Started in 1993, Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive provides free services to sex workers, drug users, and other members of the D.C. community. The organization has three main programs: Outreach, Client Advocacy, and Peer Education. Client Advocacy provides one-to-one goal setting, advising, HIV testing, counseling and referring, as well as a 24/7 national hotline service. Peer Education runs support groups in the office that provide a safe space for goal setting programs, behavior-based programs, interest-based groups, skill building opportunities, and job training. This post will focus mostly on the Outreach Program at HIPS. It is unique in that it offers a low barrier way for all people, even people who do not feel comfortable coming into an office setting, to access services. And let’s face it: the most welcoming of offices can be intimidating, a painful reminder of past negative experiences, inaccessible, or simply low on someone’s “to-do” list even if they want the services.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night the HIPS outreach van drives around D.C. to popular strolls, night clubs, and drug hot spots to do outreach work. The van is stocked with safer sex supplies and safer injection supplies, both important to harm reduction. HIPS staff and volunteers often refer to this as “meeting people where they’re at” both mentally and physically, which is another vital aspect of harm reduction.

Ah yes, harm reduction: the term is growing in popularity and for good reason. It is a client-centered approach to behavior change that focuses on incremental, realistic changes, highlighting people’s strengths and past successes, and providing a buffet of options. To better understand how HIPS does harm reduction a reporter came on the van with myself and two other members of the HIPS outreach team.She described in detail the events which took place that night, which included an HIV test, condom and lubricant distribution, needle exchange, and an interaction with law enforcement. The article also includes an interview with the HIPS Executive Director Cyndee Clay.

The three part article can be found at: www.examiner.com/hiv-and-aids-in-washington-dc/helping-individual-prostitutes-survive-at-home-base

To be honest, I was a little concerned about having a reporter on the HIPS van as we drove around D.C. I really pride HIPS on its ability to provide confidential services. I am also aware that a lot of the work HIPS does is so successful because clients have grown to trust the organization. The reporter was the first in several years to be permitted on the van, largely because she was client-centered in her request. She wasn’t there to be voyeuristic; she was there to learn more about what HIPS does. When we rolled up and chatted with folks, I tried to protect their autonomy by making sure they knew there was a reporter on the van. I asked everyone if they had anything they wanted to share with her. I also offered to get out of the van if someone wanted to talk without a reporter present.Every person we spoke to jumped at the opportunity to gush about HIPS and tell the reporter all the services they enjoy. This was a pleasant surprise, and let the reporter really understand the relationship HIPS has with the community.

I just want to add a few points of clarification about the article. The quote about lube at the beginning of the article is out of context. We hand out lube to prevent HIV from spreading because less friction equals less tearing, and less tearing equals less of a chance HIV will be transmitted. In order to break down the stigma surrounding lube, I like to tell people that if they put a drop of lube in the tip it can feel better for them, and if they put some on the outside of the condom it can feel better for their partner. It can also make people cum faster, which is what is said in the article. This helps sex workers get the job done faster, which is sometimes desirable, but not the whole reason we pass out lube.

The second point of clarification is Jenna’s quote about the Bad Date Sheet, which is also taken out of context. Bad Date Sheets are one of my favorite tools HIPS uses. The HIPS outreach team receives reports of violence from HIPS clients and then passes them out to the community in the office and on the van. The importance of these sheets is twofold: they help keep people aware of what is going on around them and they are a therapeutic outlet for survivors of violent crime.. Many marginalized communities, especially those involved in illegal acts, do not feel comfortable reporting violence to law enforcement. The Bad Date Sheet is a nontraditional criminal justice tool that helps people look out for one another. Because HIPS listens, records, and spreads these reports, clients feel cared about and supported and are less likely to get into the vehicle of a predator. These sheets are the public service, not sex work. This isn’t clear in the way Jenna was quoted in the article.

As I hope you can tell, HIPS does more than just pass out condoms. This article only begins to explore the wonderful work HIPS does.

For more information about HIPS see http://hips.org/ If you are interested in volunteering or getting involved with HIPS, you can fill out a volunteer form on the website or contact Jenna@hips.org.

HIPS also has a 24/7 national hotline. If you or someone you know would like immediate, confidential crisis management, access to HIPS services, or questions answered call 1-800-676-HIPS (4477)