Positive Places: Housing for People Living with HIV/AIDS in DC
HIV in D.C.
- D.C. has a staggering 3% HIV rate, three times the rate CDC defines as an Epidemic (Tanne, 2009).
- The national rate is .4%, New York City's is 1.4% (New York Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, 2009).
- D.C. HIV/AIDS prevalence falls between Nigeria (2.5%) and Togo (3.2%) (CIA, 2008).
- 15,120 people are living with HIV/AIDS in D.C. (D.C. Department of Health, 2009).
- And estimated 1/3-1/2 of all HIV positive individuals have not been tested and are unaware of their status. (D.C. Department of Health).
Homelessness and HIV
- 401 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are homeless living on the streets of D.C. (D.C. Department of Health, 2009).
- Homeless persons are more likely to engage in behaviors with a high risk of transmission (Kidder, Daniel et al, 2008).
- Stable housing has been shown to reduce behaviors such as unprotected sex, sharing needles, and prostitution (Kidder, Daniel et al, 2008).
- PLWHA also have test healthier and live longer when they have stable housing (Kidder, Daniel et al, 2008)
Bibliography
-DC Department of Health . (2008). DC HIV/AIDS Epidemiology 2008 update. Retrieved September 21, 2009, from DOH: HIV/AIDS Administration: http://doh.dc.gov/doh/frames.asp?doc=/doh/lib/doh/pdf/dc_hiv-aids_2008_updatereport.pdf
-DC Department of Health. (2009, February). District if Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiogy Update 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from District if Columbia Department of Health: http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/frames.asp?doc=/doh/lib/doh/pdf/dc_hiv-aids_2008_updatereport.pdf
-Daniel P. K., Richard J.W., Sherri L.P., & Michael L.C. (2008). Housing Status and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Homeless and Housed Persons with HIV. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , 49.
-New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (2009). New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from HIV/AIDS Information: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ah/ah.shtml
- Tanne, J. H. (2009, March 28). HIV Prevelence in US capital matches some african nations. Retrieved from BMJ: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/mar23_1/b1205
-DC Department of Health. (2009, February). District if Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiogy Update 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from District if Columbia Department of Health: http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/frames.asp?doc=/doh/lib/doh/pdf/dc_hiv-aids_2008_updatereport.pdf
-Daniel P. K., Richard J.W., Sherri L.P., & Michael L.C. (2008). Housing Status and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Homeless and Housed Persons with HIV. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , 49.
-New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (2009). New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from HIV/AIDS Information: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ah/ah.shtml
- Tanne, J. H. (2009, March 28). HIV Prevelence in US capital matches some african nations. Retrieved from BMJ: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/mar23_1/b1205
