Status: Home provides permanent supportive housing for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in metro Atlanta, combining stable housing with services such as access to medical care, mental health resources, and life skills support. The organization traces its roots to 1988, when it was founded as Jerusalem House, Atlanta’s first permanent supportive housing program for people living with AIDS. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Status: Home President and CEO Maryum Phillips to learn more.
Maryum Phillips’ Background
When asked about her background and what led her to the HIV housing space, Phillips shared:
I moved to Atlanta in 1999 with a goal of attending graduate school in non-profit management and making a career of giving back. Through that program, I got engaged in the Atlanta community and started working with homeless services, education and children’s services causes.
I have always been passionate about homeless services, so leading a housing organization that helps solve this crisis is an honor.
How Status: Home Started
When asked how the idea for Status: Home came together, Phillips explained:
The idea behind Status: Home started in 1988, long before we carried this name. It began with Evelyn Ullman and other community leaders, who saw firsthand how the AIDS crisis was leaving people not just sick, but unhoused and alone.
After a meeting at AID Atlanta about the growing housing need, they literally stepped into the hallway and said, “We have to do something.” That “something” became Jerusalem House, Atlanta’s first permanent supportive housing program for people living with AIDS.
They gathered community leaders, fought zoning battles, and built a home where people could live and die with dignity. Over the years, we’ve evolved to meet the moment, expanding our programs, changing our name, and continuing to fight for housing as a human right.
Status: Home is a direct continuation of that bold, community-rooted legacy.
The Halcyon Ribbon Cutting
When asked about her favorite or most meaningful memory working at Status: Home so far, Phillips recalled:
Without question, it was the ribbon cutting for The Halcyon on Ullman Court. Standing outside the newly renovated building, with our community, staff, supporters, and residents all gathered together, I felt the full weight and joy of what we had accomplished.
It’s my favorite memory not because of the ceremony itself, but because it represented everything Status: Home stands for: resilience, equity, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home.
Core Programs And Services
When asked about Status: Home’s core programs, services, and distinguishing features, Phillips detailed:
Status: Home provides permanent supportive housing for people living with HIV in metro Atlanta. Our programs combine stable housing with wraparound services such as access to medical care, mental health resources, and life skills training.
We emphasize that housing is healthcare and focus on helping residents achieve viral suppression, stability, and long-term well-being.
Navigating Funding Challenges
When asked about major challenges in the HIV housing space and how the organization has navigated them, Phillips explained:
Yes, one of the major challenges we’ve faced recently is funding, both in terms of reduced local support and looming threats to federal HIV housing dollars.
We’ve responded by doubling down on advocacy at every level, mobilizing our community to speak out, and diversifying our funding streams.
This has included expanding partnerships, pursuing more private and philanthropic sources, and tightening our strategic messaging to highlight the life-saving impact of housing for people living with HIV.
How The Housing Model Has Evolved
When asked how Status: Home’s approach and service model have evolved, particularly through recent property acquisitions, Phillips said:
Status: Home recently completed a $26.5 million capital campaign that enabled the purchase and renovation of five multifamily properties.
Renovations, particularly at the Ullman Court property, are part of a broader effort to ensure long-term affordability and expand our supportive housing model across metro Atlanta.
Key Organization Milestones
When asked about some of Status: Home’s most significant milestones, Phillips highlighted:
The successful completion of the $26.5 million capital campaign and the recent ribbon-cutting event celebrating these renovations are among the most significant milestones.
The final $75,000 gift came from Georgia Power Corporation, marking the close of the campaign.
Status: Home will mark the campaign’s official close on September 30 at Opening Doors, an open house celebrating the organization’s new Midtown Atlanta office. Campaign donors are invited to tour the newly renovated space and watch the premiere of a video featuring the mayor and campaign funders, with remarks from staff and a resident speaker.
Resident Success Stories
When asked to share resident success stories that capture the impact of Status: Home’s work, Phillips said:
One story that stays with me is from a resident who told us, “I just celebrated four years in September. That’s the longest I’ve lived anywhere.”
That might sound simple, but when you’ve experienced chronic housing instability, that kind of permanence means everything. They added, “I don’t think there’s another program that could have been in that I would still be a resident.”
That speaks volumes about what we aim to provide at Status: Home, not just a place to sleep, but a place to heal, rebuild, and stay.
Another resident shared, “Where I see myself now is helping someone like someone helped me. Because you can still live a vibrant, healthy, and fulfilling life with a diagnosis.”
That’s what success looks like to us, not just viral suppression or stable housing, but the ability for our residents to feel whole again, to give back, and to believe in a future.
What Differentiates Status: Home
When asked what differentiates Status: Home from other HIV/AIDS support organizations and housing providers, Phillips explained:
Status: Home’s model is rooted in the belief that stable housing is a form of healthcare.
With wraparound services and a track record of helping 90% of residents achieve viral suppression, the organization prioritizes long-term stability and holistic well-being rather than temporary shelter.
Future Goals
When discussing Status: Home’s future goals, Phillips highlighted plans to address the needs of an aging population living with HIV:
One of our most meaningful goals on the horizon is developing senior housing specifically for people living with HIV.
As our community ages, we’re seeing more and more folks who’ve survived the epidemic, but now face isolation, stigma, and housing insecurity in their later years.
We want to create a space that honors their resilience, meets their healthcare needs, and offers the dignity of aging in a supportive, affirming home.
