During the darkest period of his life, “Glenn” scrambled every day just to meet his most basic need – shelter.

Glenn was diagnosed with HIV in 1998 while living with and caring for a close friend with multiple sclerosis. As his friend’s health steadily deteriorated, Glenn’s increasing focus on helping him resulted in the neglect of his own physical well-being.  When his friend ultimately returned to his family in Florida, Glenn suddenly found himself jobless and homeless.

SURVIVING IN A STORAGE UNIT
Before leaving, his friend placed his belongings in storage and gave Glenn a key to the unit.  With no other option for housing, Glenn resorted to climbing the fence at the facility nightly to sleep in the unit.  Though able to access HIV treatment through assistance programs, Glenn had to bury his medication in the ground for storage because he did not have a refrigerator. The constant fear of being discovered and thrown out of the facility took a heavy toll on his health.

“JERUSALEM” MEANS “DWELLING OF PEACE”
Then Glenn found Jerusalem House, and today he is a resident in our Scattered Site I Program.  His T-cell count has risen from 19 when he arrived to over 600 today, and his HIV viral load, which was once “off the charts,” is now undetectable.  He credits this dramatic improvement to shedding the worries about where he would sleep every night.  He now plans for his future, which includes becoming certified in HIV/AIDS peer education so that he can help others in his community.

In these difficult economic times, we hear countless stories of people losing their jobs, desperate to figure out how to meet the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.  Since 1989, Jerusalem House has provided housing for Atlanta’s homeless and low-income individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.  Our programs provide the assurance and security of roofs over the heads of the 300 people we serve daily – including 100 children. In these “dwellings of peace,” they focus on healing and becoming all that they aspire to be.

WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE
Without your support, Jerusalem House would not be able to bring people like Glenn in from off the street or, in his case, makeshift accommodations.  Your gift will enable Jerusalem House to help meet the most fundamental of human needs – housing – for the less fortunate, as well as to provide a complete range of supportive services necessary to turn around their lives.

Jerusalem House remains committed to serving those in our community with the greatest need.  We invite you to join us this year and help provide assistance to those struggling day-to-day simply to find a safe place to rest their heads at night.

$50 – One day of housing in our Scattered Site Programs for a homeless or low-income family affected by HIV/AIDS

$100 – One day of housing in our Program for Adults for a homeless individual living with AIDS

$200 – One day of housing in our Family Program for a homeless mother with HIV/AIDS and her children

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to Jerusalem House. Your investment in our housing programs truly transforms lives – creating hope and building futures for residents like Glenn.  Thank you!