Friends for Life: Aids and HIV Resource Center in Memphis

Friends for Life HIV/AIDS Resource Center in Memphis, Tennessee, is the only agency of its kind in the Mid South area. Friends for Life intends to help those affected by HIV/AIDS live well with the condition. It is a place that offers community, hope, and healing for all those whose lives are touched by HIV/AIDS. This does not only include individuals infected with the HIV virus or in the stage of AIDS. It also includes their children, family, and friends.

Services

Aloysius Home was originally a hospice that was founded in 1992 for those who are without shelter. Today it is a service that provides permanent housing for people living with HIV/AIDS through the Shelter Plus Care Program. Shelter Plus Care is a sixteen unit apartment complex for people capable of independent living with HIV. The Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program provides housing vouchers for specific rental units throughout the city that tenants can receive for up to three years. These units are selected based on how customized they are for people living with HIV/AIDS. Aspects such as wheel chair accessibility are considered. The case managers and clients identify the units they find ideal. This program is a partnership with the Memphis City Division of Housing Community Development and the Memphis Housing Authority. This program allows tenants to pay thirty percent of their rent with a housing voucher, and there is a utility allowance.

Case Management is a services that provides case management services to people who have been unable to obtain proper medical care and find ways to assist them in obtaining the appropriate treatment. This is done through network with homeless service provider system, alcohol and drug treatment centers, the mental health system, and the corrections system. Adult Special Care is involved in this with the case managers.

The Buddy System is in place to provide people with HIV a support person who is also HIV positive. This is to combat the loneliness and isolation of being HIV positive. Friends for Life has an HIV Prevention program through educational speaking, World AIDS Day, National HIV Testing Day, and other programs geared to awareness and prevention. They also have HIV testing. The AIDS Memorial is the Friends for Life AIDS Memorial where people who have passed as a result of HIV/AIDS can be memorialized. It is possible to view this memorial on the Friends for Life website.

Friends for Life also provides Nutritional Assistance through the Nancy Fletcher Food Pantry and a regular congregate meal called Feast for Friends held at St. John's Methodist Church at Peabody and Bellevue. The Food Pantry served clients over 128,000 pounds of food and the dinner served over 331 meals in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Food Pantry also provides children's vitamins to the children who are their clients.

For those who are newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Friends for Life provides support services and assistance finding medical care and education about the choices one has to make when realizing one is living with HIV/AIDS. Wellness University is an educational program to educate people about living healthy lives with HIV. Clients/students eventually earn a "wellness diploma."

These are just some of the services provided by Friends for Life HIV/AIDS Resource Center in Memphis, Tennessee. For more information on receiving services, making a donation, or becoming a volunteer, contact Friends for Life directly.

Friends for Life HIV/AIDS Resource Center

43 North Cleveland

Memphis, Tennessee 38104

901-272-0855