Tenderloin Health to Close

It had a good run

​The Tenderloin's one-stop shop to assist homeless and low-income populations with HIV/AIDS is set to close due to financial troubles, officials just announced. 

The Board of Directors voted today to close Tenderloin Health, which recently lost $500,000 in federal funding, further crippling the agency financially.

"The major issue has always been the large amount of existing debt TLH faced when I came on board in November 2009," said clinic CEO David Fernandez. "This debt, combined with operating deficits and significant recent cuts in government funding, have made it impossible for us to keep our doors open."

However, Fernandez is assuring the 8,000 clients TLH serves annually that they won't see an interruption in service. The Department of Public Health is partnering with the city's Human Services Agency to do their best to offering the same services and programs that clients utilized at the Tenderloin clinic, Fernandez said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the agencies are working out a transition plan and negotiating with other community organizations that might help continue TLH's programs. Until a full transition plan is in place, TLH will continue to provide the same comprehensive services and programs to its clients, including counseling, prevention, and housing services.

An announcement of the new providers is expected to be made by the end of January.

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