When most people think about nonprofits, they picture organizations helping individuals in need. And while that’s true, the real magic of nonprofits goes far beyond a single person. Nonprofits strengthen the systems that shape our communities. They support healthcare providers, property owners, policymakers, and families, building a stronger, healthier foundation for everyone.
At AVOL Kentucky, we see this systems-wide approach every day. Our work is not just about addressing one person’s crisis, it’s about ensuring that housing, healthcare, and HIV prevention strategies work together to create lasting change in Central and Eastern Kentucky.
Housing: A Place to Live and Be Well
Housing is about more than just four walls and a roof, it’s the foundation for health, stability, and dignity. When people lose their housing, the effects ripple through their entire lives. Evictions destabilize families, raise costs, and set back progress. That’s why AVOL’s housing care team works closely with property managers, developers, and landlords to ensure tenants succeed in permanent housing.
Our staff supports residents by helping with job searches, connecting them to child care, arranging medical care, and offering financial assistance. These services keep housing stable because wellness begins with a safe, secure home.
As Claire Campbell, a community-based services manager with the Valley Community Services Board in Staunton, Virginia, explains: “Housing gives them the foundation to start working on all the other aspects of their lives that they were not able to because they just didn’t have a place to land.”
We see this truth in our own community.
“When I first came to Solomon House, my CD4 count was only 7. I was scared, sick, and unsure what my future looked like. I didn’t just need medical care, I 
needed stability, a safe place to live, and people who cared about me. With the support I found here, everything started to change. Today, I am undetectable. I feel healthier, I have a roof over my head, and I am part of a community that believes in me.”
— Michael, AVOL Client
Michael’s story shows what dignity, support, and stable housing can do. At AVOL Kentucky, we believe no one should ever have to choose between a home and their health. Solomon House isn’t just housing, it’s healing, community, and a second chance.
PrEP Navigation: Helping Providers, Helping Patients
HIV prevention has advanced dramatically, but prevention only works when people stay connected to care. That’s where our PrEP navigation team comes in. We don’t just support patients, we also help physicians, nurses, and other providers keep people engaged in HIV prevention.
Our PrEP care team provides appointment reminders, free HIV and STI testing in Lexington and Eastern Kentucky, prevention supplies, and help with any barrier that makes adherence difficult. We work alongside medical providers to ensure their patients stay consistent with PrEP, labs, and check-ups.
Dr. David Malebranche, physician at Morehouse Health Care and an HIV researcher, reminds us of the opportunity we have today: “You have an opportunity, if you’re not living with HIV now, to actually take advantage of a lot of the biomedical advances that we have. … If you have the options in front of you, make sure you exercise them and never let anyone talk you out of getting PrEP if you feel you need it.”
One of our own patients recently fell behind on labs and visits. After a quick check-in with our team, they are now fully back on track and ready for their prescription to arrive at their doorstep. Life is unpredictable, and staying on top of care isn’t always easy. That’s why AVOL Kentucky is here, making PrEP access easier.
Keeping Pace With HIV Advances
Nonprofits like AVOL are also critical in ensuring communities don’t fall behind when it comes to HIV treatment, testing, and prevention. The HIV landscape has changed dramatically over the decades.
As AVOL’s Executive Director Jon Parker recalls: “In the early ’90s, HIV testing was a waiting game because results took up to two weeks and had to be delivered in person. By the time results were ready, people had sometimes vanished, moved to another city, another state. We hit the road to find them, doing whatever it took to get them their results and connected to care. That moment often meant the difference between hope and despair. Today, tests are instant, results are free, and answers come in real time.”
That’s why AVOL continues to fight for resources and services that keep our community safe. Innovation has taken us this far, and with ongoing support, progress will continue.
The Bigger Picture
Nonprofits may look small from the outside, but their impact ripples outward, touching housing, healthcare, prevention, and the systems that hold communities together. At AVOL Kentucky, our mission is not just to serve, but to build. To build stability. To build trust. To build hope. That’s the little bit of nonprofit magic we bring to Central and Eastern Kentucky every day.