History of Alliance for Living

Alliance for Living came into being in 1998 with the merger of two organizations which had served the HIV/AIDS population in New London County since 1986. Although both agencies were highly dedicated, it was felt, by the respective Boards, that a greater good could be accomplished by the merger of the organizations.

SECAP was started in 1986 as an all volunteer effort by a group of caring individuals who were concerned about the lack of services available to areas residents infected with HIV/AIDS. Services provided included counseling, advocacy, housing assistance, transportation, referrals, community meals, workshops, support groups and access to nutritional and therapeutic programs.

The H.O.P.E. Foundation was created in September 1991 by a group of friends in the local gay community who had produced annual fund-raising events for SECAP. It was determined by these individuals that there was a need for a new venue for raising money for the community to fund new programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in New London County. During its 6 1/2 years of existence, H.O.P.E. raised more than $325,000, which paid for such items as prescriptions, the monthly HELP food distribution, massage, support group facilitators, appliances for loan to homebound clients (televisions, air conditioners, microwaves) and emergency grants to individuals for such items as utility bills, medical equipment and other expenses.

The merger gained impetus when the boards agreed to co-lease the former Lena Professional Building at 154 Broad Street in New London to house the agencies and to develop a "Living Center" for county residents living with HIV/AIDS. In July 1998 the building was purchased through the use of State of Connecticut bond funds.

The "Living Center" has been modeled in many ways on similar projects in Boston and Hartford. The major difference between them is that only the New London Center provides case management. With the merger and name change becoming official, SECAP and H.O.P.E. no longer exist as separate and distinct entities, but they each bring with them their own special legacies as organizations that strove to meet the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS when no other non-medical resources were available.