Dan Koett
859.797.3646
dkoett@framingyournarrative.com
Organization has provided $1.1 million in support of housing stability during the pandemic
Lexington, Kentucky (March 16, 2022) – Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, AVOL Kentucky has remained steadfast in their conviction to lift up and support the communities they serve. To that end, AVOL to provide essential services such as HIV testing, access to short and long-term housing assistance designed to promote permanent and stable housing.
“During the Pandemic, it become our primary focus to prevent evictions,” said Executive Director Jon Parker. “Pandemic induced evictions, because medically vulnerable people were hard hit, only stood to produce more homelessness.” Parker went on to share, “You can’t get well without a roof over your head. For people living with HIV, stable housing has proven time after time to reduce a person’s level of virus in the body. Low levels of HIV ensures that people feel better, and at very low levels they are unable to pass the virus to others.”
Since the state of emergency was first declared in March 2020, AVOL has worked thoughtfully and strategically to not only maintain their level of services but to also increase those services to meet the demands and extraordinary need created by COVID-19. With additional funding from local, state, and federal sources, AVOL has provided an unprecedented level of assistance to increase the housing stability of those living with HIV and other medically vulnerable members of our community including:
▪ $1.1 million of assistance provided to increase housing stability
▪ 2,002 payments made to landlords and utility companies to keep people housed
▪ 276 households assisted with rent, mortgage, or utility payments
▪ 35% increase in the number of long-term housing subsidies provided to clients
“It was never a question of AVOL being able to continue to support our community, rather how would we do it and who would we partner with to ensure no one in need was left to fend for themselves,” Parker added.
For more than three-decades AVOL Kentucky has been the leading advocate in central and eastern Kentucky for HIV/AIDS awareness, develop long-term solutions, and implementing measures with a goal of one day eradicating the disease once and for all.
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About AVOL
AVOL’s mission is to collaborate with communities to end HIV in Kentucky. AVOL currently provides housing and supportive services to over 300 low-income men and women living with HIV/AIDS in more than 70 counties in central and eastern Kentucky. AVOL operates Solomon House, a long-term permanent community residence for people with AIDS. AVOL provides free HIV and other STI testing as well as HIV prevention education and outreach to those at-risk in our communities. AVOL also serves as an important link connecting those newly diagnosed and those out of care to medical treatment and other healthcare and support resources.