UF CARES, River Region receive $1.5 million federal grant to care for homeless with HIV

A University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville program focused on helping people with HIV and AIDS is part of a group that has earned a $1.5 million grant to help homeless people suffering from the disease.

The five-year grant is a partnership between the UF Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Service (UF CARES) and River Region Human Services to develop a model for getting the HIV-infected homeless population started and on track for medical care. The award is a Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) grant funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

UF CARES and River Region have worked together to develop the Partnership for Access to Treatment and Housing (PATH) Model to link mental health, substance abuse treatment and HIV/AIDS primary care services.

"The goal of this project is to build on our community strengths and identify best practices for homeless care for HIV positive individuals while increasing access to care and improving overall health outcomes," said Mobeen H. Rathore, M.B.B.S. (M.D.), a UF pediatrics professor and director of UF CARES.

As a recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee on Quality Assurance, UF CARES officials know the medical home cannot be successful unless the patients have stability in their lives, including housing.

UF CARES and River Region, whose HIV intervention services have served as national models, will also work with Ability Housing, a nonprofit that develops and operates affordable housing for adults in Jacksonville. With Ability Housing, the groups will focus on establishing an on-site UF CARES clinic for specialty care.

Duval County has an estimated more than 5,300 people living with HIV and AIDS, fifth highest in Florida.