Project HEAL is a Shelter Plus Care program offering 8 1-bedroom units in Lowell, Mass. Single adults, both men and women (including transgender), who are chronically homeless and HIV+ are eligible for the Julie House Program. Eligible applicants may be in recovery from substance use and/or mental health issues. In addition, for the first time, 2 subsidies are specifically dedicated to individuals at risk for HIV infection.
Recently, in 2008, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health funded the Institute for Health and Recovery to redesign and implement Julie House, previously a HUD funded Single Room Occupancy program located in Lowell, Massachusetts.
During 2005–2007, the city of Lowell had an 11% increase in HIV/AIDS case reporting while statewide there was a 4% increase in HIV/AIDS cases. Of these, 70% were male and 30% female. The most common age group is 30-39 with an ethnic breakdown of 47.7% Caucasian, 31.9% Black and 16.8% Latino. The AIDS Housing Corporation’s 2005–2007 Housing Needs Assessment Report states that many of these individuals/families are in need of appropriate and affordable housing.
Project HEAL’s Care Coordinators provide intensive case management to English, Spanish and Portuguese speaking individuals receiving the housing subsidy. Care Coordinators help residents to get housed and stay housed by conducting an assessment, developing an individualized service plan, and offering care coordination activities focused on health, recovery, mental health, daily life skills, benefits, employment/volunteer work, peer support—socials and groups—whatever it takes to create a “better” life.
While working with individuals to decrease the stress in their lives, the Care Coordinators engage individuals through building trust and a working alliance to understand the complex issues that may be undermining their recovery and housing stability.
Project HEAL's office is located at 97 Central Street, Suite 205A, Lowell, Mass.
For more information, please contact Susan Dargon-Hart, LICSW, Director of Homelessness & HIV Prevention Services at the Institute for Health and Recovery: (617) 661-3991.
Click for Photos...