AIDS Charity Has Outgrown Its Home

When it opened in its current location some 20 years ago, the Tampa support organization Francis House was serving 15-20 HIV patients daily. Now, many of its services are facing increasing demand as state and federal funding and grants dry up, and the lackluster economy hits people with HIV//AIDS, officials at the nonprofit say.

"We're just bursting at the seams," said cook Ann Nash. "The case managers are sitting in each other's lap, literally."

Besides meals, Francis House offers counseling, support groups, medical, housing, and food assistance, including grocery vouchers, as well as recreational events. Many clients are homeless, and today the group feeds 40 clients regularly and 100 during holidays.

"In an economy that is poor, we are busier than ever. Almost 40 people a day [are] hanging out in here," said Director Joy Winheim, emphasizing that the charity has outgrown its 5,000-square-foot space. "We are having to help more and more people with the same amount of money, in some cases less."

"They provide support services that people living with HIV and their families can't get anywhere else," said Michael Ruppal, executive director of the AIDS Institute, an education and advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., and the University of South Florida. "Probably their biggest contribution to the HIV community is not only their ability to provide [counseling] groups but they also provide meals, and those meals are often some of the only full meals some of these folks get each day."

A planned expansion would take more than $500,000, Francis House estimates. The group already won a $115,000 city grant to buy a lot next door. "We have to go to the community to raise as much money as possible," Winheim said.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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