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Housing for people with HIV in D.C. remains a problem

Nearly 1,000 remain on waiting list to access assistance

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Gregory Pappas, gay news, Washington Blade

Dr. Gregory Pappas (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The head of D.C.ā€™s response to HIV conceded on Tuesday that city officials continue to grapple with the problem of a lack of housing for people with the virus.

ā€œHousing is obviously a challenge that makes it more difficult for us to do what we need to do,ā€ said Dr. Gregory Pappas of the Department of Healthā€™s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Tuberculosis Administration. ā€œGetting people to keep themselves safe, not getting infected, getting people to get tested, to get into treatment and stay in treatment is made more difficult when people are in a shelter.ā€

HAHSTA statistics indicate that 1,309 people in D.C., Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland have received subsidies through the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program during this fiscal year that allows participants to obtain permanent affordable and quality housing in the private rental housing market through the federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program. The agency distributes these funds through the metropolitan area and Jefferson County in the West Virginia panhandle.

Trenton Fedrick, manager of HAHSTAā€™s Housing Assistance Division, noted that some TBRA clients have been in the program for up to seven years, compared to an average of two years for those who receive transitional housing assistance. The agency’s own statistics indicate that 968 people with HIV remain on a waiting list to access housing-related assistance from the city.

Housing Works protesters heckled Mayor Vincent Gray on this point when he spoke at the International AIDS Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center last month ā€” the Blade spoke with one Southeast Washington resident with HIV who said he has been on a waiting list for access to housing for those with the virus since 2001.

Pappas acknowledged this backlog remains a problem. He stressed, however, that fewer than an estimated 20 of those on the waiting list are actually in homeless shelters or living on the streets.

ā€œThe waiting list is a bit contentious because people apply, but they can go on and have housing that we donā€™t know about,ā€ he said. ā€œItā€™s not like these people are all in the same situation. They apply and the number thatā€™s kicked around is 1,000 people. What I donā€™t like is when people say 1,000 people are on the street. A thousand people have demonstrated need for some sort of support. Most of them like the rest of the housing problem in the United States and D.C. are staying with friends and relatives.ā€

Underlying socio-economic disparities and gentrification of traditionally lower-income neighborhoods also pose an ongoing challenge to securing housing for people with HIV.

Fedrick noted those with HIV who seek access to the cityā€™s housing programs are unable to afford rents that average $1,400 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Pappas further pointed out that many landlords are unwilling to rent apartments to those struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues.

ā€œWeā€™re talking about people who are not only HIV-positive, weā€™re talking about people who have socio-economic issues that put them in a situation where they are homeless,ā€ added Fedrick. ā€œYouā€™re talking about people who have had in some ways a lifetime of issues, youā€™re talking about people who are in a position, at a point of time when our national economic issue is kind of dire with people being out of work. Itā€™s not a simple fix. ā€

Housing Works Director of National Organizing and Advocacy Larry Bryant agreed.

ā€œThe problem with HIV both here in the city and nationally is not just about people having unsafe sex,ā€ he told the Blade. ā€œItā€™s about people living in desperate situations, people who are on the edge of poverty or below poverty, people who are homeless. Weā€™re not looking at it in a holistic kind of way.ā€

The city received roughly $8 million in HOPWA funds during this fiscal year for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, the Short-Term Rental, Mortgage and Utility Assistance and transitional housing programs. Transgender Health Empowerment and Josephā€™s House are among the local service providers that work with people with HIV who need housing assistance.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in late 2009 threatened to cut $12.2 million in funding to the city over concerns that HAHSTA was not adequately tracking the use of HOPWA funds. Neither Pappas nor Fedrick were with the agency at the time of the audit, but they stressed to the Blade that HAHSTA has implemented a system of accountability that they maintain effectively monitors how local HIV/AIDS service providers use HOPWA funds it disseminates to them.

ā€œWeā€™re making sure that documentation of services are in place, that theyā€™re providing services that are needed,ā€ said Fedrick. ā€œWeā€™re taking a strong look at funds to see if there are places we can move funds or maybe we can move people off of waiting lists. We currently have providers who are providing good services and that arenā€™t stuck in issues of fraud, waste and abuse. I canā€™t speak to what happened then, but whatā€™s happening now is a system of monitoring and mentoring with these programs so that our partnerships are stronger.ā€

Bryant said transparency remains a serious issue. He stressed, however, he remains equally concerned about what he described as the effectiveness of the funds used to address this problem.

ā€œWe have too many gaps where individuals who arenā€™t receiving housing and weā€™re not showing any long-term or even short-term improvement around how those housing dollars are benefitting, partly because weā€™re not sure that most entities know the importance [of] the relationship of safe and stable housing to an overall health outcome,ā€ said Bryant. ā€œDeveloping this comprehensive plan helps to ensure that any dollars used for housing, any dollars used for prevention and education is working together, working kind of across the board to help develop a stronger cohesive net to help improve all health outcomes.ā€

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Health

UNAIDS to commemorate Zero Discrimination Dayā€™s 10th anniversary

UN agency urges global action to protect human rights

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A UNAIDS anti-discrimination exhibit at Tocumen International Airport in Panama in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

As the world marks the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day; UNAIDS is sounding the alarm on the increasing threats to human rights, calling for renewed efforts to protect the rights of all individuals as a fundamental step towards ensuring health for everyone.

Established by UNAIDS a decade ago, Zero Discrimination Day aims to promote equality and fairness regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or HIV status. The progress achieved over the past years is now in jeopardy, however, due to rising attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized the critical link between protecting human rights and safeguarding public health. 

“The attacks on rights are a threat to freedom and democracy and are harmful to health,ā€ she said in a press release. ā€œStigma and discrimination obstruct HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care and hold back progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. It is only by protecting everyoneā€™s rights that we can protect everyoneā€™s health.”

Despite challenges, there has been notable progress. 

At the onset of the AIDS pandemic more than 40 years ago, two-thirds of countries criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. They are now decriminalized in two-thirds of countries. An additional 38 countries around the world have pledged to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination, contributing to positive changes that include 50 million more girls attending school compared to 2015.

To sustain and enhance these advancements; UNAIDS urges global support for womenā€™s rights movements, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, economic justice, climate justice and peace initiatives. By standing with communities advocating for their rights, the U.N. aims to reinforce the collective effort towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1.

Events and activities that will take place around the world throughout the month will serve as reminders of the essential lesson and call to action: Protecting everyoneā€™s health is synonymous with protecting everyoneā€™s rights.

“Through upholding rights for all, we will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a safer, fairer, kinder and happier world ā€” for everyone,” said Byanyima.

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Health

New CDC report finds transgender women at higher risk for HIV

More than 1,600 people in seven cities surveyed

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new study report this week that revealed that restricted by employment and housing discrimination and lack of access to needed gender-affirming healthcare for transgender women increasing the risk of contracting HIV. 

Researchers reviewed data from a 2019-2020 survey, theĀ National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Among Transgender Women, which found that the demographics of HIV/AIDS have been disproportionally high, especially among Black and Latina trans women, who had experienced employment and housing discrimination coupled with lack of access to gender-affirming healthcare.

The Jan. 25Ā Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was based on data studies of more than 1,600 trans women in seven major urban locales. Participants from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle were chosen by referrals from people and community-based organizations who knew or were part of the local population of trans women.

The studyā€™s researchers noted: ā€œEmployment discrimination occurs at the overlapping nexus of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, health insurance, disability, food insecurity and survival sex work. These issues are interconnected.ā€

The study stated that trans womenā€™s inability to access quality healthcare, including gender-affirming treatment or access to PrEP, and can expose them to potential incarceration as many turn to ā€œsurvival sex workā€ and violence, which increases the risk of contracting HIV. 

The studyā€™s authorā€™s pointed out: ā€œWhen economically marginalized transgender women are refused employment, this refusal cyclically contributes to economic hardships. This analysis ā€¦demonstrates the importance of transgender women working and living with dignity and without fear of unfair treatment.ā€

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Health

A Whole New Perspective on Well-Being

The Matherā€™s team recognizes that everyoneā€™s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

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The Mather is incorporating biophilic designā€”a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns.

Itā€™s easy to spot the distinctive, elegant silhouette of The Mather, a Life Plan Community for those 62+ opening this spring in Tysons, Virginia. What is not apparent to the naked eye is The Matherā€™s unique wellness philosophy, which is literally built into the community.Ā 

The Matherā€™s team recognizes that everyoneā€™s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

Nature is one of the important factors that contribute to well-being. So The Mather is incorporating biophilic designā€”a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns. This can include interior spaces with sightlines to a garden, choosing natural wood and stone as interior materials, or incorporating fragrant flowers and plants indoors to spark memories and provide tactile opportunities such as gardening.Ā 

Residents of The Mather will be able to select from plentiful amenities, programs, and other offerings to target their personal wellness goals and preferences.

ā€œProviding biophilic design within interior settings connects residents to the natural world,ā€ says Mary Leary, CEO and President of Mather, the organization behind The Mather. ā€œResearch shows that a connection to nature provides positive benefits to mental states and overall well-being. At The Mather, biophilic design is the intersection of buildings and programs with nature in an urban setting.ā€

ā€œThe Mather is attracting a diverse group of older adults,ā€ says Mary. ā€œAs a result, we aim to incorporate wellness practices from around the world, including Wyda movement theory of the Celtic Druids, which helps people achieve harmony with nature and contentment through mindfulness.ā€ This holistic regenerative approach is similar to Qi Gong and yoga, while born in a different part of the world. Mather Institute has a special focus on mindfulness to support older adultsā€™ practice of present moment awareness, which can lead to increased overall well-being, compassion, and joy.

A very different example of a wellness offering at The Mather is the Gharieni Welnamis spa wave bed, which uses computer-controlled vibrational therapy and audio frequencies to train the brain to relax. ā€œThe bed increases mindfulness, concentration, and creativityā€”all of which support our mission of creating Ways to Age Well,SMā€ says Mary.

These and other personalized ways to wellness will ensure that residents of The Mather can choose from seemingly countless ways to focus on their well-being. In other words, the skyā€™s the limit!

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