The AIDS Housing Action Group is a community based state-wide housing service for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and is committed to the provision of safe, secure, affordable and appropriate housing. AHAG provides a housing advice and referral service, support services and operates an advice, education and consultation service for housing workers, community organisations and health workers.

The issues faced by PLWHA include unaffordable rent in the private rental market; harassment; a long waiting list for public housing; limited provision for emergency accommodation; unsuitability of current accommodation due to changed circumstances (eg, too far away from medical facilities, difficulty of access due to decreased mobility); financial difficulties caused by being unable to work due to ill health.

It is increasingly the case that affordable and appropriate housing options for PLWHA are extremely limited in Victoria.

AHAG aims to:

Provide appropriate housing and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS necessary for the maintenance of their health and independence.

Provide all services to all people with HIV/AIDS regardless of race, class, sexuality, gender, belief or ability.

Provide people living with HIV/AIDS with the information, assistance and resources necessary for them to access appropriate housing and support.

Promote awareness of HIV and housing issues and uphold the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Work towards the elimination of discrimination and harassment of people with HIV/AIDS in housing.

Work towards better access to housing and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

AHAG provides housing related support services for PLWHA via housing information and referral, transitional housing support, facilitating access to crisis accommodation and long term housing options, and providing access to housing related financial assistance (primarily HEF). An interpreting service (either face-to-face or telephone) will be provided for people who require it.

History

The AIDS Housing Action Group has a history of significant achievements in the establishment and development of housing and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.

AHAG was incorporated in 1990. The group was initially established in 1987 by hospital social workers, health professionals and people from the Victorian AIDS Council who recognised the need to have a planned and coordinated response in developing proposals for the housing and related support needs of PLWHA.

As that group developed and grew, the AIDS Housing Action Group was established to assist people living with HIV/AIDS to obtain housing most appropriate to their needs. Initially this required research and consultation to identify housing and design requirements, and then to develop housing options for people.

Consultations were held with people living with HIV/AIDS to clearly identify their housing needs and preferred options. Further consultations were also held with housing organisations to develop protocols in regard to working with people with HIV/AIDS to establish safe boundaries and appropriate practices.

The establishment of appropriate protocols with the then Ministry of Housing to ensure the provision of public housing for people living with HIV/AIDS was the next stage of this process. Protocols included enabling single people to obtain two bedroom accommodation to enable the provision of overnight care as required. This assisted many people to remain in their homes and avoid prolonged, expensive hospitalisation or respite services. This was the first of many initiatives to support people living with HIV/AIDS in their housing.

The provision of a housing advice service funded by the then Ministry of Housing and the Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme, has allowed the AHAG to identify trends in regard to housing needs and to advocate for appropriate housing provision as a result of those trends. The initial consultation also identified that many people were uncomfortable obtaining advice and service from generic agencies. The provision of a housing advice service both enabled a safe space to obtain housing information and also the opportunity to educate workers in generic services.

In 1992 AHAG established a rental housing program for people who could not get appropriate public housing or private rental. The program started with 4 properties provided by the Government, and gradually acquired additional properties. In 1995 the John R Stroop Housing Association (JRS) was formed to act as a landlord for the existing AHAG rental housing program and develop new housing opportunities. This allowed AHAG to avoid the conflict of interest inherent in being both the landlord and the support agency of the client.

In 1996, the AIDS Housing Action Group and the John R. Stroop Housing Association sponsored a forum entitled “Living with One Less Stress”. The aim of the forum was to identify and confirm the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and again identified the need for some supported accommodation for people with cognitive and or physical conditions as a result of AIDS. One of the significant results of the forum was the establishment of the AIDS Housing Action Group’s In Home Support Program (INSP). This support included the provision for the purchase of housing and the provision of up to 24 hours per week in home support. The service drew upon existing generic and HIV services and paid attendant care. The IHSP began operation in January 1997 and immediately proved significant, not only in avoiding expensive hospitalisation, but also with significant improvements in people’s social and medical health.

In March 2000 the AHAG Committee took a decision to separate the In Home Support Program from AHAG. The financial separation of IHSP took effect on 31December 2001

An extensive period of review resulted in the adoption of a Strategic Plan in 2002, enabling AHAG to better define its role in the housing and HIV sectors. AHAG has continued to advocate for better housing option for PLWHA, in addition to addressing more immediate needs. Much of the work of the AIDS Housing Action Group is pre-emptive and preventative so that housing can be secured before a person becomes homeless. The current housing crisis, however, means that we are seeing an increasing number of people who are homeless when they approach the service, and many PLWHA are residing in inappropriate and unaffordable housing while waiting for public housing.

AHAG is currently involved in several strategies designed to address these issues. We have made a commitment to enter into a new Affordable Housing Association project with Supported Housing Ltd; we created a housing noticeboard at the Positive Living Centre; we implemented our own housing noticeboard on our website; and we are developing a Private Rental Subsidy Pilot Project. AHAG is committed to continuing to assist PLWHA to find and maintain appropriate housing, and to access the support they need to sustain a better quality of life.