AIDS Services of Dallas

Founded in 1987 as PWA Coalition of Dallas, AIDS Services of Dallas (“ASD") has grown into a nationally recognized model for improving the health statuses of those suffering from HIV/AIDS while preventing additional disease transmission. ASD now operates four state-licensed apartment communities that collectively provide service-enriched housing for up to 225 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

Operating on three core values - Respect, Justice, and Mercy - ASD clients are provided with a range of services designed to remove barriers to care and empower them to cope with the lifelong impact of HIV/AIDS on their physical, mental, emotional, and financial health. ASD aims to continue the support of our mission to create and strengthen healthy communities through the delivery of quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS who are economically disadvantaged and to coordinate a broad range of direct services and programs, including advocacy and education.

As the largest HIV/AIDS housing provider in the State of Texas, ASD operates four apartment communities that provide service-enriched housing to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

All four of ASD's apartment communities are located within walking distance of each other in the North Oak Cliff (adjacent to the Central Business District of Dallas). Each facility provides a privately-furnished residence for each individual or family household. All buildings have elevators and are wheelchair accessible. Common areas are available to residents of each facility for recreational and dining activities. The demand for such services is so great that, at any given time, ASD maintains a waiting list of 100-125 persons who are waiting to move into one of our residences.

These apartments have been licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services to serve up to 225 men, women and children in 152 bedrooms within 125 private apartments. ASD's model has been nationally recognized as one of the most effective strategies for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, including the HUD Best Practices Award and two separate Excellence in Affordable Housing awards from the Metropolitan Life Foundation. As such, ASD's service-enriched housing model has been replicated by many organizations nationwide.

In addition to privately-configured, furnished apartments for our residents, ASD also provides the following services vital to the health and well-being of those we serve: Home Health Care; Comprehensive Case Management (including Medical Case Management); Food Services; Handicapped-Accessible Transportation; and much more. This range of services has been demonstrated to remove barriers to care and to empower residents to cope with the overwhelming impact of HIV/AIDS, which results in a dramatic decrease in utilization of public resources such as Parkland Hospital.

Federal Funding has stabilized in programs like the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program and Ryan White. These programs have generally shifted funding from supportive services, such as Case Management, Medical Case Management and Transportation Services to medical care. All of these programs place specific restrictions on how their funds are used. However, ASD has additional funding sources for unrestricted funds that allow ASD to cover unfunded essential costs such as non-medical transportation, non-service related maintenance, and core administrative costs. These unrestricted funds also help to cover ongoing program costs in the event there is a delay in receipt of federal funds, thus allowing for uninterrupted services to our clients.
ASD maintains an on-going search and submissions process to valuable community partners, foundations, and corporate, community and individual donors to maximize our unrestricted funding in order to continue our ability to provide quality housing and supportive services for our residents.
ASD has also forged partnerships with Legacy Counseling Center, the Pride Institute and Homeward Bound, and provides referrals to residents for mental health services through Parkland Health and Hospital System, LifeNet Community Behavioral Healthcare and Dallas Metro Care.
In order to reach a transient homeless population, ASD is non-traditional in its outreach. ASD's outreach coordinator looks for people under bridges and visits local shelters, Parkland Health and Hospital System, the Veteran's Administration Hospital and other places where homeless individuals and families congregate. ASD's outreach also includes participation in the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance and maintaining its long-term affiliation with the National Minority AIDS Council. ASD also is located in North Oak Cliff, giving it close proximity to downtown Dallas and other areas where homeless populations congregate.
ASD also has strong leaders, specifically in Don Maison, President and CEO, who has served in his role for over 28 years.
ASD actively collaborates with more than 75 social service organizations from 11 North Texas counties. Collaboration is a requirement for any AIDS service organization that receives funding through the Ryan White C.A.R.E. Act, Housing for Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and/or the Texas Department of State Health Services.

As the largest HIV/AIDS housing provider in the State of Texas, ASD operates four apartment communities that provide service-enriched housing to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
AIDS Services of Dallas (ASD) was incorporated on April 28, 1987, as a Texas non-profit organization. In our 30+ year history, As of December 31, 2019, ASD has provided 1,518,653 days/nights of care to 2,183 men, women, children and families living with HIV/AIDS.
ASD target population includes:
• Single men and women, families and single parents with children living with HIV/AIDS;
• Low-income individuals (below federal poverty level);
• Single women with children;
• People of color;
• Homeless or formerly homeless individuals and families;
• Individuals and families without health insurance.
ASD's overall goal continues to focus on providing service-enriched housing to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS that have the highest physical and financial needs. Specific goals for each program during 2018-19 include:
• Providing at least 58,500 nights of housing to at least 200 low-income and formerly homeless individuals and families;
• Providing at least 25,000 nutritious meals annually;
• Providing at least 26,000 home health care hours annually;
• Providing at least 350 annual case assessments;
• Providing at least 2,500 annual units of transportation;
• Providing medical case management to approximately 180 individuals annually;
• Providing at least 12,000 units of case management services annually; and,
• Providing more than 21,000 hours of volunteer support from a diverse and multi-cultural ASD volunteer network.
Additionally, based on impact data and historical trends, during the next 12 months, it is anticipated that ASD's residents will:
• Improve or stabilize their quality of housing by 100 percent;
• Reduce their level of stress due to obtaining a secure living environment by 100 percent;
• Reduce their need for crisis intervention (medical, legal, emergency care) by 50 percent;
• Experience a decrease in housing costs and increase in funds available for health care needs by 90 percent;
• Maintain or increase adherence to prescribed medical therapies by 90 percent;
• Increase their participation in treatment and care by 90 percent;
• Improve their compliance with scheduled appointments for medical care by 80 percent;
• Maintain or decrease incidents of HIV/AIDS-related illness by 80 percent;
• Maintain or increase knowledge of HIV/AIDS-enhanced understanding of medications and treatment options by 85 percent;
• Increase or stabilize their CD-4 lymphocyte count by 75 percent;
• Decrease or stabilize their viral load by 75 percent;
• Maintain or stabilize an appropriate weight level by 80 percent;
• Increase or maintain social relationship skills by 90 percent; and
• Improve their quality of life and decrease loneliness/isolation by 75 percent.