b'HOUSING ASSISTANCE 1,380 HOUSING91 % OF TOTAL HOUSING49 % OF TOTAL HOUSINGWhen BROOKE (they/them) first applied at CLIENTSCLIENTS SERVEDCLIENTS SERVED SERVED RECEIVED HOUSINGRECEIVED HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENTFINANCIAL SUPPORT Vivent Health, it was for a Housing SpecialistSERVICES position. But right away, their supervisor had Research shows that housing instability is a significant barrier to HIV care. Housingbigger plans for them. Brooke was hired as a instability is associated with higher rates of behaviors that may increase the chance Housing Programs Manager and tasked with of getting or transmitting HIV, such as substance use and condomless sex. People developing and implementing new housing with HIV experiencing homelessness are also more likely to delay entering HIV programs for people living with HIV.care, have reduced access to regular HIV care, and have poorer adherence to anti-One of Brookes proudest accomplishments is retroviral therapy (ART). their work on the tenant-based rental assistance HIV Testing: HIV Treatment: program (TBRA). Through this program, Brooke Data show that people experiencingPeople experiencing homelessness and their team not only get people living with homelessness or housing instability are less likely to receive and adhere HIV into housing, but they provide the necessary are less likely to report having beento ART therapy compared with support to help them stay housed.tested for HIV in the past year or ever,people who have stable housing. People whove experienced chronic homeless-compared to people with stable housing.In one study, Black gay and bisexual ness may have never learned things like howOne study found that gay and bisexualmen who self-reported homelessnessto find a rental, whats included in a lease, or men experiencing homelessness are were more likely to report difficulty even if theyre allowed to have people over, over 15 times more likely to delay HIVtaking ART and missing a dose in Brooke says. We help provide that supporttesting than those with stable housing. the past week, compared to those and education so they can be successful. PrEP Use: with stable housing. People with unstable housing face bar- Viral Suppression: But what really makes our programs specialriers to accessing HIV pre-exposure pro- Research shows that housing instabilityis what comes next. So many of the peoplephylaxis (PrEP), which reduces the risk ofand homelessness can create barriers we serve have never had the opportunitygetting HIV from sex by about 99% whento becoming and staying virally to dream, especially if theyve been facing taken as prescribed. One study found thatsuppressed. Transitioning to more housing insecurity, says Brooke. Once we knowledge of PrEP was low among youthstable housing can help people stayget someone into housing, get them to where experiencing homelessness; only 29% engaged in HIV care and get and theyre safe, then we get to ask them, Whathad any knowledge of PrEP and only 4%remain virally suppressed. are your dreams? What do you want to do? had talked with a provider about PrEP.Thats the really special part.'