In 2019, one in five people diagnosed with HIV in San Francisco was unhoused at the time of diagnosis. This has a direct effect on health outcomes: A 2019 study found that people in San Francisco who were homeless at the time of HIV diagnosis had 27-fold higher odds of death compared to those who were housed. As a leading community-based organization in San Francisco, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) recognized the worsening housing crisis, and wanted to develop a community-driven plan for addressing homelessness among people living with HIV.
SFAF contracted with Facente Consulting to conduct a literature review, hold a series of key informant interviews with experts, and host meetings with key stakeholders in order to develop a community-driven plan to end homelessness among people living with HIV. Through this community engagement process, a new vision for the project emerged: a Call to Action, endorsed by the HIV community, calling for the city to address the root causes of homelessness for all people in San Francisco. The Call to Action included specific recommendations for services and systems changes to increase access to permanent housing stock and reduce barriers to accessing housing and supportive services.