HATS/HELP (HIV/AIDS)

HATS began in April 1993, and was formerly entitled The Testing Living Center Program that, in collaboration with the JWCH Institute, provided free HIV testing in the Weingart Medical Clinic.

In an effort to expand this program, HATS was developed. The HATS/HELP program currently provides transitional housing, three meals daily, and individualized case management and counseling services to individuals who are HIV+. An HIV specialist provides case management services, that includes individual and group counseling, Section 8 housing and other permanent housing referrals, benefits acquisition, and referrals to outside resources designed to meet the specialized needs of the HIV+ individual.

Program services are provided at the Weingart Center, in collaboration with the JWCH Institute. The Weingart Center and JWCH have operated programs for HIV+ individuals since 1990 and have served HIV+ men and women within its other programs since its inception in 1983.

JWCH Institute is responsible for providing case management services for clients in the HATS/HELP program, needs assessments, the collection and reporting of all data to the Weingart Center, and acts as liaison with other providers as needed to ensure that comprehensive services are available to HATS/HELP clients.

The Weingart Center and JWCH collaboratively operate the only residential programs for HIV+ individuals in Downtown Los Angeles. Both the Center and JWCH are uniquely equipped to work with the target population. Multi-lingual and multi-cultural staff are expressly trained to work with HIV+ men and women in an effective, sensitive manner. Services are designed to mainstream HIV+ clients within the client pool and provide a safe, non-stigmatized environment for the clients. The program goal is to assist at least 70% of the clients in accessing more traditional and permanent housing alternatives so that they can safely exit life on the streets.