 Good Works, Better Practices, Great Homes
An interactive guide to operating AIDS housing
Introduction This manual was developed to assist organizations interested in developing supportive AIDS housing programs as well as to help experienced providers enhance their current services. It contains links to websites that offer useful documents, regulations, sample policies and other materials you will find educational and pertinent to your work.
The manual also contains sample policies, procedures and forms that we have culled from the resources generously provided to us by members of the Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition. Each selection offers a simple but comprehensive way to offer services that will enrich the lives of your residents.
In some areas of this manual you will find more than one policy and procedure for a given topic. The intent is to provide contrasting policies and procedures that have proven effective and to show that there is great diversity among the programs operating supportive AIDS housing programs in Connecticut. Ultimately, each provider will find what works best to meet the individual needs of their program.
This project is a collaborative effort of Coalition member agencies and could not have been done without our member agencies willing to share their policies and procedures. Transforming boxes upon boxes of raw material into this user-friendly document is credited to Laura Thornton and Eileen McCarthy for sifting, researching, editing and authoring the manual; and to Cherie Mittenthal for sprucing up the document with her graphic design talents. We are grateful for the many hours of labor that this document represents.
John Merz
Executive Director
Types of Housing
Some policies & procedures in this manual are designed for specific housing models. Please note abbreviations.
Shelter
An Emergency Shelter is a facility that meets the basic needs for food and shelter on an emergency or short term basis. Eligible residents are individuals or families with HIV/AIDS who are homeless. Services provided by the shelters are designed to increase residents' stability, skill levels and self-determination with an ultimate goal of helping people find long term, appropriate housing. Residents are not denied services due to an inability to pay.
Transitional Living Program (TLP)
A Transitional Living Program is either congregate or scattered site housing and is intended to prepare residents for transition in long-term, appropriate housing. Eligible residents are individuals or families with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Residents are not denied support services due to inability to pay a fee and may or may not be required to enter into a lease. Residents are required to participate in services. Services provided by the AIDS housing program are designed to increase residents' stability, skill levels, and self-determination and transition them into permanent housing within a 12-24 month period.
Independent Living Program (ILP)
An Independent Living Program may be individual apartments, with or without a subsidy, or a shared living program. Eligible residents are individuals or families with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Resident are fairly independent, able to manage activities of daily living, and need some support and structure.
Supportive Living Program (SLP)
A Supportive Living Program is a group residence or hospice program designed for people with HIV/AIDS discharged from hospitals who are not well enough to return to a setting without 24 hour supervision. Eligible residents are individuals with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Residents may have a substance use or mental health history and/or may have a diminished capacity to manage their activities of daily living (ADLs) and require a supportive and structured environment or may need terminal care. Participation in services by residents is required. No one is denied services due to inability to pay a fee. |
