AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) was first recognized in the USA in 1981; HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, was only identified a year earlier. People living with HIV/AIDS had few resources and only a few hospitals would accept people living with the disease for care. HIV education was limited, and although the ways in which the virus is transmitted was available and published, it was rarely read by the general public. Basic housing for people with HIV/AIDS was very limited, and secure, independent housing was non-existent.

The need for safe, affordable housing is tremendous as HIV/AIDS takes a emotional, mental, and physical toll on the people infected or affected. Entitlements often do not allow people to pay for the cost of living on Long Island, as the cost of living on Long Island is one of the highest in the United States.