ANNUAL REPORT 2015

AIDS Alabama devotes itsenergy and resources

statewide to helping peoplewith HIV/AIDS live healthy,independent lives and worksto prevent the spread of HIV.

AIDSAlabama

Hear fromour CEO,

Kathie Hiers

Hello, Friends and Patrons,

AIDS Alabama did some amazing work in 2015! I simply must brag on our talented employees and volunteers, some of thebest and most caring folks in the non-profit world. I especially appreciate their heroic efforts because the services theyprovide are absolutely critical to thousands of people in our state who are living with HIV.

Decent housing is a basic human right, and persons living with HIV must have stable housing in order to enjoy optimalhealth outcomes. AIDS Alabama managed more than 100 affordable units across the state, as well as a statewide rentalassistance program. In the Birmingham area approximately 101 individuals and families received rental assistance;

statewide another 471 were helped.

Through the quality work of our Enroll Alabama Navigators, who are placed in locations across the state, 13,563 people wereassisted or were enrolled in the Insurance Marketplace of the Affordable Care Act. Statewide a total of 171,641 Alabamiansacquired health insurance during the 2015 Open Enrollment period.

Our advocacy department has expanded to include civil engagement activities such as voter registration events, lobbyingagainst HIV Criminalization bills, and Medicaid expansion campaigns. Increased partnerships and involvement with youthresulted in our largest and most successful Youth Advocacy Day in Montgomery; 42 youth traveled to the Capitol to push formedically-accurate and non-homophobic sex education laws.

Plans were initiated for the agency's first housing program for LGBTQ youth ages 19-24 through the Ascension Project of theHUD Rapid Re-Housing Program.

Our prevention efforts have yielded 1,787 HIV screenings, and over 5,000 community members were reached through areaoutreach efforts. Events on National HIV Testing Day, World AIDS Day, and partnerships with area schools providednumerous opportunities to educate people of all ages about the importance of knowing their HIV status. HIV preventioneducation is a key to stopping the spread of the virus.

After over a year of planning our new behavioral health facility, the Living Well Outpatient Center is nearing completion.

Hard work from our programs staff resulted in a solid partnership with JBS Mental Health Authority. The grand opening isslated for 2016.

Transportation continues to be in extreme demand, and AIDS Alabama provided more than 15,097 trips in twelve-

passenger vans, mainly to medical and social service appointments.

We have the tools to end the HIV epidemic as we now know it. We have excellent medications, science that can preventnew transmissions of the virus, and an understanding of how important ancillary services are to keeping people in care. Yetone of our greatest barriers continues to be stigma. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Anger and intolerance are the enemies ofcorrect understanding." AIDS Alabama will continue to educate with the truth and serve with compassion.

Moving toward an HIV-free generation,

Kathie M. Hiers

ON POINT:We Advocate!

AIDS Alabama'sDepartment of Advocacy

works on thenational, state, and local

levels to protect the rights ofthose living with

HIV/AIDS in our state.

Through a partnership with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute,

Aletheia House, and other community partners, AIDS Alabamahosted a series of four voting registration events in 2015, helpingto restore voting rights to stakeholders with previous felony

convictions and registering them to vote. At least 125 communitymembers and advocates attended these events.

AIDS Alabama’sDirector of Policy andAdvocacy and Civic

EngagementCoordinator helpedlead lobbying effortsagainst Alabama

legislative bill HB50.HB50 would’ve

increased the penaltyfor potential exposureor transmission to HIVor other STIs from amisdemeanor to afelony, further

increasing stigmaagainst people living

with HIV/AIDS.Thanks in part to theagency’s efforts, HB50died in committee, andsimilar legislation hasnot been reintroduced.

AIDS Alabama launched anexciting photo campaign late

last year called#MindtheGapAL, whichfeatured the portraits andstories of Alabama residents

living in the Medicaidcoverage gap.

Participants in the photocampaign shared how

Alabama’s decision not toexpand Medicaid limitedtheir health care accesswhile making them feelunsupported and without

options.

The campaign was featuredin ads on AL.com, sharedacross social mediaplatforms, and postedaround Alabamacommunities.

#MindtheGapAL was seenby thousands ofAlabamians.

In 2013 AIDS Alabama became the only AIDS Service Organization in thecountry to receive a Federal Navigator grant. In 2015, after two successfulyears of educating the community about the Affordable Care Act and

enrolling thousands of Alabamians in health insurance through the HealthInsurance Marketplace, AIDS Alabama was awarded almost $2.5 millionover the next three years to continue its work. Enroll Alabama Navigatorsassisted 13,563 Alabamians with obtaining health insurance in 2015.

HIV Prevention and Education

In response to an epidemicin the south driven by

stigma, discrimination, andsocial barriers that disruptlinkages to care, especiallyamong young gay and

bisexual men of color andtransgender women, AIDSAlabama launched a newcampaign to normalize theconversation around HIVand improve the lives of all

individuals—PrEP UpAlabama. On July 24 and 25,Wade Davis, a former NFLcornerback and LGBT

advocate, lead communitydiscussions with youngmen in the population toaddress health disparitiesamong Black and Latinomen in the South. Theweekend also included ashowing of the movie

"Blackbird."

An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States areliving with HIV, and that number grows by almost 50,000every year. One in eight people who have HIV don't knowit. That means they aren't getting the medical care theyneed to stay healthy and avoid passing HIV to others.CDC has found that more than 90 percent of new HIVinfections in the United States could be prevented bytesting and diagnosing people who have HIV andensuring they receive prompt, ongoing care and

treatment. Early linkage to and retention in HIV care iscentral to managing HIV and promoting health amongall people living with HIV. HIV medicines can keep peoplewith HIV healthy for many years, and greatly reduce the

chance of transmitting HIV to their sex partners.

AIDS Alabama partnered with diverse communityorganizations and businesses throughout 2015 toeducate our community about the importance of"Knowing Your Status" by getting tested for HIV.

Several locations of area Walgreens allowed AIDSAlabama staff and volunteers to perform onsite,

free HIV testing on National HIV Testing Day.Collaborations with Birmingham AIDS Outreach,

the UAB 1917 Clinic, and the City of Birminghambrought forth many community events over theweek surrounding World AIDS Day in December.Throughout 2015 AIDS Alabama prevention staffperformed 1,787 HIV tests and reached over 5,000

people at various outreach events.

Transgender AdvocatesKnowledgeable

Empowering, or TAKE peergroup, supported by AIDS

Alabama, providessupportive services to

transgender people to helpimprove quality of life andto improve basic living skillsincluding, but not limitedto, health education, job-

readiness training, housinglinkage for the homeless,street outreach, and peersupport. TAKE meets twicea month on the first andthird Friday of each month.

YouthEmpowered!

Empowering our youth with good information to makehealthy choices is key to creating healthy adults. The

"Making Proud Choices" weekend at Woodlawn Library inthe spring of 2015 and participation at Glen Iris

Elementary School Fun Day in October are two such waysAIDS Alabama's Prevention, Education & CommunityPartnerships staff connected with Birmingham's youth.

Supported by fundingfrom the Centers forDisease Control (CDC)3MV grant, The Elite

Project is a welcoming,comfortable space foryoung gay, bisexual, andTrans men of color13-29 years old.

Many refer to the centeras a "safe haven," the

one place inBirmingham where

young men can go to beamong friends who

understand and care forthem - who allow themto be themselves. Inaddition to the dailyoperation of The EliteProject, there is theyearly 3MV Retreat - aweekend of education,

fellowship, andconnections for same-gender loving men of

color.

Housing SavesLives

> Housing is the greatest unmet need of those living with HIV/AIDS> Housing stability improves connection to HIV care> Housing stability reduces emergency and acute care visits> Housing stability may save over $300,000 in lifetime medical costs> Housing stability profoundly affects the health of those who are at-risk for or living with HIV

HOUSING IS COST-EFFECTIVE HIV PREVENTION & CARE

HOUSINGOPPORTUNITIES

AIDS Alabama provides several options in HIV Housing Programs for our consumers. There areoptions in permanent housing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, andhousing assistance. In 2015, over 104,000 nights of housing and housing assistance were

provided to clients in our care.

At Mustard Seed (above),

Agape House, and Agape II,AIDS Alabama offers leaseagreements to the tenantswho must fall into the HUD-

defined very low-incomelimits. The option of

supportive services is available.

JASPER House (above) isopen only to individuals whohave a dual diagnosis ofHIV/AIDS and a severe

mental illness. It is a grouphome setting and certifiedby the Alabama Department

of Mental Health.

In The Rectory (below) thereare twelve beds in a shelter-styled living arrangement.There is some emergencyplacement and individuals

must participate in an IntensiveOutpatient Treatment Program

for substance abuse.

CLINICAL PROGRAMS AND CASEMANAGEMENT SERVICES

Health Insurance CobraAssistance:

Helps pay medication,

treatment co-pays, andinsurance premiums

-14 people served during28 episodes-

Emergency Assistance withUtilities and Housing:

Helps pay past due utility billsand emergency hotel costspending permanent housingplacement and some rents to

avoid homelessness-120 persons served-

Case Management Services:Assists with linkage to AIDS

Alabama and othersupportive services to helpmaintain stable housing,

support medical stability, andto help move consumerstowards independence

-3,515 households served-

Residential Mental HealthServices:

Available to residents of JASPERHouse, this service is intended to

help residents attain andmaintain psychiatric stability and

to increase independence-4,451 bed nights provided-

Substance Abuse Services:An Intensive Outpatient

Treatment program offered toresidents of The Rectory andLiving In Balance ChemicalAddiction Program (LIBCAP)

participants.-8,856 hours of service

provided-

The Rectory:An emergency shelter forhomeless, HIV-positive,

single adults who also have asubstance abuse diagnosis-3,452 bed nights provided-

HOPWA Short-term EmergencyMortgage and Rental Assistance:

Available to individuals andfamilies with an HIV-positivemember and living within HUD

low-income limits to retain housing-11,703 bed nights provided inBirmingham and statewide-

HOPWA Long-Term Tenant-Based Rental Assistance:

TBRA vouchers for on-goingrental assistance based on

tenant paying 30% of adjustedgross income

-47,861 bed nights provided inBirmingham and statewide-

The LANGLEY CENTERServices and Staff

Transportation to medical and social serviceappointments is an important part of our clients'

successful journeys toward independence, health, andhousing stability. AIDS Alabama vans and drivers

provided 15,097 legs of transportation in Birmingham.Statewide, AIDS Alabama coordinated with other ASOs to provide 23,860 legs of transportation with funding

from HOPWA.

Staff at our campus oversee daily logistics at TheLangley Center, The Rectory, Agape House, Agape II,JASPER House, and Mustard Seed. Case managementservices were provided to 861 individuals and familiesin 2015, totaling over 7,100 hours of service to ourclients. The Langley Center serves as a treatmentcenter, computer lab, and recreational facility

for residents.

Our commercial kitchen, which is located on theresidential campus, furnishes three meals and twosnacks daily to residents of JASPER House and TheRectory using a nutritionally-approved menu. In 2015,

over 23,300 meals were served!

In its 6th year, Dining OutFor Life®, is AIDSAlabama's biggest

fundraiser. 2015's eventhad record numbers!

$24,365.34 in net revenueand 29 restaurant partners!

Generous AIDS Alabama donors andcommunity partners support Holiday Wishevery year at Christmas. Holiday Wish

provides toys, clothes, books, and gift cardsto the children of the families in AIDS

Alabama housing programs.

For the 10th Annual Red Hot for theCause, AIDS Alabama moved the eventto New Year's Eve! A good time was hadby all who attended and we had thechance to ring in a new year of

opportunities to serve our clients. 2016will also mark our 30th anniversary.

AIDS Alabama3529 7th Avenue SouthBirmingham, AL 35222

205.324.9822www.aidsalabama.org

AIDS Alabama devotes itsenergy and resourcesstatewide to helping peoplewith HIV/AIDS live healthy,

independent lives and worksto prevent the spread of HIV.

> Housing> Policy & Advocacy> Supportive Services> HIV Prevention & Education> Free & Confidential HIV Testing> Retention In Care