Following the sudden exit of its executive director and questions surrounding its funding, the HIV/AIDS organization Better Existence with HIV ( BEHIV ) has seemingly found itself in a state of limbo heading into the new year.
The group's now-former executive director, Eric Nelson, resigned from his position Dec. 20, replaced in his absence by acting Interim Executive Director Julie Supple. Though BEHIV Board President Matthew Gibbs said Nelson is "on good terms" and "still has a good relationship" with the organization, his departure has caused the board to "take pause" before looking to the organization's future in 2011.
"There's no juicy gossip here and there's no fire to put out at this time," Gibbs told the Windy City Times. "But with that departure, we're just getting our arms around the long-term assessment of our financial status ... With his departure, we wanted to get a better feeling for that."
Gibbs said normal operations at BEHIV will continue at its Rogers Park office at 1244 W. Thorndale until Jan. 1, when the board will "really dig in and look at what things look like going forward."
With the holiday season, Gibbs said, it would not be possible for the board to discuss the matter before then. He further denied rumors that BEHIV clients had been sent letters regarding upcoming changes or disruptions in services.
Gibbs suggested other HIV/AIDS agencies in Chicago may be finding themselves in a similar position in the coming months as recipients of the federal Ryan White Act funding in 2011 ( covering March 1, 2011-Feb. 29, 2012 ) have yet to be announced.
BEHIV was founded in 1989 and, like other similar agencies in the city, has been no stranger to financial uncertainty in recent history. In 2009, the organization closed its Evanston office and temporarily disbanded its education programs due to delayed receipt of state funding. The organization provides case management, housing, prevention, HIV/STI testing, mental health and substance abuse counseling and support, massage and art-therapy services.
