Established in October of 2000, Helping Others in a Positive Environment (HOPE Inc.) is the first and currently only 501 (C)(3) AIDS Service Organization (ASO) in the St. Thomas/St. John District of the U.S. Virgin Islands. HOPE’s mission is “Reducing HIV and chronic diseases through prevention education and providing linkages to care and treatment”.  HOPE has been able to provide both prevention and social services to an underserved community infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension/heart disease and obesity.

HOPE currently provides three major programs in the St. Thomas/St. John District; the Calcol, Helem and Prevention Programs. The Calcol Program (Nourishing) consists of: a delivery meals service and a monthly liquids delivery program. In addition to meals, some clients also receive cases of water, Ensure and V8 Splash on a monthly basis. The Helem Program (Healing) is the massage therapy program. Individuals utilizing the Helem Program must have a written prescription from their physician for services. Finally, the Prevention Program in which utilizes the adage “knowledge is power” educates the community about HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases  through tested science-based behavioral interventions such as, Becoming a Responsible Teen (BART), Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS (SISTA), Video Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex (VOICES) and HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral Services (CTRS).

Future programs include the Amaisha program, a health on wheels program aimed at keeping individuals compliant with both HIV medicines and medical care, and the Imani House, which is a six month to two year transitional housing program. These programs fulfill HOPE’s overall objective of meeting the community’s needs pertaining to HIV/AIDS and preventable chronic diseases.