Policy Perspective on Housing and HIV/AIDS

Abstract

For persons battling HIV/AIDS a stable place to live may decide the length and quality of life itself. It is nearly impossible for a person on the streets to engage in a needed continuous AIDS treatment regimen when the very basic question of where that person will rest his or her head when darkness comes in just a few hours is unresolved. When danger lurks on the streets, when cold numbs the limbs, when tiredness overwhelms the mind, when fear breaks the spirit, a place to call home would make all the difference.

Sticking to It: The Effect of Maximally Assisted Therapy on Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Among Individuals Living with HIV Who are Unstably Housed

“…A number of studies have found the receipt of housing assistance is associated with regular use of primary care [66], ancillary services [67] and HIV-specific medical care [1]. Evidence of the role of housing stability in improving health outcomes of people living with HIV and AIDS [10, 68, 69] has informed service models such as ‘housing first,’ and ‘low demand housing’ [70, 71]. These models view housing as a structural intervention for both the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.…”

Pence, Putin, Mbeki and Their HIV/AIDS-Related Crimes Against Humanity: Call for Social Justice and Behavioral Science Advocacy

“…As a scientific outlet, AIDS and Behavior shares this responsibility. Articles published in the journal have been important in past policy initiatives [29][30][31][32][33]. Continued progress in controlling HIV requires us to become scientist-activists and hold ourselves accountable for demanding evidence-based public health policies.…”

Accessing HAART in northern BC: Understanding the barriers and supports to medication adherence and engagement in HIV-related care.

“…These studies surveyed participants primarily from the lower mainland of BC, but it is reasonable to speculate that food insecurity and lack of housing play a significant role in the hardship that people living with HIV face in northern BC as well. Stable housing has also been called a pre-requisite to effective HAART (Cisneros, 2007).…”