Hope & Help Vision and Story

Hope & Help began in 1988 as a small support group of a few friends who cared for a close friend who was experiencing of AIDS-related complications. The compassion and spirit of those friends lives on today. Since then, Hope & Help has grown into one of the most comprehensive HIV/ STI service organizations in Florida, with a full medical clinic, in addition to testing, education, prevention, case management, support group services, and a syringe service program.

With Florida consistently ranking higher nationally than most other states for new HIV and STI transmissions, Hope & Help is driven by its mission to end the HIV and STI epidemic in Florida through comprehensive health education, prevention, testing, and treatment. Ultimately, Hope & Help’s vision is to see all generations empowered with the knowledge, resources, and opportunities necessary to live healthy and stay well. Hope & Help is the warm hug of health care. Today, Hope & Help offers HIV/STI preventive and treatment services to thousands of patients across Florida, including Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Seminole, and Miami.

At Hope & Help, we’re known as the “warm hug of health care” for our compassionate and skilled approach to making our patients feel welcome, appreciated, and for creating an environment that celebrates diversity, individuality, and the power of the human spirit. Hope & Help is the recipient of the “2020 Top Places to Work Award” from Orlando Sentinel and the “Best STD Testing Resource in Apopka” by Testing.com.

Orange County and Hope & Help Launch Needle Exchange Program for Orange County Residents

Orange County Government is launching a needle exchange program to assist with the elimination of infectious disease. The goal is to help individuals who struggle with intravenous drug use and reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C. The program will also attempt to reduce overdoses, which were up more than 70% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February 2020, The Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance to allow needle or syringe exchange programs to operate within the boundaries of Orange County. Hope & Help was selected by Orange County Government to operate the needle exchange program which began on June 1, 2021.

Hope and Help will provide an annual report to Orange County Government and the Board of County Commissioners on the progress and outcomes per the new ordinance. A copy of the disease elimination ordnance is included.

“What we are offering with the needle exchange is part of a larger harm reduction program grounded in justice and human rights,” said Hope & Health Prevention Director Adam Troy. “Harm reduction is about creating positive change and working with people without judgement, coercion, discrimination, or requiring that they stop using drugs as a precondition of support. We treat people who use drugs along with their families with compassion and dignity, to save lives and stop the spread of disease.”

The program benefits include: exchange of needles one for one; safe injection and wound care supplies; Naloxone distribution and education; overdose prevention and safer injection site training. Program participants will also be offered free Narcan, a medication that reverses overdoses and has saved thousands of lives.

Program Location: Hope & Help 4122 Metric Drive, Suite 800 Winter Park, FL 32792

To learn more visit: IDEA Orlando - Syringe Service Program (hopeandhelp.org).

MORE INFO: For program information and to schedule interviews with Hope & Help, please e-mail Adam.Troy@HopeandHelp.org.