CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Community members gathered at the Center on Halsted for a listening session hosted by AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC).
Dozens of community members shared stories and learned more about local legislative initiatives regarding HIV and homelessness. Organizers said the session aimed to gain insight on the most pressing issues facing people living with and vulnerable to HIV, as well as people impacted by housing instability and homelessness.
"We really want to be able to hear from the community about the things that are standing in the way of people who are living with and are vulnerable to HIV and people impacted by homelessness achieving their best health and wellness," said Timothy Jackson, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy at AFC.
The session took place in the same room Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill to repeal Illinois' HIV criminalization statutes in 2021, which AFC helped to achieve. The group said the community listening session is a way to connect with the affected individuals and learn how to better create potential work in the 2024 state legislative session.
"Hopefully getting a good swath of people impacted by HIV and homelessness and see what we can do to try to help them through policy," said Jackson.
The organizers were extremely welcoming and made the atmosphere feel like a second home. Among the community members in attendance were a few migrants who recently arrived in Chicago. One person explained his recent arrival from Venezuela and was able to learn more about resources to obtain HIV medication nearby.
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