After a long struggle that began in December 2004, the first housing program for people living with HIV, AIDS and/OR HCV (Hepatitis C) in New Hampshire and nationwide opened its doors on August 1st in Gilsum, 8 miles outside of Keene.  Named after the founder of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, The Cleve Jones Wellness House will offer service-enriched congregate housing to a total of 7 male residents age 21+.   The unique program is run by AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region (ASMR), whose offices are located on the second floor of the building providing daily oversight and management.

“There are many housing initiatives for HIV+ persons who are co-infected with HCV, but to our knowledge this is the first housing program in the nation that specifically invites individuals living with only HCV,” said Susan MacNeil, Executive Director of ASMR.  “Hepatitis C is a pandemic four times worse than HIV, for which there is no federal assistance programs. That means if there are 1.4 million people in the US living with HIV, over 4 million are living with HCV.   In 2004 our agency broadened its mission specifically to assist persons living with HCV, since over half of our HIV+ clients are co-infected.  It just made sense.”

ASMR was able to acquire the property due to the assistance of Keith Thibault, Southwestern Community Services, Keene; Peter Kelleher and Russell Haight, Harbor Homes, Nashua; NH Legal Assistance, Manchester; Attorney Steve Bragdon, Keene; and the many supporters who provided encouragement and donations between 2004 and 2006.  The agency worked with Linda Tremblay, Vice-President, Citizens Bank and Mike LaFontaine, NH Community Loan Fund to procure purchase funding of $264,000. Former owners Jim and Mary Vogel of Country Acres New England extended the original purchase and sales agreement over the course of the 18 months it took to finalize the sale.

Prospective residents must be living with either HIV and/or HCV and have low to moderate income according to federal guidelines.  Wellness House is not a hospice, halfway house, substance abuse treatment center, homeless shelter or transient housing.  It is meant to provide a safe, peaceful environment where residents are self-sufficient and empowered to contribute their particular skill-sets and abilities by fully participating in the cooperative mission of Wellness House.  Personal goals can include stretching very limited income, improving health, rebuilding lives, and finding peer support within a safe, secure environment. 

The physical site is conducive to congregate living.  Each resident has a large, private room that is wired for cable, internet and telephone.  The second and third floors have two full bathrooms as well as a washer and dryer.  The first floor features a large living room, dining room, kitchen, and porch as well as one handicapped-accessible residential room.  Bedroom furniture, linens and personal care items are available for residents who do not have their own belongings.  A large yard allows for outdoor activities. Cooking is allowed only in the kitchen, and the property is drug and alcohol-free.  Smoking is permitted outside.

The scope of services available to residents includes community-building opportunities, life-stabilizing activities and case management.  Although Wellness House invites a vulnerable population to live on site, residents must have the capacity to live independently.  Rigorous screening of residents will occur, including a criminal background and substance abuse history check.  Detailed requirements included in the Gilsum Planning and Zoning Board approval decision will guide the program’s operation.