“Even in 2017, if a roommate or an employer finds out, there are real consequences for people living with HIV. And HIV is still with us – it’s still a concern. We want to make sure people know how to avoid getting infected with HIV, and reduce the prevalence of HIV in our community.”
For more than 30 years, the Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) – a grantee of the Community Foundation – has been providing support, advocacy, and education to community members who are living with, or who are affected, by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
“We started in 1985 when people’s friends started dying of an unknown disease,” says Ana Hopperstad, Executive Director. “The community organized to support people as they were becoming ill.
“Over the years, medication and treatment has improved incredibly, and the population has changed from mostly gay men. While 60% of people for whom we provide case management identify as men who have sex with men, people who come through our doors are also people who are living in poverty, people who are homeless – in short, people without resources, who may also have mental health issues or addictions.”
As such, BCAP further serves as an outreach and information center to prevent further transmission of HIV and the resulting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
“Because of the stigma that continues to exist about HIV, many people still aren’t comfortable sharing their diagnoses in mainstream settings,” explains Ana. “And they’re not comfortable going to other community organizations for assistance.” In response, BCAP provides tiers of case management for people living with HIV – based on individual assessments – and preventive services, including free HIV testing.
“For people who need the most medical support, our case managers develop a wellness plan,” Ana continues. “We also conduct assessments around basic needs – like food, shelter, dental care, and more.
“Here at BCAP, we have food pantries at our Boulder and Longmont locations, serving Longmont and East Boulder County. We also provide housing subsidies so that people with really low-incomes can seek an apartment in Boulder County.”
Indeed, BCAP services have expanded beyond health services to include housing support and food assistance, insurance and financial services, as well as other pro bono services, and peer support.
“When you think big picture, anyone who is living with HIV – whether newly diagnosed, or living with HIV for a long time – needs to stay stable so they don’t fall out of care, and continue to follow treatments prescribed by physicians,” says Ana. “We go full circle, including prevention and risk reduction, emotional support and counseling, and lots of education.
“We go into schools and talk to middle- and high-schoolers through our speakers program: people who are positive talk to students about their experiences.”
Additionally, in partnership with Boulder County Public Health, BCAP’s Works Program provides syringes (confidentially) for individuals who inject opioids. “We provide harm reduction services to reduce HIV and viral hepatitis transmission among people who inject, and their partners,” Ana explains. “We also provide overdose prevention.”
“We’re always striving to increase awareness,” Ana concludes. “Even in 2017, if a roommate or an employer finds out, there are real consequences for people living with HIV. And HIV is still with us – it’s still a concern. We want to make sure people know how to avoid getting infected with HIV, and reduce the prevalence of HIV in our community.
“While our strategy is to move the needle toward fewer and fewer cases, we’re seeing younger and younger people who have been diagnosed with HIV. So while HIV/AIDS is no longer the crisis it once was – you don’t see people with wasting disease or lesions on their faces – there are still an estimated 600 people living with HIV in our region, and an estimated 100 who aren’t aware of their status.
“Part of our job, then, is to overcome apathy, and the attitude – not just in our community, but nationally – that HIV isn’t an issue anymore. We’re also working to decriminalize HIV, and impact the stigma around both HIV and drug users.
“When the political climate isn’t as supportive, we have to work twice as hard to keep our services going. But we remain steadfast in making sure people have access to treatment. We will continue to fight and problem-solve and be creative to make sure people can enjoy great health and well-being, and realize their potential.”
