relation: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/30383/
title: Unstable housing among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): A review of the literature and cost comparison of organizations that may provide shelter and related services
creator: Neely, Brittney
description: Stable housing is imperative for the health and well-being of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). However, housing instability remains prevalent among this population due to a range of socioecological factors. This paper provides a review of the relevant literature and a cost comparison of organizations that provide shelter and related services in Pittsburgh, PA. It was hypothesized that the comparator organization, The Open Door, Inc., provides housing services for PLWHA at a lower per-night, per-person cost when compared to alternative organizations that provide non-permanent housing. Organizations targeted for data collection were shelters, temporary/transitional housing programs, correctional facilities, hospitals/medical facilities, psychological/behavioral health facilities, and substance use rehabilitation facilities within the city of Pittsburgh. Data collection was completed through website searches, review of non-profit profiles on www.guidestar.org, and contact with staff members of participating organizations.  Data sets were gathered and/or confirmed for 33 organizations. Findings indicate that residential programs charge served individuals no or nominal per-night, per-person fees, with annual implementation costs reported separately. The $12.50 nightly rate charged to the client by The Open Door is comparable to other transitional housing programs. Hospitals and correctional facilities report substantially higher per-night, per-person room and board rates that are inclusive of implementation costs; these fees involve direct charges to the individual as well as systems-level coverage such as health insurance and tax dollars. The comparator organization likely alleviates costs to the system by limiting stays at non-residential and emergency facilities and supporting the securing of permanent residencies. This research involves several issues of public health significance: expansion of the academic literature, HIV/AIDS, housing instability, sheltering approaches, social justice issues, housing as healthcare, and related costs. Results offer a pilot cost comparison that demonstrates housing needs of PLWHA, opportunities for improving efforts to alleviate the issue, and recommendations for future cost comparisons and service provision.
date: 2017-02-24
type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
type: PeerReviewed
format: application/pdf
language: en
identifier: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/30383/1/Neely_B_thesis_12_2016.pdf
identifier:   Neely, Brittney  (2017) Unstable housing among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): A review of the literature and cost comparison of organizations that may provide shelter and related services.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)