You want to end HIV? Start with the front door. Because no pill, no clinic, no doctor’s order can stick if someone doesn’t have an address. At Status: Home, we’ve stopped pretending treatment begins in the pharmacy. It begins with a place to live. Because without housing, there is no healthcare.
That truth is what drives me, and it’s what drives every decision we make at Status: Home.
We are Atlanta’s largest provider of permanent supportive housing for people living with HIV. And we are facing a crisis that few are willing to name plainly: Up to 50 percent of people living with HIV will experience homelessness in their lifetime. In Atlanta, where we have long been an epicenter of the epidemic, that means thousands are left without stable shelter while trying to manage a life-threatening condition.
Viral suppression, the treatment practice of reducing the virus to undetectable levels so it can’t be passed on, is often framed as a matter of personal responsibility. But how do you follow a care plan when you’re sleeping in stairwells? When shelter is uncertain, treatment is too. Health starts with housing; anything less is setting people up to fail.
That’s why we made one of the boldest moves in our 35-year history: We raised $26 million and acquired five multi-family buildings across Atlanta. Not shelters. Not temporary beds. Permanent homes. In May 2025, we cut the ribbon and open those doors wide to people who’ve been pushed aside by a system that claims to care, while consistently skipping step one: housing.
I’ve been in this work long enough to see what happens when we offer a safe, affordable home without an expiration date. One resident told us, “I just celebrated four years in September. That’s the longest I’ve lived anywhere.” That may not sound radical to some. But for many of our residents, it’s life-changing.
At Status: Home, we serve residents of all genders and ages, including families like Brenda’s, who found stability for herself and her two young grandchildren through our Family Program. Today, her grandchildren are thriving, and Brenda is building toward homeownership. That’s the continuum we believe in: from crisis, to stability, to thriving.
The data backs this up: While only about 55 percent of unstably housed individuals with HIV in Atlanta achieve viral suppression, 90 percent of our residents reach it. That’s not just a number, it’s proof. Proof that housing is healthcare. Proof that stability saves lives.
As part of our efforts to honor our history while working towards our future, we worked with the City of Atlanta (special thanks to Councilmember Liliana Bakhthiari) to officially rename a street in Atlanta to honor one of the city’s most influential housing advocates. Evelyn Ullman was a founding force behind our organization and a fierce champion for people living with HIV. Now, every person who turns onto that street will be reminded that someone fought for their community and right to be there.
If you’re reading this and wondering what you can do, start here:
- Donate — Every contribution helps provide safe, stable housing for people living with HIV.
- Advocate — Raise your voice. Share our mission with your networks and contact your elected officials to support housing initiatives.
- Volunteer — Your time and talents can make a meaningful difference in our residents’ lives.
- Partner — Join us as a community or corporate partner to expand access to life-saving housing.
- Stay Connected — Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay informed and inspired.
Every person living with HIV deserves a home. Not just to survive, but to live fully and with dignity. And in a city like Atlanta, where resilience runs deep, I know we can make that a reality.
