The marginalized populations that we currently serve include people who are street involved or homeless, people who use drugs by injection, aboriginal people, youth, sex trade workers, and people who are gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender or queer.

Many of those who are street-involved or homeless also live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, as well as mental health challenges, drug and alcohol dependencies and unstable housing. These clients require intensive psychological and case management support and confront multiple barriers in accessing traditional health care services.

Isaac is 17. He has dabbled in sex work and drugs and recently came out as gay. Last summer he met an outreach worker from AIDS Vancouver Island. They linked him into the Outspeak program – a group of young peer educators who offer workshops to schools and youth service agencies addressing substance use and sexual health from a harm reduction approach.

The new space at 713 Johnson Street will help this program to grow. A bigger meeting space will mean that Isaac and his peers can push forward a new program targeting youth who use intravenous drugs. Connecting with street involved or at risk youth early in their lives will help promote safe behaviours.

The ACCESS Community Health Care Centre’s open and non-judgemental approach will make it easier, and less intimidating, for youth to get the information and services they need. From HIV and pregnancy tests to access to books and magazines, youth will have care and information within their reach.

Alice is an aboriginal woman who used to be involved in the sex trade. At the Cool Aid medical clinic she has a doctor who specializes in working with HIV. She has also been participating in AIDS Vancouver Island and the Native Friendship Centre’s women’s HIV support group.

Marginalized women are less likely to access health care services than other women. The ACCESS Community Health Care Centre will break down these barriers, providing gender specific, non-judgmental services to women.

At the ACCESS centre, women like Alice will be able to access gender-sensitive services under once roof. Support groups will have larger, more comfortable meeting spaces, and new links will be forged between other organizations, such as Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society and the Native Friendship Centre, who will have offices on the second floor.

John has HIV and lives in poverty. At the Positive Wellness Program drop-in, John meets peers from various backgrounds. John and the participants in his group illustrate how the face of AIDS has changed over the years. At one time, HIV was predominantly a gay man's issue. Today, the demographics have changed. Heterosexuals--particularly women--intravenous drug users, aboriginal communities, and youth are increasingly infected with this disease.

AIDS Vancouver Island has responded to these changes, providing comprehensive, accessible and effective education, prevention, care, treatment and support services. At the ACCESS Community Health Care Centre, people like John will be able to get a hot meal and meet with a counselor or attend a gender specific support group, and then head downstairs to the Cool Aid clinic meet with a nurse, nutritionist, or doctor. These are just some of the services that will be available to HIV+ clients.

Education and prevention programs will also benefit from the synergy of having other community groups, such as PEERS and the Native Friendship Centre, at the ACCESS centre.

Mary has hepatitis C and uses drugs by injection. Studies show that approximately 70% of people who use drugs by injection in Victoria have hepatitis C. AIDS Vancouver Island and Cool Aid have been adapting their services to meet the increasing need from people infected with this disease.

At the ACCESS Community Health Care Centre Mary will be able to meet with a doctor at the Cool Aid clinic who is specialized in treating this disease. If she wishes, she can also meet with a drug and alcohol counsellor and learn about the various services available to people who use drugs by injection. She can participate in a support group and to learn how to protect herself from other co-infections and to prevent the spread of this disease.

John and Marjie are without a fixed address. Like 70% of homeless people in our community, both of them have multiple health problems but neither of them have a doctor. At the ACCESS Community Health Care Centre John and Marjie will be able to access a variety of health and support services.

Improving access to health care for people without homes will have many benefits, such as improving their health outcomes and quality of life. When all members of our community have continued access to health care, the community at large benefits from reduced demands on ambulance, emergency and acute care services, and a reduction in the incidence of transmitted diseases. Hospitalizations may also be reduced, as health problems will be addressed sooner, saving dollars for the health care system and taxpayers.

Isaac and Joel have been working on and off in the sex trade. Joel needs dental work but can't afford it, and is reluctant because he's experienced stigma from health care practitioners in the past. Both are reluctant to approach traditional health care services.

At the ACCESS Community Health Care Centre, they will be welcomed without judgment and the Cool Aid dental clinic will work out a specialized payment plan. After Joel's dental appointment he can head upstairs to get some free condoms from AIDS Vancouver Island, and stop in to visit the Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society (PEERS) on the second floor on his way out.

Sex trade workers face marginalization and stigmatization in our society. Removing barriers to accessing health care services and bringing several services under one roof will make it easier for sex trade workers to access the services they need.

Mark is a 35-year old gay man. Last week he visited the Cool Aid Health Clinic for an anonymous HIV test. At the ACCESS Health Centre, Mark will be able to get his test and then go upstairs and visit Captain, AVI’s Gay Men’s Community Development worker and have a coffee among peers.

The ACCESS Health Centre’s doors will be open to people with any sexual orientation, providing non-judgmental, accepting care. Because HIV is still prominent in the gay community, AVI’s prevention and outreach programs help promote safe behaviours to queer adults and youth. Gay, lesbian, bi, or transgendered people can attend an on-site workshop, access health and dental care, participate as a volunteer, or pick up condoms and other information.

Pete and Nicki have been using drugs by injection for a few years. Neither has seen a medical doctor since they've been using. Over 30% of the estimated 3,000 injection drug users in Victoria do not access primary health services. Yet, people who use drugs by injection are at risk of being infected with HIV and/or hepatitis C. Consider these facts: there is a 22% HIV infection rate and over %70 infection rate for hepatitis C in this population.

Prevention and treatment programs are essential for people like Pete and Nicki. At the ACCESS Community Health Centre people who use drugs will have access to information on harm reduction. They will be able to see medical staff who are non-judgmental and knowledgeable in the treatment of HIV, hepatitis C, and co-infections and to drug and alcohol counselors.

Are you or anyone you know in need of our services? The ACCESS Health Centre will be a part of our community and its doors will be open to anyone in need of services. Please CLICK HERE to learn how you can help bring the ACCESS Health Centre to life!