Memphis is known for the high levels of poverty throughout the city, but where there are high poverty rates in Memphis, there are also high incidents of HIV/AIDS.
Data from the Shelby County Health Department shows a correlation between areas in Memphis with high poverty rates and high rates of people with HIV/AIDS. The Memphis ZIP Codes with higher poverty rates especially have larger HIV/AIDS rates. The chart below shows the ZIP Codes with the highest poverty rates and HIV/AIDS rates.
Data from the Shelby County Health Department shows a correlation between areas in Memphis with high poverty rates and high rates of people with HIV/AIDS. The Memphis ZIP Codes with higher poverty rates especially have larger HIV/AIDS rates. The chart below shows the ZIP Codes with the highest poverty rates and HIV/AIDS rates.
For the most part, “the incidents [of HIV/AIDS] [go] up as the people get poorer,” said Shelby County Data Analyst Chaitra Subramanya. “Since they are poor, they might not have access to health care [or education].”
Subramanya said that there are more tests and research that need to be done to see if there is a factual correlation between the two. “I don’t think that we can just say off the chart that they are connected to each other,” said Subramanya.
In Memphis, serving people with HIV/AIDS is the mission of Friends for Life. The organization also supplies food, medical care and housing to people living in poverty and infected with HIV/AIDS.
Kim Daugherty, executive director of Friends for Life, said that the organization is “geared to help people who are low income living with HIV/AIDS,” because people who have fewer resources need more help. In Shelby County, the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS are reported in African-American men who have had sexual relations with other men.
“There was a need for this agency in Memphis,” said Joey Brown, a full-time employee at Friends for Life.
Brown was a part of the team that brought the Aids to End AIDS committee to Memphis in 1985. He was a volunteer then, but he eventually became a part-time employee and now he is the nutritional services coordinator.
Friends for Life helps about 2,100 people a year out of the approximately 8,000 people in Memphis living with HIV/AIDS. The organization has helped approximately 40 people who were homeless and living with HIV move into permanent housing, and supplies an additional 40 families with housing vouchers to help them pay for housing expenses.
“We’re here for people when they need us,” said Daugherty.
For instance, Daugherty said she has been working with a woman who has a criminal past and is infected with HIV. She was homeless and could not get a job, and Daugherty helped her with re-entry. The woman is now moving out of a homeless shelter into her own apartment.
Subramanya said that there are more tests and research that need to be done to see if there is a factual correlation between the two. “I don’t think that we can just say off the chart that they are connected to each other,” said Subramanya.
In Memphis, serving people with HIV/AIDS is the mission of Friends for Life. The organization also supplies food, medical care and housing to people living in poverty and infected with HIV/AIDS.
Kim Daugherty, executive director of Friends for Life, said that the organization is “geared to help people who are low income living with HIV/AIDS,” because people who have fewer resources need more help. In Shelby County, the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS are reported in African-American men who have had sexual relations with other men.
“There was a need for this agency in Memphis,” said Joey Brown, a full-time employee at Friends for Life.
Brown was a part of the team that brought the Aids to End AIDS committee to Memphis in 1985. He was a volunteer then, but he eventually became a part-time employee and now he is the nutritional services coordinator.
Friends for Life helps about 2,100 people a year out of the approximately 8,000 people in Memphis living with HIV/AIDS. The organization has helped approximately 40 people who were homeless and living with HIV move into permanent housing, and supplies an additional 40 families with housing vouchers to help them pay for housing expenses.
“We’re here for people when they need us,” said Daugherty.
For instance, Daugherty said she has been working with a woman who has a criminal past and is infected with HIV. She was homeless and could not get a job, and Daugherty helped her with re-entry. The woman is now moving out of a homeless shelter into her own apartment.
“I have a passion for the people. The people really need help and support and this is a place to make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Daugherty.
One of the organization’s clients, Steve, whose last name is being withheld because of his Friends For Life confidentiality agreement, said he got involved in Friends for Life in the 80’s when the organization first came to Memphis because he had about 75 friends and partners to HIV. He was not diagnosed with HIV until 1992, and is currently infected with HIV. He is currently a full-time Realtor and a travel agent.
“Every little bit helps, especially as you age and your income drops way down,” said Steve. “You need all the services you can get.”
Steve said he is on Medicare and receives Social Security benefits. Having the resources that Friends for Life offers is “important” to him. He receives dental and food pantry services from Friends for Life.
“People living with HIV don’t have just one problem, like all of us, they’re a whole person, and if you want to help a whole person you have to address them as a whole person,” said Daugherty.
“Every little bit helps, especially as you age and your income drops way down,” said Steve. “You need all the services you can get.”
Steve said he is on Medicare and receives Social Security benefits. Having the resources that Friends for Life offers is “important” to him. He receives dental and food pantry services from Friends for Life.
“People living with HIV don’t have just one problem, like all of us, they’re a whole person, and if you want to help a whole person you have to address them as a whole person,” said Daugherty.