and treatment for 200 persons with HIV/AIDS who are homeless and having difficulties with substance use and/or mental challenges. It provides a continuum

of care from street living to permanent housing that promotes independence and minimizes hospitalization for clients. Motel vouchers are offered as an alternative to county shelters. Peer independent living skills workers will assist clients with daily living tasks, skill building, and maintaining stable housing. Rental assistance and moving expense funds are available through the initiative. Intensive case management and specialized psychiatric and drug treatment/harm reduction services will be provided to all clients. Housing and Services, Inc. SHARE Project 202 East 35th Street New York, NY 10016 Project Director: Jeffrey Ewing E-mail: hsi202@aol.com Asst. Project Director: Rachel Cardelle E-mail: rcardelle@jhu.edu Project Period: 10/96-09/01 Target Population: Homeless, multiply diagnosed people with HIV/AIDS in Dade County, Florida Description: Dade County, Florida has about 6,000 homeless people. Approximately 40 percent of them are chronic substance abusers, 30 percent are chronically mentally ill, and 25 percent are HIV infected. The Miami area has the highest per capita growth rate of reported HIV infection in the country. The SHARE Project is the first coordinated, integrated, and comprehensive housing and service assistance program for multiply diagnosed homeless men and women with AIDS/HIV in Dade County. It reduces and eliminates barriers to housing and services for 250 clients. SHARE helps resolve the housing, medical, and service needs of the target population by fostering increased collaboration among area agencies to maximize the use of available resources. Barriers are reduced through training, technical assistance, advocacy, and changing public policy. Houston Regional HIV/AIDS Resource Group, Inc. MDI Housing Project 500 Lovett Boulevard, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77006 Project Director: Michael J. Springer E-mail: mspringer@hivresourcegroup.org Project Period: 09/97 08/00 Target Population: Homeless persons with HIV/AIDS who are also substance abusers or mentally ill Description: In Houston, only two percent of the public housing units are designated for HIV/AIDS clients. Housing needs are critical for the target population, especially women and African Americans. The MDI Housing Project assists 500 homeless persons with HIV/AIDS who are also substance abusers or mentally ill, along with 125 family members in the metropolitan Houston area. An additional 500 clients receive housing referrals from this program. Three new services help fill gaps in a continuum of care for clients. These are: (1) housing coordination, to provide clients with information on housing availability through a centralized database, and make service referrals, assess local housing needs, and coordinate the activities of area organizations; (2) short-term crisis housing; and (3) a deposit pool which allows access to funds from the Bering Community Service Foundation for utilities and rental deposits for 214 individuals who are exiting transitional drug treatment programs. Enhanced pretreatment and residential drug/alcohol treatment are provided at UT-Houston Recovery Campus. The Local Health Council of East Central Florida, Inc. HIV Multiple Diagnosis Initiative for Orlando, Orange County, Florida 1155 S. Semoran Boulevard, Suite 1111 Winter Park, FL 32792

Project Director: Steve Windham E-mail: lhcd7@iag.net Project Period: 09/97 08/00 Target Population: Multiply diagnosed homeless persons with HIV in Orlando, Orange County, Florida Description: In Orange County, Florida on any given day there are an estimated 3,499 homeless persons. Many of these persons are not only homeless, but suffer from mental illness or substance addictions, and/or are HIV positive. The Local Health Council of East Central Florida has designed a network that identifies, provides housing, and treats persons with HIV and mental illness or chronic substance abuse issues. Along with its four sponsors, the HIV Multiple Diagnosis Initiative will provide client assessment, counseling and in-patient treatment, mental health treatment and crisis stabilization, and housing assistance. Transitional case managers will work with clients for 30 days, linking them to services through the sponsors network of providers. Counseling will be provided on the street and in established settings. Lutheran Social Services of Northern California The Bridge Project 995 Market Street, 8th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 Project Director: Gail Gilman Telephone: (415) 974-1083 ext. 113 Email: lssggilman@aol.com Principal Evaluator: Davis Y. Ja Telephone: (415) 585-2773 Email: Dja@compuserve.com Research Associate: Mary Gee Telephone: (650) 994-8021 Email: mgee@isomers.com Project Period: 10/96 9/01 Target Population: Homeless single adults living with HIV/AIDS who are substance users and/or mentally ill, and who either have no stable income or receive general assistance only Description: The Bridge Project offers transitional program that provides rental assistance and integrated services for up to 24 months in a residential hotel setting. The project is based in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, and represents a collaboration of six agencies. The program is intended to serve people who have a long history of instability and who have either been unable to access, or are alienated by existing service systems. By combining stable shelter with on-site services, the program offers chronically homeless individuals the opportunity to improve their health and well being, while addressing issues that have contributed to their homelessness. Incorporating a philosophy of harm reduction, the program strives to eliminate barriers that often prevent individuals who are active substance users from accessing stable shelter and essential services. Clients in the program pay 30 percent of their income for rent. Staff from the collaborating agencies function as a multidisciplinary team, and are available onsite at the hotels to provide a range of services which includes: primary medical care, home nursing services, mental health services, substance-use management counseling, case management, benefits advocacy, nutrition counseling, support groups, and health education. While in the program, clients also receive assistance with obtaining stable income and stable housing. Salvation Army Harbor Light Multi-Service Center AIDS Supportive Housing Project 1010 Currie Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403 Contact Person: Louise Simons Telephone: (651) 771-7016

email Louise_simons@USC.salvationarmy.org Project Period: 10/96 9/01 Target Population: Homeless persons living with HIV or AIDS who also have substance abuse or mental health issues in Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota Description: The AIDS Supportive Housing Project will provide a 96-unit multipurpose permanent housing campus with on-site support services to homeless families and individuals with multiple diagnoses. The project will offer 12 units of permanent housing and services to homeless individuals and an eight-unit family campus for those living with HIV/AIDS and substance abuse or mental illness. With the assistance of the Minnesota AIDS Project, supportive services available to clients will include case management, substance abuse counseling, primary health care, TB screening, nutrition and hygiene counseling, personal care (food, clothing, transportation), and recreation and social activities. Clients will also be reached in an HIV prevention street outreach program operated by Women with a Point. Residents will benefit from a flexible leasing approach that will enable them to utilize programs in the adjacent Multi-Service Center, such as the detox program, without losing their lease in the apartment project. Flexible leasing will help to prevent clients from becoming homeless, even if they experience relapses and temporarily re-enter a treatment program. United Bronx Parents (UBP), Inc. Casita Esperanza 974 Prospect Avenue Bronx, NY 10459 Executive Director: Lorraine Montenegra Telephone: (718) 893-6555 Project Period: 10/96-09/01 Target Population: Homeless adult men and women living with HIV or AIDS who have active alcohol and other drug problems Description: The project is a low-threshold, recovery readiness program that combines both emergency shelter with transitional supportive housing and a broad range of substance abuse and other services. Twelve emergency beds will be available for up to 60 days for new participants, including those entering or recently discharged from inpatient detoxification services and/or awaiting residential treatment placements. Thirty transitional beds will accommodate participants for up to five months. These participants will benefit from ongoing low threshold/recovery readiness counseling with possible transition to UBP's licensed medically supervised day treatment program, other outpatient substance abuse treatment services, or harm reduction/recovery readiness programs. Other services include HIV education and risk reduction counseling, independent living skills training, permanent housing placement and an intensive case management team that will facilitate comprehensive service planning, as well as coordination and access to community-based primary care, mental health services, social services, and HIV supportive services. The project's goals are to increase access to and retention in comprehensive services, assist participants in resolution of their homeless situation, and provide a safe haven and supportive environment where participants learn about and take the next step.