Each December 1st, the world pauses to remember the millions lost to HIV/AIDS, stand with those living with HIV, and recommit to justice, health equity, and human dignity.

This year, even though the current administration has chosen not to formally recognize World AIDS Day, we at Winner Detroit Realty Partners refuse to stay silent.

For many Detroiters, HIV is not a historical footnote — it remains a lived reality.

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Detroit & HIV: A Local Reality We Can’t Ignore

Detroit has long been disproportionately impacted by HIV:

• Detroit continues to hold the highest HIV prevalence in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
• Black Detroiters, especially men aged approximately 20–34, experience the greatest disparities in new diagnoses.
• Housing instability and lack of access to stable healthcare still contribute to poorer outcomes for too many people.
• In past years, Detroit’s infection rate was reported to be four times the state average, underscoring the deep inequities that persist.

These numbers represent our neighbors, friends, family members — and our community.

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Why Real Estate Still Has a Connection to HIV/AIDS

In the early days of the AIDS epidemic, discrimination in housing was rampant.

People were denied rentals, pushed out of neighborhoods, or shunned by landlords who weaponized fear and stigma.

Today, the federal Fair Housing Act — and Michigan’s strong enforcement — explicitly protect people living with HIV from discrimination. That is progress worth celebrating.

But legal protections don’t automatically eliminate stigma. Creating inclusive, welcoming housing options is still deeply needed.

At Winner Detroit Realty Partners, our mission is rooted in dignity and fairness for every person we serve. Through our AHWD, ABR, PSA, and e-PRO designations, our team approaches every transaction with the belief that housing is not just a financial decision — it’s a foundation for stability, wellness, and community.

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Where Detroiters Can Access Testing, Treatment & Support

Affordable, accessible, confidential resources save lives.

Here are trusted Metro Detroit providers offering testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment, and support services:

📍 Detroit HIV Testing & Care Resources

• Detroit Health Department — HIV/STI Program
  Free or low-cost testing, PrEP navigation, care linkage
  https://detroitmi.gov/departments/health-department/hiv-sti-program
• Michigan HIV/STD Hotline (MDHHS)
  Anonymous testing info, treatment support, prevention resources
  https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/hiv-sti/hiv/hiv-hotline
• Unified HIV Health and Beyond (Detroit & Ypsilanti)
  Testing, case management, mental health, housing support
  https://miunified.org
• Corktown Health Center (Michigan’s first LGBTQ+ health center)
  HIV primary care, PrEP, PEP, behavioral health
  https://corktownhealth.org
• Ruth Ellis Center (supporting LGBTQ+ youth)
  Health services, testing, transitional housing
  https://www.ruthelliscenter.org
  

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How You Can Support HIV Treatment, Housing & Prevention

If you’d like to support local efforts that fight stigma, expand housing access, or provide medical care:

🌟 Ways to Give

• AIDS Walk Detroit — funding prevention, testing & care
  https://aidswalkdetroit.org
• Corktown Health Center — providing LGBTQ+ and HIV primary care
  https://corktownhealth.org/donate/
• Ruth Ellis Center — housing, healthcare & support for LGBTQ+ youth
  https://www.ruthelliscenter.org/donate
• Unified HIV Health & Beyond — treatment, linkage to care & housing programs
  https://miunified.org/donate

Every contribution supports real people right here in Metro Detroit.

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Our Ongoing Commitment

On World AIDS Day 2025, we reaffirm our dedication to:

• Providing inclusive, judgment-free real estate services
• Advocating for fair housing protections for people living with HIV
• Supporting community partners who deliver life-changing care
• Educating clients and the public about HIV stigma, rights, and resources
• Ensuring every person — regardless of identity, status, or background — has access to stable, safe housing

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Because Home Is More Than a Place — It’s Healing

For anyone living with HIV or supporting a loved one:

You deserve housing free from discrimination.  You deserve dignity.  You deserve peace.

If you’re exploring buying, selling, or financing a home — or simply need someone who understands — our team is here.

At Winner Detroit Realty Partners, everyone belongs, and everyone deserves a place they can truly call home.

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A Personal Note from the Author

As someone living healthy and thriving with HIV — and who is undetectable and untransmittable — I know firsthand that stigma still exists, even in 2025. I share this not for focus or sympathy, but because visibility matters, and because housing, safety, and dignity are interconnected.

Everyone deserves a place where they can live openly and without fear.

And in Detroit, we can continue to lead by example.