Our History

Where We Started

In 1986, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, Barbara Davis started working to open Project Transitions. She was inspired through her work with the issues of death and dying in persons with AIDS. She established one of the first support groups for people living with AIDS in Austin. She saw the need for a residential hospice facility where those dying from AIDS could spend their final weeks in a compassionate and caring environment. She brought together a group of interested people, incorporated in 1988 and opened our hospice facility in July 1989. 

Doug’s House Gets Its Name

In 1991, the Board of Directors named the residential hospice facility after William Douglas Key, who was heavily involved with the organization and passed that year. Click here to read the original press release from that announcement. By the early 90s, we were experiencing long wait lists for the services at Doug’s House and even today the occupancy rate continues to run over 90%.

Housing as Healthcare

It also became evident that there were other unmet needs within the community…primarily housing! There were many individuals in need of affordable housing in a safe and secure environment. As a result of this need, we began Roosevelt Gardens in 1995, which is a supportive housing program for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. The cost of this program was largely supported by the proceeds from our thrift store, Top Drawer, which was opened in 1993 and remains fully operational to this day. Roosevelt Gardens has evolved into a transitional housing program offering a path to independent living for its residents.

In 1998 we opened our independent living facility called Highland Terrace which offers affordable housing to residents living with HIV/AIDS, and in 2002 we started our Community Housing program offering scattered site housing around the city.

Where We Are Today

Today, Project Transitions is the only direct provider of supportive affordable housing for people living with HIV in Central Texas. Unique in its mission and focused in its execution, Project Transitions is the only organization in Central Texas dedicated to advancing new programs and solutions to address the full-continuum of HIV-related housing needs. Project Transitions is ending homelessness among individuals living with HIV/AIDS, one move-in at a time.

No one is denied participation in ANY of our programs because of inability to pay. We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish with the full support of a caring community.