Legacy Cares

Legacy Cares’ mission, to put it simply, has been to provide life-saving services and vital support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The organization was originally founded in 1989 as Legacy Counseling Center by a group of therapists who were passionate about improving life for people living and suffering from HIV/AIDS. The organization has consistently supported thousands of North Texans annually for 35 consecutive years. Legacy Cares has grown since its inception and now includes not only mental health services to those with HIV but also a year-round women-specific program producing the largest conference for women with HIV, a special-care housing facility providing respite and end-of-life care for the critically ill, a housing referral service (www.homebaseforhousing.org), and a supportive housing homeless transition program. Legacy is the primary provider of HIV-informed care in North Texas and offers a comprehensive treatment approach by providing counseling, education, and support to this vulnerable and high-need population.

In response to the barriers that remain in HIV treatment to this day, Legacy aims to decrease the community impact through the following goals:

1. Providing access to expert-level, affordable care to those in need.
2. Fostering hope by promoting healthy, life-affirming behavioral choices.
3. Empowering people living with HIV/AIDS by providing support, housing stability & resources, and education.
4. Reducing the cost of HIV/AIDS to society through effective and efficient services that reduce hospitalizations and increase individual adherence to medication and medical care.
5. Decreasing the spread of HIV/AIDS by teaching clients how they can obtain undetectable viral loads and/or how to disclose their status.

From our experience, clients enter our services at different points in their lifetime. For instance, some obtain assistance immediately after finding out their HIV-positive status when they are shocked and dazed by this new information. Seeking the proper care is the first step towards being able to deal with HIV, normalize the experience, and prepare for the journey that is ahead of them. Other clients may have received their diagnosis years ago but have never entered care because they have simply tried to deny their situation and may have used drugs/alcohol to numb the pain. Legacy’s numerous programs can help a client increase their functional independence and realize his/her responsibility to care for themselves by facing this information head-on and seeking medical treatment. Often, clients have not sought HIV-specific services or entered medical care because they have allowed themselves to be in denial. Legacy plays a vital role in connecting clients to care and providing them with the resources they need to lead an independent and healthy life.