As Atlanta celebrates Pride month, it’s also a moment for raising awareness and providing support as Black LGBTQ residents remain a vulnerable population to a persistent public health crisis.
In 2023, the South had the highest rate of HIV diagnoses out of all U.S. regions, and Black Americans had the highest rate out of all racial groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We’re still very much in an HIV epidemic,” Justin Smith, director of the Campaign to End AIDS at Positive Impact Health Centers, previously told Capital B Atlanta. “A lot of people assume HIV is no longer an issue in the U.S. That’s just not true — especially here in the South, and especially in Black communities.”
In particular, Black, LGBTQ men have been disproportionately impacted by HIV in Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Black men with male-to-male sexual contact accounted for the most HIV diagnoses in the state in 2023, at 40%.
Black gay and trans Atlantans living with HIV who are in need of comprehensive care, housing support, career help, and more can find resources across the metro area. Here’s a list of organizations focused on serving and supporting Black LGBTQ residents living with HIV:
Medical services
Carl Bean Men’s Health and Wellness Center
Carl Bean Men’s Health and Wellness Center is a nonprofit, community based clinic in Atlanta focused on serving Black, gay men. The clinic provides HIV care to residents — appointments can be booked on their website.
Address: 2140 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, Building B, Suite 201, Atlanta
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m to 5 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and every third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Make an appointment: Schedule online
AvitaCare Atlanta is a local clinic that provides medical care for transgender and gender-nonconforming patients as they offer hormone therapy, surgical referrals, behavioral health services, and self-injection training. The clinic offers “HIV Rapid Care” appointments to establish coordinated treatment plans, ongoing provider support, and an on-site pharmacy to promote long-term wellness and viral suppression for their clients.
Address: 2140 Peachtree Road, Ste 232, Atlanta
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Make an appointment: Schedule online
Positive Impact Health Centers
Positive Impact Health Centers operates multiple clinics throughout the metro area, where they deliver comprehensive HIV care, including dental services, ongoing HIV treatment, housing assistance, mental health services and more.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Make an appointment: In Clayton, call (678) 210-9750. In Decatur: (404) 589-9040. In Duluth: (770) 962-8396. In Marietta: (770) 514-2464.
ERC is a low-cost community clinic that helps provide care for those facing financial challenges. The clinic provides HIV-specialty care through outpatient primary care and referrals. This includes laboratory monitoring, physical examinations, preventive services, anti-retroviral therapy, management of HIV-related complaints and conditions, and referrals to other specialists.
Address: 230 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1800, Atlanta
Hours: Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Make an appointment: Schedule online.
To Our Shores is a Gwinnett County based nonprofit organization that offers comprehensive HIV and primary care services to residents living in metro Atlanta. The organization offers care for uninsured individuals.
Address: 250 Langley Drive, Suite 1101, Lawrenceville
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00 p.m.
Make an appointment: Schedule online
Grady Health’s Ponce de Leon Center is one of America’s largest, most comprehensive facilities dedicated to treating advanced HIV/AIDS, according to the clinic’s website. Care is offered to anyone ages 24 or younger who has tested positive for HIV. For anyone over the age of 24, they must be a resident of Metro Atlanta and have a CD4 count of less than 200 or an AIDS defining illness, be a pregnant woman, be a Grady patient, or meet other criteria.
Address: 341 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta
Make an appointment: call (404) 616-1000
Underneath the Ryan White program, Aniz Inc. offers mental health and support services to those living with HIV. The community based organization offers individual and group counseling, substance use counseling, medical transportation, referrals to support services, and other medical services.
Address: 236 Forsyth St. SW, #300, Atlanta
Hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Make an appointment: Call (404) 521-2410, or visit their website.
With locations in Midtown and Newnan, AID Atlanta provides HIV/AIDS prevention and care services, including HIV medical care, HIV/STD screening, PrEP, case management, a statewide information hotline and more. The organization offers sliding scale fees for uninsured and low income patients.
Address: 1438 W. Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, and 770 Greison Trail, Newnan
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Make an appointment: Call (800) 551-2728.
Housing Assistance
A Vision 4 Hope is a faith-based nonprofit organization in the South Fulton area providing support and services to the LGBTQ community. The organization offers COVID, HIV and STD testing, as well as housing assistance.
Address: 1800 Phoenix Blvd., Building 200, Suite 210, College Park
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Contact: call (678) 705-3814
The Trans Housing Coalition is an Atlanta-based, trans-led and founded organization aimed at getting chronically homeless trans and gender nonconforming people into long-term housing.
Contact: Call (404) 458-7109, or fill out an application online
NAESM is a nonprofit, community based organization devoted to the health and wellness of Black gay men. The organization was one of the first Black community based nonprofit organizations to stand on the frontlines in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, according to their website. NAESM offers short-term housing and rent and mortgage assistance for those living with HIV.
Address: 315 14th St. NW, Atlanta
Hours: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Make an appointment: Call (470) 661-4667
Hope Atlanta works to help find shelter and housing for at-risk populations, including those living with HIV. The organization also provides holistic services like mental health treatment, workforce development and more.
Address: 458 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Building B, Terrace Level
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Make an appointment: call (404) 817-7070
Blessed Horizons provides housing at multiple properties for residents recovering from substance abuse, LGBTQ+ residents, and seniors. The organization offers in-house meetings, transportation, additional counseling, therapy and job training in a structured safe environment.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: call (404) 697-6146
Career advancement
Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency
ACSS provides employment training and referrals to Atlanta residents that are facing employment barriers. The nonprofit aims to connect residents to meaningful, career-oriented jobs. Some of the services offered include career financial education and coaching, a career accelerator bootcamp, and supportive services.
Contact: call (404) 874-8001
Strive is a national nonprofit workforce development organization that provides career training, job placement, and lifetime support for individuals facing systemic barriers to employment. With a program located in Atlanta, residents can partake in Strive’s “Career Path” program that helps residents get jobs in various industries.
Address: 236 Forsyth St. SW, Suite 502, Atlanta
Contact: fill out a form online
Urban League of Greater Atlanta
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta, which is focused on the economic success of Black and underserved communities, offers career and employment help to residents. Some of its services include financial education,one-on-one coaching, case management, and classes including GED prep, digital literacy, and life skills to enhance job retention.
Address: 230 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 2600, Atlanta
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: Call 404-802-1100 or email info@ulgatl.org
Food and nutrition
Open Hand Atlanta is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health outcomes through the delivery of medically tailored meals and nutrition education. The organization serves residents across Georgia, focusing on those with chronic or severe health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and HIV/AIDS. Information on eligibility or to request services can be found on the organization’s website.
The Grocery Spot is a nonprofit grocery store and community hub located in Grove Park. The store offers a free shopping experience for Atlanta residents. To participate, residents must sign up by appointment.
Address: 2615 Donald Lee Holloway Parkway NW, Atlanta
Hours: Tuesday and Friday, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Make an appointment: Sign up online
Hosea Helps offers free emergency groceries for those in need. Residents can visit the organization’s care center during the week for food packages that fit the cooking capability of each household.
Address: 2545 Forrest Hills Drive SW, Atlanta
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: call (404) 755-3353
Residents can schedule an appointment to pick up groceries at one of ACFB’s community food centers, located in Jonesboro, Stone Mountain, Marietta, and Atlanta. Residents can also go to a partnered food pantry.
To locate a pantry, residents can use the food pantry finder on ACFB’s website. Some pantries may require proof of local residency and offer curbside delivery, according to the website. You can also text “FINDFOOD” or “COMIDA” to (888) 976-2232 to access the information via text message.
