海角社区官网

The organization鈥檚 executive director, Ryan Lisk, described the closure as 鈥渂ittersweet.鈥� While he鈥檚 sad they鈥檙e closing, he鈥檚 heartened that medical advances in prevention and treatment now allow people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives.

鈥淭he legacy includes so many thousands of people’s lives affected by HIV, who volunteered for the organization, who received mental health support and peer support,” said Lisk. “So we’re really proud of ACT鈥檚 history and the legacy that we鈥檙e leaving.”

Lisk said there are several factors behind ACT鈥檚 decision to close. The organization has faced a series of fundraising challenges over the past 20 years. While it does receive government funding, that doesn鈥檛 cover administrative costs such as rent and operational expenses.

The organization has also seen a significant decline in its number of service users. This year, it had half as many services users compared to pre-pandemic, and it predicts it will have less than one-third in 2026 of what it had in 2019.

ACT has half as many staff as it did two decades ago.

ACT started in 1983 by a group of volunteers in response to the AIDS crisis, at a time when the virus was poorly understood and marked by stigma, long-term illness and often death.

Today, daily medication, injectable treatment and HIV PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medication for preventing HIV infection, have changed how HIV treatment and prevention are delivered in Canada and the lifespan for people living with HIV.

In the ‘80s or ‘90s, people with HIV might be told they have five to 10 years to live, said Dr. Kevin Woodward, executive & medical director of HQ Toronto, a community and sexual health centre that partners with ACT.

鈥淣ow the folks who are diagnosed with HIV and living with HIV, you’re going to live the same lifespan as somebody else,鈥� with access to treatment, Woodward said.

Addressing the needs of people living with HIV has shifted toward addressing chronic disease management, as well as mental health, housing, aging and social supports.

鈥淲e know that in people who especially have been living with HIV for a long period of time, the inflammation can cause an increased risk for heart attack, increased risk for stroke,鈥� Woodward said.

But there are still barriers to accessing medication.

鈥淥ne of the biggest groups we see in Canada who could really struggle to get their medications 鈥� (are) migrants new to Canada,鈥� Woodward said.

Refugees, for example, get interim federal health coverage that would fund the medication. Undocumented migrants might not be in a position where they feel they can access health care and may worry that they鈥檒l have to pay or be turned away due to lack of coverage.

鈥淪o how do you connect that person with the care that they need when it can be a scary experience for them to go and try and access care?鈥�

Lisk, who has been with ACT for 13 years, said while people living with HIV still need support, he鈥檚 proud of what the organization has accomplished over the last four decades.

鈥淭he needs of people living with HIV do continue 鈥� I do think for our service users, we have hope and confidence in our community partners and that the services that are available in 海角社区官网will be able to continue to support them beyond ACT.鈥�