The video presents first‑person testimonies from four residents—John Paul Martinez, Bob Helm, Nerlene Hogan, and Kim Sturgis—who each recount being diagnosed HIV positive, the ensuing loss of housing, health challenges, and emotional hardship. Their narratives illustrate how the nonprofit organization ASD (A Home For Life) provided stable housing, supportive services, and a caring community that restored their health, self‑respect, and sense of security. The speakers express deep gratitude toward ASD staff, volunteers, and donors, emphasizing that without this support they might have faced homelessness or worse. The content underscores the critical role of nonprofit housing programs in addressing the intersection of HIV, poverty, and social isolation.
Chapters
My name is John Paul Martinez, and this is my story. I first found out I was HIV positive through a diagnosis from a blood test while I was still on active duty in the military. At that time, I had shown no signs of any diseases. It was strictly found during a blood test. Getting HIV really affected my living arrangement to the point of where I was evicted. And pretty much left with nowhere to go.
My name is Bob Helm, and I'm 58 years old, and I've been a resident for 15 years. When I found out that I was HIV positive, my emotions ran the whole gamut from anger to resentment to acceptance. That process took several years.
My name is Nerlene Hogan. I moved to Texas in 2002, and in 2003, I was diagnosed. I went to the doctor for my annual checkup. The doctor did blood work, and then like 3 weeks later, she called me back and told me that I needed to come to the office to see her. And when I went to the office to find out what was wrong, she told me, and it crushed my heart.
I'm Kim Sturgis, and this is my story. I've been a steelworker for 28 years, and in '93 I was diagnosed HIV positive, and I continued working until '05. I was diagnosed with throat cancer. When I got sick, I lost my finances. I lost everything. The only thing that I did not lose Was my wife. She never quit on me. And I lost everything else behind it.
When I first found out I had HIV, I didn't want to believe it. I was in shock. When we lost our home, I felt like a tornado came and I was being uprooted.
Losing the home I love was quite shocking, degrading, embarrassing.
It was just a matter of, you know, moving out, and that's when I went into the hospital.
It took me about 4 to 5 months before I could tell my mom.
I was devastated. I couldn't believe I'd done that to myself.
Since 1996, a lot of things have changed in my life, the most important being my health and my attitude and my self-respect.
The doctor had told my family that I only had a couple of weeks to live, and then found out there was an opening here at ASD. I knew nothing about ASD, but my doctor got me in here, and here I am 15 years later.
I heard about ASD through one of my doctors at the clinic because I would talk to some of the caseworkers up there about somewhere to live. And after I did the intake, I got a call and said that I was approved to move into the apartment.
If I didn't have ASD in my life, I would probably be under the bridge. But because of the advantages and the programs I got here, and I like the community, and I met a lot of different people, and this has given my freedom of life, I guess, back. The ability to live again.
Living here at ASD now is absolutely incredible. I love the staff, I love the services, I love the ability that they're able to give someone to regain their life and to regain the control of their life.
ASD has definitely given me a feeling of security, stability. I'm happy and I'm comfortable and I have my own place and my own space and my children are with me, so I'm very content.
Living here at ASD has taken a lot of stress away from me. Just having a place to live.
It really scares me to think where I would be without ASD. There is absolutely no telling. I think the most important thing I would say to the people here are thank you with much gratitude and appreciation.
If I had one word to say to the people at ASD, it's thanks, because if you weren't here, I don't know what me or a lot of people would do.
Thank you very much, because if it wasn't for you, We would not be here, and I would like to thank you for me and my family. You're doing a wonderful thing. You're helping so many people who would otherwise have nowhere to go.
Since ASD is a nonprofit organization, this place cannot exist without additional funding, and that comes from the volunteers and the donors. I would just like to give them a big thank you.
A heartfelt thank you to all of those who donate time, love, and money to ASD.
