Feel Good Friday - Housing Works

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, making this the perfect time to spotlight Housing Works.

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of Housing Works is "to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts."

Born from the AIDS activism of four ACT UP members—Keith Cylar, Charles King, Eric Sawyer, and Virginia Shubert—Housing Works emerged during a time when tens of thousands of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS were facing homelessness and had nowhere to turn. These founders believed that stable housing was the key to helping HIV-positive people live healthy lives and prevent further spread of the virus.

Since 1990, Housing Works has served more than 30,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Their comprehensive services include supportive housing (over 800 units), healthcare through five health centers across the city, mental health and substance use treatment, nutritional counseling, legal assistance, and their Ready For Work program—an eight-week workforce development initiative that provides job training and guarantees employment opportunities for graduates.

What sets Housing Works apart is their pioneering social enterprise model. To sustain their mission while reducing dependence on grants, they operate nine acclaimed thrift shops throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, the beloved Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in SoHo, and even opened New York State's first legal recreational cannabis dispensary in 2022. Every purchase at these businesses directly funds their lifesaving services.

Their advocacy work is equally powerful. With offices in New York City, Albany, Washington D.C., Haiti, and Puerto Rico, Housing Works fights tirelessly for legislation ensuring all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, and protection from discrimination.

If you'd like to support Housing Works, there are many ways to do so. You can volunteer at their bookstore, thrift shops, or special events like their annual Design on a Dime benefit. Consider donating items to their thrift shops or bookstore, making a financial contribution, shopping at their retail locations or online store, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected with their work.

Feel Good Friday - Partners In Health

Today is International Universal Health Coverage Day, a global observance advocating for accessible, quality healthcare for everyone—making it the perfect time to spotlight Partners In Health.

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the mission of Partners In Health is "to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. By establishing long-term relationships with sister organizations based in settings of poverty, Partners In Health strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair."

To hear the origin story of Partners In Health directly from co-founders Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and Ophelia Dahl, you can watch the documentary, Bending the Arc, which is available to stream for free on their website. This powerful film chronicles how three young idealists in their teens began a movement that would forever change global health.

Partners In Health operates on a revolutionary model rooted in accompaniment. That means meeting patients where they are and providing not just medical care, but addressing social determinants of health like food, housing, and clean water. Central to this approach is their community health worker program, which employs more than 12,000 trusted community members worldwide who serve as bridges between health systems and patients. These workers make home visits, provide social support, and ensure patients receive consistent care. Research shows PIH patients supported by community health workers are more likely to remain in care and less likely to die compared to patients at other facilities.

In 2024 alone Partners In Health has delivered remarkable impact: 2.9 million outpatient visits in supported clinics, 795,200 home visits by community health workers, 152,430 prenatal care visits to support healthy pregnancies. You can read the full impact report here. Their work spans 11 countries including Haiti, Peru, Rwanda, Mexico, Malawi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Russia, and the Navajo Nation within the United States.

If you'd like to support Partners In Health, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation to sustain their life-saving work, join PIH Engage as a volunteer community organizer in your area, or amplify their message on social media. Follow PIH on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, subscribe to their YouTube channel and share their stories of hope and healing with your network.

Feel Good Friday - JJoy Foundation

In February, I'll be heading to Cambodia with the JJoy Foundation for my 9th volunteer house building trip, which inspired me to spotlight their incredible work this week.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the mission of JJoy Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in underserved communities around the world through education, health, and housing programs.

JJoy's work spans multiple areas: they provide educational support and scholarships, deliver health and wellness programs, and build housing for families in need. My volunteer work in February will focus on their housing initiatives in Cambodia, where they partner with Volunteer Building Cambodia, a locally-run organization that's been improving living conditions for families in rural Cambodia for the past 11 years. Together, they build sturdy, traditional Khmer-style homes and latrines for families living in inadequate housing.

In rural Cambodia, 85% of families lack adequate sanitation and 35% don't have access to safe water. Dilapidated homes require constant repairs, stealing time and resources families need to focus on education, health, and livelihoods. When JJoy builds a secure home with proper sanitation, children have a safe place to study and sleep, parents can invest time in income-generating work, and the entire family gains dignity and stability.

The organization's volunteer-powered model brings people from around the world to work alongside local builders, creating not just homes but connections across cultures. These aren't just construction projects—they're foundations for better futures. Since JJoy began, volunteers have completed 104 project that have benefited more than 2,000 people!

If you'd like to support JJoy Foundation, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation through my personal fundraising page (my goal is to raise $1,000 by December 17th), or amplify their message on social media. Follow JJoy on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel. I'll also be sharing photos and stories from my trip on my Hey Miss K blog—stay tuned!