Nonprofit THRIVE SS opens home for HIV-positive Atlantans

Transitional house to provide safe residence for black gay men, transwomen

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN

dduncan@thegavoice.com

Daniel Driffin’s face has a special glow to it these days.

That’s because he, Dwain Bridges and Larry Walker are now East Point homeowners — but the house isn’t for them. It’s for HIV-positive men and transwomen who need a place to get back on their feet.

“One of the determinants of whether or not someone will be healthy [living with HIV] is the determinant of safe and adequate housing. From the beginning of the organization, we always wanted to be able to provide black gay men, or even transgender women, a safe place should they need temporary housing,” Driffin said.

Driffin, Bridges and Walker co-founded THRIVE SS, which stands for Transforming HIV Resentment Into Victories Everlasting Support Services, in 2015. It’s an Atlanta nonprofit geared toward helping black gay men with HIV get the health care they need. THRIVE House is the latest innovation in their mission.

Eliminating a barrier to treatment