Effect of HIV Housing Services on Engagement in Care and Treatment, New York City, 2011

Abstract

The federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program addresses housing needs of low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene oversees 22 HOPWA contracts for over 2,400 clients, and manages the NYC HIV Registry. HOPWA clients (N = 1,357) were matched to a random 20 % sample of other PLWHA (N = 13,489). Groups were compared on HIV care retention, viral suppression, and rebound. HOPWA clients were, on average, 3 years younger and more likely to be concurrently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. While HOPWA clients were more likely to be retained in care (94 vs. 82 %; mOR = 2.97, 95 % CI 2.35–3.74), they were no more likely to achieve suppression (84 vs. 86 %; mOR = 0.85, 95 % 0.70–1.03) and were more likely to rebound (11 vs. 7 %; mOR = 1.45; 95 % CI 1.10–1.91). HIV care retention does not fully translate to virologic suppression in this low-income service population.