When Aryah Lester, 38, signed a lease for the low-profile, free-standing house she shares with her best friend and his shaggy dog, it was a very big deal for her.
Her home is in Broward County, Florida, just north of Miami-Dade County. Lester still has to commute to Miami, but she gave up long ago on finding a place to live close to work. She is an activist for and counselor to women like herself, who are HIV-positive and transgender.
In Miami-Dade County, where it's hard for anyone to find affordable housing, the need is urgent if you have HIV or AIDS. Those who study the connection say housing insecurity contributes to poor health outcomes for this population because it intensifies stress and interferes with their life-preserving medical regimen.
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