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:

jenn@ctaidscoalition.org

(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