Housing Instability Remains at Dangerously High Levels Among People With HIV/AIDS, Says New AFC Report

Chicago, IL - According to a new study released today by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), the need for housing assistance among people with HIV/AIDS continues to outpace available resources, leaving more than 5,000 individuals in need of AIDS housing services each year in the Chicago metropolitan area.

The region’s affordable housing crisis and chronic poverty among people with HIV/AIDS are mostly to blame, according to the report.

“For people with HIV/AIDS, a safe and affordable place to live can make the difference between life and death,” said Mark Ishaug, AFC executive director. “We must continue to press upon public and private entities to expand housing services and must continue to target scarce AIDS housing resources where they are most desperately needed.”

AFC’s Five-Year Chicago Area HIV/AIDS Housing Plan provides a detailed needs assessment and services inventory as well as an analysis of the distribution of AIDS housing services and recommendations for policymakers. AFC created the plan to inform the use of limited government resources for AIDS housing services and to call attention to the housing plight of thousands of people with HIV/AIDS.

A majority of people with HIV/AIDS surveyed for the plan reported having chronic housing instability, severe low-income—often a result of disability—and other health concerns, including chemical dependency and mental illness.

A depleting stock of affordable housing across the region is adversely affecting housing stability for people with HIV/AIDS, according to the report. An estimated two low-income renters compete for every one affordable housing unit in the Chicago metropolitan area. Survey respondents reported having experienced alarming levels of housing discrimination based on disability and source of income. HIV-positive individuals with mental illness and chemical dependency were especially prone to housing instability.

Over 250 service providers and service consumers were surveyed and involved in the creation of the plan.

AFC and members of its housing committee will use the plan to advocate for increased government spending on housing services and expanded community involvement in the planning and organization of AIDS housing services.

Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS prevention and care projects, and through its 135-member Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services

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