Home But Not Alone: What is HBNA?

Our History

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, metro Atlantans living with HIV/AIDS grew rapidly. With discrimination based on HIV status prevalent in housing and employment, Atlanta’s HIV+ homeless population expanded exponentially. In 1994, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s Housemate Match program introduced Home But Not Alone in response to a call for action from city leaders.

What is Home But Not Alone?

Home But Not Alone (HBNA) is a nationally recognized program of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, 501(c)(3) organization. HBNA is a unique program as it provides compatible home providers and tenants, one or both of whom are living with HIV/AIDS, with shared living arrangements. Qualified home providers in the Atlanta metro area who have an extra room in their homes are matched with qualified tenants with limited income to create a safe and affordable housing situation for both parties. The HBNA program promotes client independence, empowers the home provider to remain in the home, and furnishes the tenant with a stable home environment. The home provider receives an affordable rent form the tenant. Periodic evaluations are conducted by HBNA staff to assess the evolving nature of the roommate relationship.

This program is a free service that is open to tenants and home providers of all ages, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. One full-time housing counselor completes intakes, home provider interviews, and conducts matches. Each home provider is met by the housing counselor in their home for a personal interview, addressing housing history, current and past HIV treatment, mental health and substance abuse history, and personal and intellectual interests. Homes are inspected for structural condition, cleanliness, access to shared space, neighborhood safety, and availability of public transportation. Personal interviews discussing similar topics are also conducted with every tenant. Current HBNA trends regarding appointment-keeping, communication with staff and potential home providers, and length of roommate match reveal an increased level of engagement from tenants who are interviewed at agencies inside their comfort zone (ie. case manager’s office, doctor’s office, etc.) as opposed to MJCCA.