PRESS RELEASES

Here’s the latest from our agency.

Cascade AIDS Project 8/5/24 Cascade AIDS Project 8/5/24

CAP Receives $300,000 Grant from KeyBank to Launch New Health Equity Advocate Program

The Healthcare Equity Advocate will address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes among marginalized populations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR — Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) has received a $300,000 grant from KeyBank to help fund a Healthcare Equity Advocate Program, which will play a crucial role in addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for individuals in Black, Latino, Indigenous, Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. Robb Lawerence, a current CAP employee, has been promoted to the Community Healthcare Equity and Engagement Manager to implement and manage the program.

By actively engaging with community leaders, nonprofits, schools, churches, and other organizations, Robb will act as a liaison between CAP’s healthcare services and these communities. This will enable CAP to address systemic barriers to care individuals in these communities face, leading to more equitable access and better health outcomes for all.

As the oldest and largest provider of HIV services and LGBTQ+ healthcare in Oregon and southwest Washington, CAP aims to promote well-being and advance equity through inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. The grant from KeyBank increases CAP’s capacity to serve racially diverse communities in a culturally informed and responsive way through outreach, community engagement, and partnership development.

“CAP's outreach efforts play a pivotal role in connecting underserved populations with LGTBQ+ culturally specific healthcare services, and we are pleased to help this visionary organization facilitate greater community engagement and awareness about available resources,” said Josh Lyons, KeyBank Oregon and SW Washington Market President. “At KeyBank, our mission is to help our communities thrive, and this grant further underscores our commitment to DEI and improving access for all.”

"This impactful grant from KeyBank will not only advance our reach into the community where it is needed most, but it will allow CAP to cultivate deeper, more meaningful connections with those facing the greatest barriers to access care. By cultivating those relationships, we can better address those systemic barriers and improve the health and wellbeing of all those we serve” said Paul Lumley, CAP’s Chief Executive Officer.

For more information, please contact either of the following:

Dustin Vance (CAP) : 503-278-3854 / comms@capnw.org
Laura Suter (KeyBank) : 206-343-6953 / laura_suter@keybank.com

About Cascade AIDS Project

Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1985 as the Cascade AIDS Project, CAP is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We promote well-being and advance equity by providing inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017. And in 2022, Our House of Portland joined the CAP family to further expand our service offerings and allow us to offer a full lifecycle of care to our community. To learn more about CAP, please visit www.capnw.org

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at June 30, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

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Dustin Vance 7/8/24 Dustin Vance 7/8/24

CAP Celebrates Opening of Second Prism Health Clinic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR – Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is excited to announce the grand opening of its second Prism Health clinic in the historic Eliot neighborhood at 15 N Morris St., Portland, OR. The event, held on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, celebrated a significant expansion of services, continuing Prism Health's commitment to providing culturally specific, affirming, and integrated care in Primary Care, Behavioral Health, and Pharmacy Services.

Since its launch in 2017, Prism Health has become a cornerstone of community-based health care, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community and those living with HIV.

“The overwhelming public support since the clinic's inception reflects the critical need for such services," said Connie Silver, Prism Health Medical Director.

The new clinic, Prism Health | Morris, follows three years of dedicated planning, development, and fundraising, culminating in a state-of-the-art 7,500 square foot facility that doubles patient capacity and offers comprehensive health services, including pediatrics and obstetrics. It is strategically located near Dawson Park, several historically black community organizations, public transportation options, public housing, and Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, enhancing access to health services for the community.

"This location will allow us to cultivate stronger community partnerships and reach more people who need our services," added Jessica Cole, Director of Healthcare Operations.

The building that Prism Health | Morris now calls home has provided underserved communities with compassionate health care for decades. It was originally owned by barrier-breaking Oregon physician, Dr. Walter C. Reynolds, who was the first Black graduate of the University of Oregon’s medical school (now OHSU). Prism Morris will honor this legacy by offering comprehensive primary care as well as transgender health services, HIV and STI testing, mental health services, and an integrated, on-site pharmacy to anyone seeking compassionate health care, regardless of ability to pay.

The expansion was made possible by a robust funding coalition, including a notable $4 million from the Oregon legislature, aimed at addressing the state's mental health and substance use disorder crises.

“These shovel-ready projects will benefit communities in every corner of Oregon,” said Rep. Tawna Sanchez, who represents a district in North/Northeast Portland and co-chairs the Legislature’s budget committee. “This is a great thing for my Portland community and the next right step towards ensuring Oregonians of all backgrounds can get high quality, affordable care when they need it.”

In addition to the funds provided through the landmark spending bill, CAP received numerous gifts and grants through new partners and long-time supporters including:

A $618,000 grant from the Oregon Health Authority
A $300,000 grant from Seeding Justice
A $250,000 grant from Care Oregon for start-up staffing costs
A $200,000 special appropriation from the City of Portland
A $100,000 grant from the Hillman Family Foundation
A $100,000 grant from the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation
A $72,000 grant from Prosper Portland
A $20,000 gift from Ed Cauduro Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

"Thanks to our funders and partners, we're not only continuing Dr. Walter C. Reynolds' legacy of compassionate care but also expanding it to meet today's community needs," expressed Paul Lumley, CAP CEO

About Cascade AIDS Project

About Prism Health

Prism Health provides high quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all, with a focus on serving individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus all other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+). All of Prism services aim to reach the most vulnerable – those living below the poverty line, communities of color, homeless or unstably housed individuals, and people experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues.

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Cascade AIDS Project 6/28/24 Cascade AIDS Project 6/28/24

CAP Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson

This opinion will likely sow further uncertainty and trauma for the quarter of a million people who sleep outside each night in America and for the millions of families who are just one missed paycheck away from homelessness.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR — CAP condemns the decision today by the Supreme Court’s in the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. Under the ruling, localities will be able to arrest, ticket, and fine people for sleeping outdoors on public property, even if leaders have failed to produce enough affordable housing or shelter for everyone in the community who needs it.

In April of this year, CAP & Oregon Food Bank led a coalition of direct service organizations in submitting an amicus brief in the case, wherein we made the argument that homelessness is an involuntary state of being, and criminalization of the status of homelessness worsens rates of homelessness, in part by reducing income-earning potential, causing trauma, and denying access to affordable services and treatment that many may need.

Despite widespread understanding that everybody needs a safe place to sleep, The Supreme Court, in a shameful yet unsurprising ruling, ruled that homeless people are not included in the Constitution’s protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Further, the ruling will do nothing to address the primary cause of homelessness in the United States: a severe, prolonged, nationwide shortage of affordable housing.

“This decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free reign to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “At a time when elected officials need to be focused on long-term, sustainable solutions that are grounded in evidence – including funding the affordable housing and supportive services that their constituents need — this ruling allows leaders to shift the burden to law enforcement. This tactic has consistently failed to reduce homelessness in the past, and it will assuredly fail to reduce homelessness in the future.”

The ruling comes at a time when harmful and coercive homelessness policies are on the rise, despite opposition from frontline homeless service providers in communities all over the country. This is further amplified for folks who identify as LGBTQIA2S+. In a report released earlier this year, CAP and a coalition of Portland nonprofits that serve or advocate for unhoused LGBTQAI2S+ people, including groups like Basic Rights Oregon and Pride Northwest, released a first-of-its-kind report on houselessness among transgender and queer people in the Portland area.

View the Report

“With thousands of trans and queer people potentially seeking refuge in Oregon and adding to existing demand, policymakers need to think much more about the unique needs of our communities when they think about housing and homelessness,” said Seth Johnstone, a coalition member and manager of the Transgender Justice Program at Basic Rights Oregon.

Today’s ruling will likely sow further uncertainty and trauma for the quarter of a million people who sleep outside each night in America and for the millions of families who are just one missed paycheck away from homelessness. And for those who are transgender, queer, or living with HIV, the impacts are compounded, leading to far worse health outcomes. There are no LGBTQAI2S+ culturally specific emergency shelters in the Portland region. In addition, many local shelters are gendered (i.e., designated for men or women), which can result in discrimination and a lack of safety for trans and non-binary clients.

CAP calls on federal, state and local leaders to reject the false promises of a law enforcement approach to homelessness, and instead advocate for resources our communities desperately need and address the root causes of homelessness. In addition to the recommendations from our afore mentioned report, we need our leaders to make major and sustained investments in our national and regional rental assistance programs and homelessness prevention. This means investing in the production and preservation of housing available to those with the lowest incomes and increasing investments in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homeless Assistance programs.

Additionally, we call on the U.S. Congress and all statehouses to pass laws to preserve the very rights, including the right to exist in public, that the Supreme Court gutted.

We encourage our community actively engage with lawmakers to push back against the increasing trend towards criminalization of homelessness, and to advocate for the housing and services that our clients and communities so desperately need.

About Cascade AIDS Project

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Dustin Vance 3/25/24 Dustin Vance 3/25/24

Oregon Legislature Awards $4 Million to Prism Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Salem, OR – Lawmakers in Salem have passed a funding package that includes $4 million for the purchase of the property where a new Prism Health clinic will be located. (Prism Health is a program of Cascade AIDS Project.)

The funds for Prism are part of a sweeping $211 million investment by legislators in tackling Oregon’s addiction and mental-health crisis. This omnibus spending bill (House Bill 5204) puts tens of millions of dollars towards building capacity at facilities that provide behavioral-health and substance-use services. The new Prism facility will allow the LGBTQ+ health center to deliver addiction and mental-health services for more than 250 additional patients.

“These shovel-ready projects will benefit communities in every corner of Oregon,” said Rep. Tawna Sanchez, who represents a district in North/Northeast Portland and co-chairs the Legislature’s budget committee. “This is a great thing for my Portland community and the next right step towards ensuring Oregonians of all backgrounds can get high quality, affordable care when they need it.”

The Legislature’s appropriation to Prism addresses the disproportionate impact of addiction on the LGBTQ+ community and the lack of LGBTQ-affirming addiction services in Oregon. Transgender and queer people are almost twice as likely as their straight counterparts to suffer from opioid addiction, but a 2022 survey of addiction-treatment providers in Oregon found fewer than 20% of respondents offered services for LGBTQ+ people, veterans, or people with disabilities. Prism Health helps fill this gap by providing Medication Assisted Treatment, counseling, and peer-support services for LGBTQ+ people experiencing addiction.

Prism’s request for funding got support from the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, which includes Sen. Kate Lieber and Reps. Ben Bowman, Farrah Chaichi, Dacia Grayber, Travis Nelson, and Rob Nosse. “LGBTQ+ Oregonians often struggle to find and receive treatment and services that address their unique experiences,” said the Caucus in a statement. “LGBTQ+ folks deserve the same access to care as every other person. We are grateful to Prism Health for providing critical services to our community and are excited to see its expansion with this funding.”

Paul Lumley is the Chief Executive Officer of Cascade AIDS Project, Prism’s parent organization. “Research has found that when LGBTQ+ people receive culturally responsive addiction treatment, they have better outcomes,” he said. "With this investment, the Legislature is helping ensure that trans and queer Oregonians have access to addiction and mental-health services that will work for them.”

Prism Health’s new clinic is located at 15 N Morris St. in Portland. The clinic will begin providing behavioral-health services later this spring, followed by primary care this summer.

For more information, please contact Jonathan Frochtzwajg at jfrochtzwajg@capnw.org or (503) 278-3852.

About Cascade AIDS Project

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Dustin Vance 3/5/24 Dustin Vance 3/5/24

Washington Lawmakers Pass Bill to Ensure Access to Emergency HIV Prevention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympia, WA — The Washington State Legislature gave final approval today to legislation that will help make sure sexual-assault survivors, first responders, and others who may need emergency HIV prevention medications can get them.

Senate Bill 6127 addresses the many barriers that Washingtonians currently face when they require HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a combination of medications that can prevent HIV infection if it’s taken within 72 hours of exposure to the virus. These barriers include doctors not knowing how to prescribe PEP, pharmacies not stocking the medications used for PEP, and insurance companies charging high co-pays for the drugs.

SB 6127 tackles these issues by requiring hospitals to adopt a policy on PEP and provide the time-sensitive medications to patients in the emergency room. The measure also mandates that insurance companies make at least one form of PEP available to their members without a co-pay. Overcoming opposition by the Washington State Hospital Association, the legislation makes Washington only the second state to require PEP dispensing in ERs.

In public hearings on SB 6127, Joanna Shelton, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), shared a story that starkly illustrated the need for the bill, especially in rural areas:

Last year, a woman was raped on one of the San Juan Islands. The SANE nurse assessed the victim’s assault as being very high risk for HIV. The hospital stocked a starting dose of PEP, but the island pharmacy would not be able to get the remaining medication in time. The only way to get this victim her medication was for the SANE nurse to take the prescription to a mainland pharmacy that stocked it and deliver it to a medical transport plane, which flew it to the hospital. It should not be this hard to provide such a life-altering medication.

Cascade AIDS Project, the leading provider of HIV-prevention services in Southwest Washington, proposed the concept for SB 6127. “We have a front-row seat to the many roadblocks people encounter when they need PEP,” said Jonathan Frochtzwajg, the agency’s Public Policy & Grants Manager. “Thanks to this bill, Washingtonians who have experienced a trauma like sexual assault will no longer be forced to scramble to get their hands on this vital HIV prevention tool.”

Sen. Marko Liias (21st District—Edmonds) served as the bill’s chief sponsor. “We've advanced so far in treatment when it comes to exposure to HIV, but time is of the essence when it comes to effectively preventing infection,” he said. “This bill will address two major barriers to treatment — availability and cost. I’m proud we were able to get it across the finish line this year.”

For more information on SB 6127, please contact Jonathan Frochtzwajg at jfrochtzwajg@capnw.org or (503) 278-3852.

About Cascade AIDS Project

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Cascade AIDS Project 1/29/24 Cascade AIDS Project 1/29/24

New Report: Portland’s Houseless-Services System is Failing LGBTQ+ People

The report reveals numerous gaps in the houseless-services system that continue to drive disproportionate houselessness among Portland’s LGBTQ+ Community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR — A coalition of Portland nonprofits that serve or advocate for unhoused LGBTQAI2S+ people, including leading LGBTQAI2S+ groups like Basic Rights Oregon and Pride Northwest, today released a first-of-its-kind report on houselessness among transgender and queer people in the Portland area.

Commissioned by the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS), the report comes as anti-LGBTQAI2S+ legislation in many states is causing an estimated 130,000-260,000 trans and queer people to relocate to safer states like Oregon. Many members of this population face barriers to housing. However, the new report found that, “despite Oregon and Portland’s Pride Flag–waving reputation, our community is not well prepared to welcome these newcomers.” It highlighted numerous gaps in the houseless-services system, including that:

● Data on sexual orientation is not collected as part of houselessness data, even though national data shows lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people are over twice as likely as straight people to experience houselessness.

● There are no LGBTQAI2S+ culturally specific emergency shelters in the Portland region. In addition, many local shelters are gendered (i.e., designated for men or women), which can result in discrimination and a lack of safety for trans and non-binary clients.

● Despite the over-representation of LGBTQAI2S+ people among people experiencing houselessness, there are not enough culturally specific or responsive houseless services for this population. For example, JOHS only funds one queer culturally specific organization to provide housing case management.

The report makes a number of recommendations to address these gaps, calling on policymakers to build capacity among LGBTQAI2S+ service-providers and hold mainstream providers accountable for serving LGBTQAI2S+ people in an affirming manner. “With thousands of trans and queer people potentially seeking refuge in Oregon and adding to existing demand, policymakers need to think much more about the unique needs of our communities when they think about housing and homelessness,” said Seth Johnstone, a coalition member and manager of the Transgender Justice Program at Basic Rights Oregon.

The coalition that produced the report, collectively known as the LGBTQAI2S+ Housing Collaborative, includes Basic Rights Oregon, Black & Beyond the Binary Collective, Cascade AIDS Project, Friendly House, the Marie Equi Institute, Pride Northwest, Quest Center for Integrative Health, and Rahab’s Sisters.

View the Report

For more information, please contact either of the following:

Jonathan Frochtzwajg (Cascade AIDS Project) - 503.278.3852 | jfrochtzwajg@capnw.org
Katie Cox (Marie Equi Institute) - 971.601.4055 | katie@equi-institute.org

About Cascade AIDS Project

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