Once upon a time in the state of Connecticut, a group of concerned citizens joined together to form a coalition of AIDS housing providers.
Their vision was that all people living with HIV/AIDS would have appropriate housing and a full range of
services necessary to live their lives in dignity.
CARC’s five founding members,
Center City Churches - Peter's RetreatLeeway, Inc.
Liberty Community ServicesStewart B. McKinney Foundation
St. Luke's LifeWorks,
worked together to support people living with HIV/AIDS in their communities.
In the years that followed CARC’s membership has grown to 24 member agencies
providing quality housing and care.
AIDS Project Greater DanburyAlliance for LivingBGHS – Valley Mental Health CenterCatholic Family ServicesCenter City Churches - Peter’s RetreatChristian Activities Council - Zezzo HouseChrysalis CenterColumbus HouseCRT - McKinney ShelterHelping Hand CenterHRA of New BritainImmaculate Conception Shelter & HousingIndependence Northwest
LeewayLiberty Community ServicesMercy Housing & ShelterMid-Fairfield AIDS ProjectNew Haven Home RecoveryNew Opportunities/Shelter NOWOmega HouseProspect HouseSt. Luke’s LifeWorks/Stewart B. McKinney FoundationSt. Philip HouseTabor House I & II
In 1991 CARC developed the first Standards of Care, and in 1996
implemented the quality assurance tool for AIDS housing programs in Connecticut.
The standards were the first of their kind in the nation, and continue to be a model for
AIDS housing around the country.
In 2003 CARC began providing organizational support to The AIDS LIFE Campaign.
AIDSLegislative
Initiative &
Funding
Effort
Campaign
Even through the hard times, CARC has received generous support from the community.
CARC members continue the work of the coalition by serving on the CQI and
Membership Services committees.
A few brave souls from member agencies have also been known to frequent CARC’s
legendary fundraisers…
While CARC has grown and changed over the past 16 years, its staff has also expanded.
Jennifer ChaseAdministrative Assistant
Aaron LucasBookkeeper/Fund Admin.
Cecilia BaldwinProgram Manager
Chris KellyTraining Coordinator
Alycia SantilliCommunity Organizer
Mary McClintockDevelopment Director
Carol WalterProgram Director
Shawn LangAssistant Director
John MerzExecutive Director
Upon awakening from CARC’s
strategic planning process, the
coalition finds itself in a new land…
Our New Vision
Advocating on behalf of all people living with HIV/AIDS in Connecticut to ensure a full range of quality housing and services necessary to maximize their potential and live their lives in dignity.
Our New Space
Advocating for full funding of HIV/AIDS housing and services
Promoting the self-empowerment of all persons living with HIV/AIDS
Increasing public awareness of the realities for people living with HIV/AIDS
Fostering synergy among all AIDS housing and service providers
Encouraging a research-based approach to the provision of housing and services
for people living with HIV/AIDS
Our New Mission
CARC advocates for quality housing and services for all people living with HIV/AIDS in Connecticut by:
Establishing and maintaininghigh standards of HIV/AIDS
housing and services
Providing technical assistance to providers and funders to enhance
program quality and capacity
Our New Website…
www.ctaidscoalition.org
Our New(er) Programs
Positive Futures:A training institute on HIV & EmploymentNovember 3rd and 4th—be there!
Transition to Work
CT Working Positive Project
Provides training and technicalassistance to AIDS service providerson workforce development andvocational rehabilitation.
Lead Connecticut’s efforts in the Campaign to End AIDS, a new national movement.
Consumer Organizing
Facilitate several consumer advocacy groups in Connecticut:
• Hartford• New Haven• Willimantic• New Britain
Participate in regional C2EA event in Boston on October 29, 2005
Secured a community research grant with the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) at Yale
Research
Study to begin late 2005
Hypothesis: Supportive AIDS housing increases secondary prevention among persons with HIV/AIDS
Funded by:Hartford Ryan White Title I CARE Act funds
Client Assistance Funds
• Prescriptions• Medical-fee-for-service• Utilities• Food• Babysitting
Assists eligible consumers with these non-reimbursable expenses:
AIDS LIFE Campaign Initiatives
Syringe ExchangeEducate legislators and expand availabilityHIV in PrisonCondom availability, discharge planning, andprevention programming
CADAPContinue health insurance for PWA’s, and manage changes to Medicare Part D
Fostering relationships with…
• The Governor’s Office
• DPH, DOC, DSS, and
• Legislative Leadership
Items on the horizon…Housing
This will necessitate advocating for an increase from this and other sources
Ryan White CARE Act may decrease its support of AIDS housing
Information to Legislators
For the upcoming “short” session:
Provide in-depth information to legislators about the state of HIV/AIDS in Connecticut
Provide legislators with specifics on the policy agenda of the AIDS LIFE Campaign
AIDS Awareness Day
Let’s make it even bigger!
In 2005, 600 people attended,
in 2006…
…the sky’s the limit!
Mobilize consumers andproviders to educate legislators
Universal Health Care – we’ll make the connection!
AIDS Housing Resource Guide
Coming soon!
If you haven’t done so already,please turn in your edits to Jenn:
(860) 761-6699
Consulting
Technical Assistance in the areas of: • Housing • Homelessness• HIV/AIDS• Needs assessment• Community planning• Quality assurance • Harm reduction
Our Future Goals
1. Create membership categories for non-housing AIDS service organizations (ASO’s)
2. Create networking opportunities for ASO’s3. Provide training and TA to ASO’s4. Develop a QA model for ASO’s5. Develop computer-based training modules for
member agencies6. Seek collaborative funding opportunities
10. We do it better, and cheaper.
9. Resolving issues, one agency at a time.
8. A great place to work.
7. The ATM machine of Connecticut.
6. Don’t you see the ‘S’ on our chest?
5. Home of the Magnificent Nine!
4. Doing everything no one else wants to do.
3. Taking over the world, one step at a time.
2. Fun Barbeques. The Best Fundraisers.
1. We’re not as gay as we used to be!
Top 10 CARC taglines…
…that didn’t make it!!
There’s No Place Like CARC…
The End
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