HISTORY

Founded in 1983, Project Lazarus is the oldest and largest residential facility
providing assisted living to people with AIDS in the Gulf Coast region. Project Lazarus, initially
called and still sometimes known as Lazarus House, was founded by a group of clergy and lay
people who were asked to help a person with AIDS who was being discharged from the hospital,
but had nowhere to live.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans responded to this need by offering the upstairs of an old
convent for the purpose of housing homeless people with AIDS, thus creating the first
"Residence House". The downstairs area of the facility housed the Deaf Center and Food for
Friends. In 1985, this area was renovated to create another "House". Initially the program was
staffed entirely by volunteers. Lazarus quickly became known as a place where people could
come to live when they had no home, or when friends and family could no longer care for them.
The need was great enough that the Archdiocese again responded by allowing the program the
use of a second facility. A full time Director was hired, and since that time the program and staff
have continued to grow and meet the increasing needs of the community.

From the beginning, when a single house was opened to people with AIDS, Project Lazarus has
increased its capacity to four houses. Each floor in the two buildings is considered a Residence
House, and each house accommodates six residents in small group-home settings. Lazarus now
maintains a paid staff of 32 people, and more than 150 volunteers who provide 24 hour-a-day
care to its residents.

Lazarus provides both transitional and permanent housing. The four houses are created to
foster a home like atmosphere, each with private bedrooms for 6 residents. Resident rooms are
uniquely furnished and decorated, and residents may choose to decorate and individualize them
as they wish. They are all equipped with cable television and telephones. Additionally, the
houses have common living areas and bathrooms as well as family style kitchens that never
close. Project Lazarus encourages maximum independence, but provides minimum to total care
based on individual need.

Men and women come to Project Lazarus in various stages of health, and care is individualized
according to each person's needs. These needs are evaluated at least weekly, and care plans are
adjusted as necessary. To date, more than 500 men and women with a terminal diagnosis of
AIDS have called Lazarus their home, and many have died at Lazarus. The stigma and fear
continues as many of them have been shunned by family and friends, and find at Lazarus;
companionship, love, and care that they so desperately need. All staff members work
interchangeably within the four houses, creating a bond between them and the residents.
Volunteers make up an integral part of the services offered, and provide many services such as
taking residents to their medical appointments, providing one-on-one companionship, cutting
hair, cooking, gardening, manicures, taking residents to movies and plays, and much more.
They also assist the administrative staff by helping with the phones, picking up mail, running
errands, grocery shopping, helping with mailings, etc. Staff is always available to residents,
either to intervene during a crisis, help resolve problems, or simply sit and chat. Meal times are
often shared, which enhances the closeness between them.

Personal care attendants provide the day-to-day care of residents, 24 hours-a-day, 7
days-a-week. Their duties include; cooking a minimum of three daily meals, laundry, bathing,
medication assistance, feeding, dressing, and all other tasks associated with daily living. A case
manager assesses individual needs and develops care plans which address medical, dental,
mental health, legal, and other issues. These plans are updated regularly, and a
multi-disciplinary care team reviews each resident to ensure access to those services not
provided on site, such as medical care. For those residents who are frail, or in the final stages of
illness, home health and hospice services are provided on-site in conjunction with regularly
provided care.

Social services include in-depth psycho-social evaluations, mental health counseling and
support, crisis intervention, and coordination of all services needed. Religious and spiritual
needs are met by a multi-faith pastoral care team, who provide ongoing spiritual support,
bereavement counseling to family and friends, and arrange for funeral services when no family
and friends are available. When a resident is approaching death, around-the-clock vigil services
are provided so that no one ever dies alone or in pain. These services are dictated by the
resident, some of whom want someone to hold their hand, to read to them, or simply want the
presence of another human being.

Recently, Project Lazarus developed and implemented a respite care program, offering short
term stays to people with AIDS whose care givers are temporarily unavailable, or who are
experiencing a period of ill health, but are not ready to seek permanent placement. This
program is designed to help people maintain themselves independently in the community by
offering a period of relief during those times when it is needed. The service is invaluable in that
it gives care givers suffering from burnout a much needed break, and offers a period of
convalescence to individuals who have been hospitalized and require temporary care. Lazarus is
the only facility in Louisiana to offer this service.

Project Lazarus serves New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. The area has the 7th highest
incidence of AIDS in the United States, and the population of Project Lazarus is reflective of the
AIDS epidemic locally. The average length of stay for a resident is 12 months, and the
population is generally 70% minority and 30% white. Over the past year, a shift in
demographics has been noted in that women now comprise over 30% of our residents, which
increases every year. The average age is over 40 years and all our residents fall below 80% of
the federal poverty guidelines.

Project Lazarus maintains a strong network of relationships with other organizations which
serve the homeless and people with AIDS, particularly those who serve the poor and indigent
such as Charity and University Hospitals. Written agreements exist between Project Lazarus
and more than a dozen other service providers, in addition to many other informal
collaborations. As the oldest provider of AIDS housing services in Louisiana, Project Lazarus has
continued to provide responsive programming to meet the needs of the community, provide
leadership to other organizations who wish to duplicate the services in other parts of the
country, and maintain the integrity of its mission to provide compassionate care to those in
need.

While Lazarus is an independent, non-denominational, non-profit organization, the Archdiocese
of New Orleans generously donates the use of the buildings for the programs. However, the
renovation, repairs, and maintenance of the facility is the responsibility of Project Lazarus, as
well as all operating costs which amount to over one-million dollars annually. Funding sources
include federal grants such as Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS, or HOPWA, and
UNITY of Greater New Orleans, which offers grants for individuals that are homeless. These
federal grants provide for about 40% of our total operating budget. The remaining funds are
accessed through regular fund-raising activities, grants from private corporations, foundations,
and donations from private individuals. Funds are sought not only for essential care, but also for
such things as recreational activities, and comfortable bedding and furnishings. Additionally,
nutritious and appetizing meals are provided, many of which must accommodate special dietary
needs such as those associated with hypertension, diabetes, etc.

Project Lazarus provides services not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or any other insurance,
and is dependent on public and private support to continue its work. It is unique both in the
aesthetic environment it offers, and in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life of its
residents. The agency is well known for its excellence in service and for its commitment to
providing more than basic food and shelter. Lazarus nurtures the mind and spirit, as well as the
body. It offers residents a place where they can get the comprehensive care they need, a means
to find personal peace, and most important, a home where their final journey in life is shared by
people who love and care for them. Determined to meet these goals, Lazarus continues to
aggressively seek funding to offer a setting that celebrates life, and when the time comes, allows
each person to die with dignity.

OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE ARCHDIOCESE:

Project Lazarus, while a non-denominational program, is sponsored by the Archdiocese of New
Orleans. All the buildings and grounds are loaned to the program at no cost, and the
Archdiocese contributes $ 25,000.00 annually to assist with the utility bills. The Board of
Advisors of Project Lazarus is vested with the full duties and responsibilities of a traditional
Board of Trustees.

Sister Anthony Barczykowski, D.C., is the Archdiocesan Liaison to the Board of Trustees.
Project Lazarus has full financial and fund raising responsibilities for its operations, repairs,
renovations, and maintenance. A common misunderstanding is that Project Lazarus is part of
Catholic Charities. However, while we are an affiliate of the Archdiocese, we are an independent,
501(c) (3).