SAN - Spokane AIDS Network

The SAN Mission:  To empower people at risk of, or affected by, HIV/AIDS through education, outreach and advocacy

SAN, also known as The Spokane AIDS Network, was established in 1985 as an informal network of friends, medical caregivers, and concerned citizens to coordinate services for people living with HIV and AIDS in the Spokane area.

Due to a change in funding, SAN closed its direct HIV prevention and cares services in 2017, ultimately transferring clients to the Spokane Regional Health District. Despite this challenge, the Board of Directors voted to maintain the organization’s non-profit status in order to continue its important work of raising awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS in Spokane. In close partnership with community stakeholders, SAN also continues to serve as a bridge for resources for people living with and impacted by HIV and AIDS. 

Today, SAN remains focused on maintaining the organization’s legacy by remaining a visible partner to raise awareness about the impact of HIV and AIDS in Spokane. SAN also works in close partnership with community stakeholders to serve as a bridge for resources for people living with and impacted by HIV and AIDS.

SAN provides support to the HIV community by providing safe spaces for them to gather, build community, raise awareness, and fight stigma in Spokane. 

• Providing weekly nutritional food pantry pick-up and delivery to clients;
• Hosting virtual social events for clients and a weekly peer group virtual meeting;
• Supporting emergency assistance to ensure critical access to housing, transportation, and food for SRHD’s HIV clients;
• Sponsoring, and distributing information & condom packets at, community events;
• Providing a holiday meal and food pantry bags to 200+ people impacted by HIV in Spokane through our Holiday Bag Program.

SAN’s focus on increasing access to reliable food and housing is admittedly not an innovative idea; however, when supporting a community that has historically been underserved and stigmatized, it is crucial to ensure even the most basic functions are not overlooked.

SAN firmly believes that housing is a human right and serves as a critical prevention and care tool for the HIV community.  According to National AIDS Housing Coalition, people with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or unstably housed are more likely to enter care late and are less likely to receive and adhere to antiroretrival therapy, among other issues. While SRHD works with many partners to support client housing, the requests SAN receives include the often small and overlooked steps in the process of getting housed: utility bills, cell phones to communicate with landlords, and mattresses and other furniture – often those who have never been stably housed lack basic resources.