ALEXIAN BROTHERS BONAVENTURE HOUSE

Programs: Alexian brothers bonaventure house ("abbh") was founded in the 1980s by the alexian brothers who took people dying of aids into their personal residences. During an era when many institutions were questioning their positions on hiv/aids, the alexian brothers forged ahead to promote care instead of debate. Our vision is to transform the lives of people with hiv/aids within a compassionate, supportive community by providing a home, comprehensive services, and spiritual care. We are committed to embodying the alexian brothers values of compassion, dignity of the person, care of the poor, holism and partnership. Approximately 15,000 people with hiv/aids in chicago need housing assistance but there are just 1,300 units available. Many of the chicago neighborhoods with the highest hiv/aids rates are also the poorest, with high (see schedule o) rates of incarceration and unemployment. Over 18 months, supportive housing for people with hiv saved over $1. 5 million in hospital, emergency room, and nursing home costs for those who were still homeless. It is easy to see why abbh services are so crucial to the community. For over 20 years, abbh has served the hiv/aids community. It operates two sites in the chicagoland area. Abbh, in chicago, and alexian brothers bonaventure house d/b/a alexian brothers the harbor ("the harbor"), in waukegan. Both provide case management, recovery services, and distinguished after care, spiritual care and occupational therapy programs. After spending two years in transitional living programs offered by abbh, some graduates participate in the transitional to permanent housing program. Its purpose is to ensure residents' continued success after graduating from the transitional living program by providing case management and affordable housing in safe neighborhoods. Abbh also participates in samaritan housing program, a collaboration of 11 chicago-based health, housing and homeless service providers designed to move chronically homeless individuals with chronic medicial conditions, including mental illness, into stable, permanent housing as quickly as possible. It provides comprehensive wraparound services and intensive case management to improve housing and health outcomes among this highly vulnerable homeless population. Abbh opened alexian brothers bettendorf place in the fall of 2011 and offers permanent supportive housing to individuals affected by hiv/aids. Abbh also provides a scattered site housing program - the alexian brothers community housing program provides over 100 rental subsidies and supportive services to chronically homeless individuals living with chronic diseases, including hiv/aids, throughout chicago and lake county. The community housing program sprang out of the need to provide permanent supportive housing for people living with hiv/aids in the chicagoland community. The program has since grown to serve other men and women who, like those living with hiv/aids, struggle with chronic health concerns that are exacerbated by homelessness and poverty. Alexian brothers community housing program is permanent supportive housing that utilizes a harm reduction model. Permanent supportive housing is housing that focuses on flexible and comprehensive support services, in addition to affordable, long-term housing. Services are provided in a nonjudgmental way with the goal of reducing negative consequences of risky behaviors. Harm reduction strategies meet clients "where they're at". Through the community housing program, we address the following goals: improving access to care, reducing health disparities, increasing quality and affordability of health care and promoting health and wellness. We provide case management, supportive services, occupational therapy, and spiritual care to ensure that our clients receive the support and tools they need to achieve their overall health and wellness goals.