Building new housing facilities is now more a reality than a dream for Project Transitions, the local nonprofit whose efforts focus on providing hospice care, housing, and support to folks with HIV.

Wednesday, May 25, marked the announcement of a new $3.5 million campaign – called HIV: Housing Is Vital – that will help the development of two housing facilities with a combined 101 units for those dealing with HIV. This campaign will supplement more than $25 million in public funding for the projects’ construction.

Roosevelt Gardens (Courtesy of Project Transitions)

The two facilities that will receive funding are both in Northwest Austin: Roosevelt Gardens, scheduled to take in new clients in July 2022, and Burnet Place, which will begin construction this year and open in Dec. 2023. Both will offer telehealth, an on-site clinic, and services such as mental health counseling and life skills.

Project Transitions Executive Director Charlotte Hale co-chairs the House Is Vital campaign, and in a press release from PT explained the importance of supporting housing-insecure and HIV-positive people. “When people with HIV don’t have stable housing,” she said, “they often aren’t able to sustain their daily medication, which suppresses the virus … These two facilities are the best possible news, and I’ve been so gratified by the response we’ve had so far.”

Executive Director Charlotte Hale (Photo by John Anderson)

Donations have come from both individuals such as HIV campaign Co-Chair Lawrence Aldridge and companies like the Federal Home Loan Banks of Atlanta and Dallas, who contributed $1.25 million combined. With the total amount raised currently at $3,161,559, response to the campaign has been overwhelming, Aldridge said. “Before we can even get into the details, people have been jumping in to make pledges,” he recalled. “They understand that these facilities will serve Central Texas for generations to come — and who doesn’t want to be a part of that?”

At about 90% of the way to their $3.5 million goal, Project Transitions is confident in making the two facilities a reality. “When we first considered developing these new facilities, we never dreamed we could raise this kind of funding in support,” said Board President Craig Davis. “As a lean social service nonprofit, we don’t have the resources to invest in projects like these. But thanks to Lew, Charlotte, and their volunteer committee, we’re more than 90 percent of the way there already. What they have accomplished is remarkable.”

To learn more about the campaign and support it yourself, check out projecttranstions.org/housing-is-vital.