Our History

Before 1985, there was no place in Lane County for an AIDS-affected person to turn: no education, no support, no emotional care, no advocacy within the medical provider community. People began to organize to respond to the ravages of this terrible disease.

Shanti (HIV/AIDS hospice provider) in Oregon organizes volunteers for emotional support and practical care for people with AIDS and their families and friends.

Willamette AIDS Council focuses on prevention and education.

Lane County AIDS Hospice Services establishes Acorn House hospice.

HIV/AIDS Resources and Lane County AIDS Hospice Services merges to become HIV Alliance.

Building for Hope fundraising campaign gave the agency the support it needed to move out of the rental market for the first time in over 12 years of providing AIDS-related services, and buy its own building. Grand opening for the building was in March 1997.

Acorn House hospice closes as new treatments reduce the numbers of deaths. Acorn Center began in January 97, out of the Acorn Club program, as a support center to clients.

SANA Needle Exchange is started to provide education, treatment referral, and new needles to people who inject drugs in Eugene and Springfield.

HIV Alliance begins HIV Testing and Counseling Services for people at risk for HIV/AIDS. Tests are offered in locations where at risk populations gather, including the Needle Exchange Van.

HIV Alliance commits to Demonstrated Effective Behavioral Interventions, DEBI’s, as a means of reducing the spread of HIV. DEBI’s are approved by the Centers for Disease Control. This decision leads to planning for the implementation of Community Promise, later known as The Game.

HIV Alliance applies for and is awarded a Federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant to provide dental care to people living with HIV/AIDS. The program spans a 15 county region and is part of a Special Project of National Significance.

HIV Alliance implements Rapid HIV Testing for high risk populations. This test allows individuals at risk for HIV to know their status within 30 minutes.

HIV Alliance implements a tiered volunteer training program and commits to increased use of volunteers.

HIV Alliance applies for and is awarded a Federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant to provide dental care to people living with HIV/AIDS. The program spans a 15 county region and is part of a Special Project of National Significance.

HIV Alliance’s Client Services Department expands to add Josephine and Curry counties. Our Dental Program is now serving all 15 of the counties of Southern Oregon through a main clinic at Lane Community College and 3 satellite clinics in Albany, Bend, and Medford.

The Board directs staff to expand services to include Hepatitis C.

HIV Alliance adds an evidence based intervention targeting LGBTQIA+ communities. The intervention called Social Network Strategy seeks to increase HIV testing.

The Client Services Department adds Marion, Klamath, and Lake Counties to the Care Coordination Center service area.

The Client Services Department adds Lincoln County to the Care Coordination Center. HIV Alliance begin providing prevention services in Douglas and Josephine Counties.

HIV Alliance began two new programs in the prevention department. The first is a prevention with positive program for our HIV-Positive clients. The second is to develop a Men’s Wellness Network throughout our service area beginning with five counties along the I-5 corridor.