Soldano House, one of our four group homes.
“This place has been my shelter from the storm” says Derek. After spending two months in the hospital with pneumocystis pneumonia,-a severe infection that caused one of his lungs to collapse,-Derek moved into Soldano House. As one of four group homes managed by Alliance for Housing and Healing, Soldano House provides around-the-clock care for people suffering from HIV/AIDS who are too sick to care for themselves. With two group homes in Long Beach alone, these facilities serve formerly homeless individuals who are dealing with symptomatic HIV or AIDS. In one year, more than 20 people receive care in these two homes in order to stabilize their health and plan for the future.
Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc., started out by producing the Long Beach Pride parade more than 30 years ago. Since then, they have demonstrated a deep commitment to the Long Beach community by giving out numerous grants to charitable organizations. The grant to Alliance for Housing and Healing helps to provide group homes staffed with caring nurses and social workers who manage residents’ medical treatment plans, prepare HIV-specific meals, and transition residents to independent living when they are ready. With more than 75% of the residents of the Long Beach group homes identifying as members of the LGBT community, Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc., is providing a safe haven for its brothers and sisters in their time of need.
Derek still has a way to go in his recovery. He is working with his doctors to find a medical treatment plan that will help him live as normally as possible. Until the day comes when he’s well enough to leave Soldano House, he knows that he has a roof over his head, a bed to sleep in, and a healthy next meal thanks to supporters like Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc.
