June 1, 2007
NEW LISTSERV LAUNCHES TODAY
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A slum in India. The country had 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2006. |
A new listserv intended to facilitate an understanding of the relationship between the global AIDS crisis and homelessness launches today. The International AIDS Housing Roundtable listserv is facilitated by the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) and is accessible through its website. Moderating duties will be shared by NAHC members, including Housing Works.
"The listserv provides an opportunity for people around the globe to discuss issues of housing and AIDS," said Charles King, Housing Works president and CEO. "There’s lots of international conversation around access to treatment, microbicides and other topics, but there hasn’t been a forum for discussing the impact of homelessness on the epidemic." King noted that homelessness among people with HIV/AIDS is a global crisis.
In addition to the listserv, the International AIDS Housing Roundtable has created a website where participants can post information of interest. In future months it will sponsor conference calls to support the expansion of housing resources towards ending the AIDS pandemic. Advocates hope that the International AIDS Housing Roundtable will help generate momentum for a session dedicated to AIDS and homelessness at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. "We need to broaden the conversation of the importance of housing beyond our shores," said Nancy Bernstine, NAHC executive director.
People living with HIV/AIDS, service providers, advocates and all interested in the issue are invited to join the listserv.