For over 20 years, AIDS Vancouver Island (AVI) has provided comprehensive, accessible and effective education, prevention, care, treatment and support services to residents of Vancouver Island. At the time of its founding, HIV was raging through the gay community, and people infected with the virus were rapidly progressing to AIDS and dying in a short time span.  Initially, the organization’s activities centered on education and prevention, but were soon expanded to include care, treatment and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

AVI has responded to the changing demographics of HIV infection as the virus has moved into the injection drug using population, Aboriginal peoples, women and youth. Increasingly, hepatitis C has infected or co-infected the people that AVI serves. Therefore in response to a growing unmet need for education and support, AVI added hepatitis C education to its mandate in 2003.

AIDS Vancouver Island has a history of developing targeted and innovative interventions designed to prevent the transmission of HIV and to ensure healthier outcomes for those living with the disease. Some of the programs the organization currently operates include:

• The Positive Wellness Program, which offers short-term and solutions-based counselling for HIV infected and affected clients, as well as advocacy and assistance regarding income security, housing, legal and family issues.
• Street Outreach Services, providing a needle exchange, health promotion and harm reduction information, and anonymous HIV, hepatitis C, pregnancy and STD testing through the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
• Health Promotion and Community Development programs, including an Infoline, Speaker’s Bureau and Resource Centre.

Victoria Cool Aid Society works to eliminate homelessness and improve the community’s quality of life by working with others to build a community where:

• No one is forced to sleep on the street or go hungry.
• Everyone who needs supportive housing is getting it.
• Integrated health care services are provided to treat illness and promote wellness.
• A range of services and resources are provided to those with mental health and addiction issues.

Cool Aid advocates for and provides integrated health care services, supported housing and emergency shelter to marginalized adults. We operate two emergency shelters: Streetlink, a 65-95 bed shelter for men and women where clients also receive hot, nutritious meals, referrals, hygiene services, health care and life skills counselling; and Sandy Merriman House, which provides 20-25 beds for women and similar services. We manage a supported housing program, providing 208 units of safe and affordable housing including: Swift House, Pandora Housing, Mike Gidora Place, FairWay Woods, and Hillside Terrace; and operate the Downtown Community Activity Centre, an important resource for downtown residents.

Cool Aid also manages a comprehensive range of health services. Our Community Health Centre includes a full-service dental clinic, a pharmacy, and specialized services such as nutrition, alcohol and drug counselling. The REES Network provides Resources, Education Employment and Support to mental health consumers and their families and manages a casual labour pool.