AIDS in Houston

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Map depicting the AIDS statistics in Houston in 2013

AIDS may not seem like much of a problem in the United States anymore, but it still affects a significant portion of the population, and the statistics can be staggering:

  • Every 9.5 minutes someone in the US is infected with HIV.
  • Texas has the fourth largest population of people who have been diagnosed with HIV of all the 50 US states, with 77,077 people living with HIV.
  • In Houston alone, a city with a little over 4 million people, there were 22,000 people with diagnosed cases of HIV in 2013, and over a thousand more were infected in 2014.
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A flyer advertising the AIDS hotline, made by the City of Houston Health and Human Services.

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A picture of the wall art at the Montrose Center.

However, this is not a battle that one must fight alone. There are a number of organizations in Houston that strive to help people manage their AIDS as well as prevent its spread:

The AIDS Foundation of Houston was the first ever AIDS organization in Texas. Established in 1982, they are a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading word of what HIV/AIDS is, how you can get tested, and what sort of resources you can find in your area to help you if you’ve been diagnosed. By informing people about how HIV is spread they hope to stop it in its tracks and prevent further infections. Every year they host a fundraising event called “Dining Out for Life” where eating out at certain local restaurants can help raise money for AIDS service organizations nationwide. They also host an annual AIDS walk in early March to raise awareness.

The Houston Health Department has an AIDS hotline, as well as multiple pages on resources, clinics, prevention planning, and general information about AIDS, to name a few. These resources are all publically available and can be viewed at the City of Houston official website.

The Montrose Center of Houston also offers one-on-one counseling, group therapy, a recovery program, case management, interpreter services and housing assistance to those who have HIV/AIDS. They offer assistance with fighting drug addiction and withdrawal, mortgage and rent management, and even private in-home therapy sessions with those who are homebound or hospital-bound.

 

If you need help or simply want to get invlolved these links and phone numbers are here to let you easily access the resources mentioned above. No one needs to fight this battle alone.

AIDS Foundation of Houston:

Houston Health Department AIDS Hotline:

Montrose Center:

References

Background
AIDS in Houston