Founded in 1985

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. Later 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 25 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 1000 men and women diagnosed with HIV/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, cooking, gardening, 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, and provide general office assistance.

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, substance abuse counseling, and coordination of all services needed. Typically 50 – 60% of residents admitted to Project Lazarus are addicted or have a history of addiction. 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 2nd 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 University Hospital. Written agreements exist between Project Lazarus and more than a dozen other service providers, in addition to many other informal collaborations. As the oldest and largest 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, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act, 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 and other medical conditions.


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 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) nonprofit.