A 501(c)3 Non Profit Health & Human Services/AIDS Service Organization “Think Globally, Act Locally” - One World - Two Logos - Many Reasons  What is James’ House? What is your Mission Statement? (See About “James’ House”) Is “James’ House” a religious organization, a sub-organization under a religious or other nonprofit organization of affiliated with the United Way? No, No & No. Each Candidate Application is reviewed on both a person by person and case by case basis before they are selected as a Client. Religious preference or no is never a consideration. We do not discriminate on any basis. While we have Crosslink/Coalition Partners of various outreach efforts, James’ House (JAMES HOUSE LTD) is a free standing 501(c)3 Nonprofit Health & Human Services/AIDS Service Organization based in Georgia (U.S.A.) with a National Focus. We are not affiliated with, nor do we benefit from The United Way. Is “James’ House” a physical place? Both Yes & No. While the Staff & Board of James’ House work from Virtual Offices in different cities, states & countries, James’ House does maintain a physical business address for necessary General Operations including: Staff Training, Client Services, C.M.E.. , Development or Fund raising Related Meetings & Shipping/Receiving & Storage. It is a concept wherein those with Human immune system compromising Illnesses (Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Heart Disease, etc.) Receive assistance via video or tele-conferencing or Face to Face interaction when the need arises. Face to face Candidate, Client, Staff, Board, Donor, Sponsor & other meetings are arranged as needed. Is James’ House in competition with other Health & Human Services Organizations, AIDS Service Organizations, etc.? We collectively believe the answer is. “No”. Rather, as we provide Programs/Services & aid to Clients most other agencies & organizations do not or cannot for various legitimate reasons of their own, we at James’ House like to think of ourselves more as a compliment to those other old & new non profits whose Programs/Services are often dictated, or mandated toward a specific target audience/s. Why is there a need for “James’ House”? This question has three answers just as we have a three point Mission Statement which we consider all aspects to be interconnected to & with one another. Firstly, as EDU Programs Nationwide have waned in the last 10 years or so, the general perceptions of Cancers of varying types, Heart Disease & HIV/AIDS are skewed by either incorrect or out of date information leaving the general public to be largely ignorant of many means by which to better act as their own Personal Advocates where Health & Wellness, Awareness/Prevention & Early Detection are each concerned. Our Innovative, tech savvy & engaging approaches to EDU is intended to revitalize the power in people to better know what is going on in their own respective bodies. We utilize both AMA MDs in conjunction with Holistic & Alternative Professions - all with distinctive credits, af-filiations &/or accreditations. We further utilize a “Community Organizing” approach to EDU & other aspects of our Mission Statement by working with our local & National CrossLink/Coalition Partners so as to provide more “at risk” or target audience specific EDU curriculum. Secondly, like Cancer & Heart Disease, HIV/AIDS was considered an immediate death sentence. Still a serious pandemic here in the U.S.A.., & around the world, & while medications, treatment initiatives & various other means by which those infected may have a better quality of life, often times a period of time exists between diagnosis & finding the right cocktail of meds in order to arrest both the CD4 (T-Cell) & Viral Load of a person with HIV/AIDS or procedures must be done for those with Heart Disease & then their are the chemo &/or radiation regimens of many Cancer patients. When one has been ill and/or out of work for a time, bills add up, money gets tight, savings are exhausted & clean, safe, cost effective housing assistance is not so easy to obtain without help. Many (most) who made above the poverty level before they were ill cannot qualify for Social Services or for services funded by the Fed by local, state or national assistance programs provided to local agencies and organizations. Stress is a major player in the highs and lows of an immune system compromised person. Stress from having little or no available debt relief or housing assistance is not good for anyone. And Housing that is not clean, safe or cost effective is just as negative a force. “James’ House” hopes to lift at least one burden off the back of our Clients by providing assistance in this area. Once given a clean bill of health or at least a release back to work & every day activities, having the back up of two thirds of a Client’s rent and utilities paid for twelve months by a registered Non Profit makes easier the likelihood of a Client to get a rental lease for a House, Condo or Apartment when they are healthy enough to get back to the “Business of Living”. Thirdly, we often have clients in need of Counseling/Referral Service a tight income cannot make possible. These may include but are not limited to Legal & Financial Assistance, Psychiatric or Psychological Counseling, Substance or Domestic Abuse Counseling & more. Again, many of these services are not available to our “Middle Class” clients who made even $1 over the poverty level when last they worked. Herein again our help makes for an open door where Social Services or Fed Based non profits are limited or often out right prohibited from helping these persons. Is “James’ House” a Homeless Shelter or Hospice Care facility? No. As stated above (and below) and in the About “James’ House” section of this site (& more recently in the 1st Blog), it is explained that we assist immune system compromised infected folks with clean, safe & cost effective housing/utility assistance &/or counseling/referral assistance options via financial help for a period of six twelve months. Candidates who become Clients choose the place where they wish to live (within reason). In certain circumstances “James’ House” Case Managers can provide real leads to clean, safe & cost effective Housing complex or facilities if, such recommendations are needed by the Client. Why start “James’ House” in the U.S.A.? More than one answer to this question. First. “Why Not?” It is a myth that Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Heart Disease infected folks here in the U.S. are comfortable & have no real need for financial or other significant social services (private or public). Medication & treatment here in the U.S. is NOT pennies a day as some ill informed while no doubt well intending Celebrities working for or with foreign aid campaigns have asserted time & time again. James’ House heartily applauds the efforts of foreign aid work but so often is the case we find folks just down the block, across town, the state or elsewhere here in the U.S. where a great un-met need is present. In this economy, that is not getting better. There are many underserved who are not living in Homeless Shelters or in foreign countries. Hence we employ the phrase, “Think Globally, Act Locally”. We encourage you to the same in your country. See the need that exists there & strive to be a part of a positive solution where you are. Many state & federal programs are limited to providing help to those in the greatest of need & whose health is not always showing significant signs of improvement. There are many Aids Service Organizations (ASOs), Social Service Organizations & other agencies to step up in those instances both stateside & abroad. But what of those who are responding to meds & simply wish to get their lives back on track? There are precious little, if any, funds for those folks, most especially if they made too much working the last year they were able to work. “James’ House” fills that void, or “Catch 22” place, in which many find themselves, that time when folks are ready and able to return to work, careers, etc. Second. While James himself benefited (stateside) from a similarly federally funded program like this, when funds were cut, so was the program. Versions of it, with federal assistance, have resurfaced in scattered areas but always rely on funds that may or may not be there consistently as political tides turn. For that reason “James’ House” (stateside for now, worldwide in time) is predominantly privately funded using Individual or Corporate, Grant, Trust, and Foundation Or Individual Contributions. In certain areas, with specific target on EDU, there are city, county, district, state and federal assistance programs with which “James’ House” may elect to partner in order to best the best of all three areas of our Mission Statement to/for all of our Clients. How does one apply for Candidacy & Client Services via “James’ House”? Applicants for housing/utility assistance &/or counseling/referral assistance programs may apply directly themselves or are referred through a myriad of non profits statewide, nationwide (and in time, worldwide). H.I.P.P.A. governed & protected (& other legal) Documentation of as outlined in the “Client Services Application” is required. Clients are selected without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or ancestry, or age (except for minors as we are not set up to provide these two areas of our Mission Statement to minors.), Assistance Program/s requirements can be found in the application pdf (coming soon) or by e-mailing for more information. Please Note: EDU Programs & Seminars are open to all persons regardless of age where not prohibited or restricted by law. How can I volunteer for “James’ House”? Our volunteer application package is available by contacting our Volunteer Manager via e-mail for more information. Volunteers must complete an interview, undergo a criminal background check, and attend an orientation session before they may volunteer. Orientation sessions are provided for groups planning to volunteer at “James’ House” on an ongoing basis, but are not required for groups coming on a one-time basis. You must be over age 18 to volunteer. Exceptions to this age barrier are our annual High School & College Interns, selected by our Board on an annual basis. Please feel free to e-mail us at info@james-house.org should you wish to be considered for a volunteer or stipend Internship. How do I find out about “James’ House” employment opportunities? Employment opportunities will eventually be posted from time to time on the site in the “Events” section. However, at present, please e-mail us at info@james- house.org for staff employment information. Inquiries with attached resumes, salary requests and a letter clearly stating a staff position (e.g. Development, Advertising,/P.R., Marketing, Reception, Case Management, etc.) will get first review. Experienced nonprofit staffers or those with such specific interests will move to the top of the list. It is also important to note as physical satellite offices are opened in various states, staff will be added in each so as to better serve those Clients in those states. While virtual offices and staff locations will remain under the “James’ House” base, the 501(c)3 incorporated entity JAMES HOUSE LTD. will depend on the Board for all final staffing decisions. How is “James’ House” further funded? See above - Additional funding, if needed, and in time may come from the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program managed by the City of Atlanta (and like programs in other states). In Atlanta, again if so needed and/or amicably applied for and accepted, in the Atlanta Service area, further funding may be provided by participating County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Human Services Development Grant Programs. The organization’s programs may also funded by grants from the GA Department of Community Affairs and in various counties where funding for such assistance is available to qualified candidates. Corporate, grant, trust, foundation, individual, and faith community giving comprise the bulk and primary resource from which we presently draw our annual operating budget. Do all “James’ House” Clients have HIV/AIDS, some sort of Cancer, Diabetes Heart Disease? Yes. Our housing/utility assistance & counseling Referral aid services are provided to folks infected with one or more immune compromising illness. Please note EDU programs are for all infected OR affected persons in both “at risk” target areas or audiences as well as the general public at large. What’s the catch? Actually there isn’t a catch but there is a provision or “clause”, the “Paying It Forward” clause. In each Board approved contract, there is a provision each Client must complete twenty four hours of Community Service (to a legitimate nonprofit charities/s of their choosing) per each six month period in which “James’ House” provides assistance (a “Pay It Forward” if you will). This can, but does not have to, be James’ House. For example, a candidate may elect to help with any one of our partners on their projects (Cancer, Lymphoma, Leukemia, Diabetes, Autism, At Risk Youth, Women’s Programs, Feeding or Clothing the Homeless, etc.). Raising funds in various fashions for charities via online and off line means will often serve to met this provision as well so long as the Candidate is clearly involved in the activity. Further, helping in a volunteer capacity at key functions for “James’ House” (fund raisers, symposiums, etc.) will often qualify as well. What other services does “James’ House” provide its Clients and the General Public alike? EDU Program & Seminars are available to all infected or affected persons as described above. Assistance based services/programs are provided depending on qualifications & criteria herein already noted. Funds are first come first serve as assistance is ever based on available funds. Above & beyond EDU Programs (at which a participation fee is charged - e-mail info@james-house.org for exceptions, fellowships or other agency discounts), Seminars & outside Outreach events, “James’ House” will always strive to make available & keep accessible -to all persons- awareness/prevention & early detection & testing/counseling materials for free distribution. Further, our physical and virtual resource centers will provide credible references to legitimate organizations, agencies, practices &/or professionals who enhance our folks’ quality of life in a number of ways. It is up to each person to select those resources they feel best meet their needs. Please inquire via e-mail or check back over time to review our cross links page to see what additional services, organizations and agencies have joined us in providing the most up to date, comprehensive EDU materials & references to our those who come to our site and/or work for, with or are served by “James’ House”. In some cities where staffing and resources are easily available & accessible, among the services currently offered are Reikei, CDC Certified STD Testing & Counseling. For confidential referrals, whether or not a person is a James’ House client or not, please contact us at 404-667-7367 or by e-mails at info@james-house.org. Likewise, For any & all other questions or inquiries not directly or indirectly answered here, in our Mission Statement or the Blog, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to provide further information as requested. E-mail: info@james-house.org PH: 404-667-7367 Frequently Asked Questions