The Toledo-based service organization for people with HIV/AIDS and their families, David’s House Compassion Inc., will discontinue its residential program effective June 30.

One reason for closing the program, according to representatives at David’s House, is the city of Toledo views the organization as a duplication of services for the housing-related resources in the area.

“We are heartened by the knowledge that today there are a host of community housing programs supporting the work that David’s House Compassion once took on alone,” Jim Flynn, David’s House board president said in a press release.

Another reason for discontinuing the program is the strict eligibility requirements that must be met by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Ohio Department of Development. David’s House is still able, however, to assist clients with rent, emergency utility payments and obtaining Section 8 vouchers.

David’s House client population is also expanding and clients have numerous needs besides housing, such as financial management, general transportation and guidance with medication and nutrition.

By discontinuing the residential program, workers at David’s House hope to better serve their clients while adapting to the changing demands of AIDS treatments.

“This choice will allow them [David’s House] to stretch their resources and better serve their clients,” Toledo City Council President Louis Escobar said in a press release. “I commend them on making what must have been a difficult decision.”

David’s House is currently the home to five clients. The annual cost of services associated with one resident is $40,000, whereas the services for a non-resident client are $1,111.

The five clients that are currently living in David’s House will be provided with housing after June 30 arrives. Local housing service providers will help these residents find placement in transitional and permanent housing.

Heather Stombaugh, the executive director of resource development for David’s House, is enthusiastic about the opportunities that will arise by the reallocation of resources. “We are going to be doing a host of things,” Stombaugh said. Helping clients with financial planning as well as a program aimed at secondary prevention of HIV are just a few examples of programs David’s House will provide in response to their loss of the residential program.

David’s House will also participate in a street-level outreach program, offering hygiene products, informational literature and testing for HIV.

“We meet people where they’re at,” Stombaugh said of David’s House. Stombaugh said even if people are not immediately willing to make a lifestyle change, David’s House “will assist you to be safe in all ways.”

David’s House hopes the reallocation of resources will help the increasing numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS in Northwest Ohio.

“It is critical to focus our resources on helping people to live with the disease, with dignity and quality of life, until one day there is a cure,” Flynn said in a press release.