SFAF's Subsidy Program Keeps Hundreds of Clients in Stable Housing

"This assistance has given me the will to live," is how one client recently characterized the housing subsidy program that is run by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "You have made my life easier and freed up a great deal of stress and fear."

This is just one example of the hundreds of clients who benefit from the housing subsidy program at the AIDS Foundation, a program that is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Over 350 low-income people living with disabling HIV or AIDS receive assistance in paying their rents through this program and, just as importantly, receive the support needed to maintain their housing.

"Housing is health care," says Sue Gallego, Director of Client Services for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "When people are successfully housed, they are better able to access and adhere to drug treatments and require fewer hospitalizations and less emergency room care."

Lack of access to affordable housing has consistently been cited as the most significant unmet needs of people living with HIV in San Francisco. Moreover, the inability to obtain stable housing has been shown to greatly undermine the health of people living with HIV. Research at Columbia University found that people living with HIV/AIDS in stable housing conditions were four times more likely to obtain medical care than those without stable housing.

"Virtually all of the program's clients earn less than $1,000 per month and would find it nearly impossible to afford stable housing in San Francisco without this assistance," explains Matt Geltmaker, Client Services Manager. "Without this program, most clients would end up homeless and on the streets or in extremely precarious and unstable housing situations."

Given the benefits of maintaining stable housing, the Foundation's staff works hard to ensure that those who participate in the program find housing and succeed in maintaining their housing. Because many of the clients in the program have histories of evictions, substance use and mental health issues, keeping these clients in stable housing can be a significant undertaking.

Fortunately, the Foundation's program has truly been a model in this regard--in the six-month period from July 1, 2003 through the end of the year, 99% of clients remained "stably" housed. Only one client out of 361 was evicted during that time frame.

"Our housing program is successful because of its strong linkage to client advocacy," explains Geltmaker. "Client Advocates at the Foundation work closely with our housing subsidy clients when problems arise and do everything possible to help clients connect to appropriate services when necessary. We also work directly with landlords to work out any issues that may occur between the landlord and the client. These various supportive service interventions help to ensure that clients remain housed."

Supportive services clearly play a critical role in keeping people housed, particularly those who have been chronically homeless and suffer from mental health and/or substance use issues. As San Francisco's Mayor Newsom and other city officials grapple with the homeless crisis, services must be provided to ensure these individuals succeed in remaining housed.