Skip to main content
Log in

HIV and Housing Assistance in Four U.S. Cities: Variations in Local Experience

AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper provides an account of how young, HIV-positive women manage their lives on limited budgets in four United States cities: New York City, New Orleans, Miami, and Chicago. The study findings elucidate city-to-city variability in housing assistance, and how this manifests in locality specific differences in the experience of HIV. Our research suggests that the receipt of housing assistance has ramifications for women’s engagement in care, and for their health. Women not receiving aid often move frequently in and out of homelessness, or “double up” with others in complex household arrangements to share costs. Women with long-term housing assistance, while still struggling financially, possess a stable base from which to approach daily life and HIV care. This account suggests a need for empirical research assessing the impact of local variations in housing assistance on specific health outcomes for those with HIV. It also highlights the importance of understanding local contexts when designing housing interventions at both the individual and structural levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. All names have been changed.

References

  • Aidala, A., Cross, J. E., Stall, R., Harre, D., & Sumartojo, E. (2005). Housing status and HIV risk behaviors: Implications for prevention and policy. AIDS and Behavior, 9, 251–265.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • AIDS Foundation of Chicago (2001). 5-Year Chicago Area HIV/AIDS housing plan. Chicago: www.aidschicago.org/care/housing_plan.php.

  • Berkman L. F., & Kawachi I. (Eds.) (2000). Social epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chicago Housing Authority (2003). Plan for Transformation. www.thecha.org.

  • City Council of New York City (1997). Local Law 49 of 1997 (Int. No. 606-A). 606-A. New York City: www.nyccouncil.info/pdf_files/bills/int606a.htm.

  • City of Miami HOPWA Program (2005). Facts on HIV/AIDS and HOPWA. Miami: Dept. of Community Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover, C. J., & Whetten-Goldstein, K. (2002). The impact of ancillary services on primary care use and outcomes for HIV/AIDS patients with public insurance coverage. AIDS Care, 14(Suppl 1), S59–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conviser, R., & Pounds, M. B. (2002). The role of ancillary services in client-centred systems of care. AIDS Care, 14(Suppl 1), S119–131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crabtree, B. F., & Miller, W. L. (1999). Doing qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummings K. C., Mohle-Boetani J., Royce S. E., & Chin, D. P. (1998). Movement of tuberculosis patients and the failure to complete antituberculosis treatment. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 157, 1249–1252.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dobscha, S. K., Delucchi, K., & Young, M. L. (1999). Adherence with referrals for outpatient follow-up from a VA psychiatric emergency room. Community Mental Health Journal, 35, 451–458.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dolbeare, C., Saraf, I., & Crowley, S. (2004). Changing priorities: The federal budget and housing assistance 1976–2005. Washington D.C.: National Low Income Housing Coalition, http://www.nlihc.org/pubs/index.htm#cp04.

  • Douaihy, A. B., Stowell, K. R., Bui, T., Daley, D., & Salloum, I. (2005). HIV/AIDS and homelessness, Part 1: Background and barriers to care. AIDS Reader, 15, 516–520, 527.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flynn, J. (2002). AIDS & homelessness in the United States. New York City: New York City AIDS Housing Network, http://www.nycahn.org/documents/columbiauniversitybrownbag.doc.

  • Grzywacz, J. G., & Fuqua, J. (2000). The social ecology of health: Leverage points and linkages. Behavioral Medicine, 26, 101–115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HIV/AIDS Services Administration (2005). HASA facts, October 2005. New York City: City of New York Human Resources Administration, http://www.nycahn.org/documents/Oct05Factsheet.pdf.

  • Lieblich, A., Tuval-Mashiach, R., & Zilber, T. (1998). Narrative research: Reading, analysis and interpretation. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomas, J. (1998). Social capital and health: Implications for public health and epidemiology. Social Science & Medicine, 47, 1181–1188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marrero, C. A., Robles, R. R., Colon, H. M., Reyes, J. C., Matos, T. D., Sahai, H., Calderon, J. M., & Shepard, E. W. (2005). Factors associated with drug treatment dropout among injection drug users in Puerto Rico. Addictive Behaviors, 30, 397–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Messeri, P. A., Abramson, D. M., Aidala, A. A., Lee, F., & Lee, G. (2002). The impact of ancillary HIV services on engagement in medical care in New York City. AIDS Care, 14(Suppl 1), S15–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Coalition for the Homeless (2005). Federal housing assistance programs: Fact Sheet #16,. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Federal.pdf.

  • National Low Income Housing Coalition. A look at waiting lists: What can we learn from the HUD approved annual plans? Research Note #04-03. http://www.nlihc.org/research/04-03.pdf.

  • National Low Income Housing Coalition (2004). Out of reach 2005. Washington D.C.: http://www.nlihc.org/pubs/index.htm#cp04.

  • National Low Income Housing Coalition (2005). HUD program budget fiscal years 2004–2006. http://www.nlihc.org/news/122305chart.pdf.

  • Nelson, K., Treskon, M., & Pelletiere, D. (2004). Losing ground in the best of times: Low income renters in the 1990s. Washington D.C.: National Low Income Housing Coalition, http://www.nlihc.org/pubs/index.htm#cp04.

  • Pitcoff, W., Pelletiere, D., Crowley, S., Treskon, M., & Dolbeare, C. N. (2004). Out of reach 2004. National Low Income Housing Coalition, http://www.nlihc.org/pubs/index.htm#cp04.

  • Shriver, M. D., Everett, C., & Morin, S. F. (2000). Structural interventions to encourage primary HIV prevention among people living with HIV. AIDS, 14(Suppl 1), S57–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smedley, B. D., & Syme, S. L. (2001). Promoting health: Intervention strategies from social and behavioral research. Amercian Journal of Health Promotion, 15, 149–166.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sumartojo, E., Doll, L., Holtgrave, D., Gayle, H., & Merson, M. (2000). Enriching the mix: Incorporating structural factors into HIV prevention. AIDS, 14(Suppl 1), S1–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sweat, M. D., & Denison, J. A. (1995). Reducing HIV Incidence in Developing Countries with Structural and Environmental Interventions. AIDS, 9(Suppl A), S251–257.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2004). Housing opportunities for persons with AIDS. Washington D.C.: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/library/factsheet2004.pdf.

  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2005). HOPWA Grantee Information: City of New Orleans. http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/local/la/neworleans/index.cfm.

  • Uphold, C., & Mkanta, W. (2005). Use of health care services among persons living with HIV infection: State of the science and future directions. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 19, 473–485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wasow-Park, M. (2002). Total spending on housing for people with HIV and AIDS, FY 1999–2001. New York City: The City of New York Independent Budget Office, http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/HwgWksltr.pdf.

  • White, D., Smith, M. T., Gatzlaff, D., & White, M. L. (2004). The state of Florida’s Housing 2004. Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing, http://www.shimberg.ufl.edu/issues%20newsletters/Newslett-June05.pdf.

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the women who participated in the study. We would also like to thank: The Adolescent Trials Network (ATN), Lori Perez of Westat (Rockville, Maryland), Elizabeth Enriquez, Luz Medina, Melinda Marquez, and Dr. Donna Futterman at the Montifiore Medical Center Adolescent AIDS Program in New York City; Melissa Moo-Young, Donna Maturo, Hannah Major-Wilson, Helen Gutierrez, and Dr. Larry Friedman at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida; Ray Lewis, from the City of Miami HOPWA program; Sacha Fiol, with Empower U of Miami, Florida; Hope Barrett, Camille Williamson, and Dr. Jaime Martinez at the CORE Center in Chicago, Illinois; Ric Martel and Arturo Bendixen of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago; and Leslie Kozina, Trina Jeanjacques, and Dr. Sue Ellen Abdalian with the Tulane Medical Center.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alison Scott.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scott, A., Ellen, J., Clum, G. et al. HIV and Housing Assistance in Four U.S. Cities: Variations in Local Experience. AIDS Behav 11 (Suppl 2), 140–148 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9247-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9247-2

Keywords

Navigation