 "We are at the end of the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, not the beginning of the end."
Those words, from the front line of AIDS policy, remind us that the epidemic is far from over. For many people with AIDS, the battle for life itself has eased, but their battle for quality of life is fierce. Today, those who respond well to new AIDS medications have a chance to rebuild their lives, but the process is not easy. Nothing about AIDS is easy.
In the early years of the disease, community volunteers rallied to support their friends who had lost everything to AIDS, including their homes, jobs, and even the support of their families. The founders of Chicago House volunteered their time and energy to restore dignity to the lives of their friends in their final days.
Today, Chicago House serves families and individuals who never had homes, jobs, or the support of their families, even before being diagnosed with AIDS. The disease now impacts people who are dealing with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, and generational cycles of extreme poverty. While new treatments allow people with HIV to live longer and healthier lives, Chicago House still relies upon the compassion and concern of the community to bring stability and hope to the people we serve. For more than two decades, we have been fighting for Chicagoans who are marginalized by HIV and AIDS. We will be here until we have won.
Continued Hope,
The Reverend Stan J. Sloan
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