House of Mercy Request for General Operating Expense Support

The South has the greatest number of people estimated to be living with AIDS, as well as the most AIDS deaths and new AIDS diagnoses.* More than half of new HIV infections in the U.S. occur in the south. The NC Division of Public Health estimates over 35,000 North Carolinians are living with HIV or AIDS. As of December 31, 2010 there were 6,205 reported HIV disease cases living in our 10-county service area.

Average House of Mercy Demographics: 73% African-American; 25% Caucasian; 1% Hispanic; 1% Native American; 72% Male; 28% Female; 8% Ages 20 – 29 years; 43% Ages 30 – 39 years; 35% Ages 40 – 49 years; 14% Ages 50 years and older. Current Residents: 67% African-American; 33% Caucasian; 33% Male; 67% Female. Not only residents benefit from House of Mercy's services. We provide great comfort to friends and family members who are no longer able to provide care for their loved ones, especially elderly parents. Nearly all House of Mercy residents have become Medicaid-eligible because the expense of fighting their illness has exhausted their personal resources. Most residents have had low incomes and health insurance hasn’t been an option.

Coordinated HIV care is a central element of House of Mercy’s program of services. Our client-focused strategy for coordinating care includes assessing a client’s need for specific health, psychological and social services; and assisting the client to access a wide range of services that will address those needs. Components of coordinated care include resident admission and assessment, development of a care plan including long term needs, ongoing coordination of medical services, monitoring the resident's health, and discharge planning when needed. Grant funds would help pay for caregivers' salaries and program expenses (24 hour care, clinical treatments, supplemental services) at the House of Mercy residence.