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Our History

Positive Health Project (PHP) was founded in 1993 and is one of the oldest harm reduction agencies in New York City. Its mission is to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases by providing health and prevention services to people who use intravenous drugs or engage in other risky behaviors. Now providing services to more than 8,000 clients, PHP has grown from a small syringe exchange program to a multi-service agency with a staff of twenty full-time employees supported by eighteen peer volunteers.

PHP is located in the Chelsea-Clinton neighborhood on Manhattan’s west side where AIDS case rates are more than three times higher than in New York City as a whole. While other health care providers have provided HIV/AIDS services in this area over the years, marginalized populations in the community still face barriers to HIV prevention and care, and remain at very high risk of infection and transmission. PHP was founded with the expressed purpose of serving these hard-to-reach and hard-to-retain community members, including intravenous drug users, sex workers, individuals who have experienced chronic or episodic homelessness, individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, and persons with histories of incarceration.

PHP peer educator presenting at the Safe Injection Site conference