Health Equity Project, Inc. (HEP)is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization formed in the United States. We provide education, counselling, care and support for the purpose of reducing inequalities of socially marginalized populations, such as sexual minorities, the mentally ill, and the poor as they access high quality health care. By respecting human dignity and diversity, HEP enables people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and other illnesses that disproportionately affect the underserved, to live full and complete lives. We welcome everyone, regardless of personal circumstance: rich or poor, women, men and children; people of all sexual orientation and gender identities; and physically challenged people.

We are located in New York but serve citizens in the US and across the globe.

HEP's long mission is to establish an advocacy campaign centering on the right of equitable access to healthcare for everyone, with an emphasis on marginalized communities, around the globe. As we grow, we hope to establish comprehensive health care and outreach centers in areas in developing countries where health services are in a severe shortage and where marginalized populations have particular difficulty in accessing healthcare services.

HEP is working to provide a wide range of services, including:

Education & information:

• Advocacy for disenfranchised and underserved populations
• Promotion of healthcare as a basic human right
• Working toward the reduction of inequalities in access to quality healthcare
• Workshops and seminars on health inequalities

Direct services to individuals and organizations:

• Direct assistance to individuals in need of urgent health care in the form of purchasing medicines, paying for medical visits with qualified health professionals, or other products and services directly related to treating a medical condition in need of attention or care.
• Food assistance
• Education assistance in the form of payment of school fees and/or books.

Community Outreach:

• Community mobilization
• Research into identifying the culture specific factors and resources that play a role in determining the particular needs of disadvantaged groups such as refugees, women and children, commercial sex workers, sexual minorities, the mentally ill, transgendered persons, etc.
• We plan to build, sustainable community support and care to our target population through peer education programs and in promoting cultural and behavioral change through enhancing awareness, sense of responsibility, mutual respect, attachment and compassion, updating of cultural traditions and references in response to illness.

Our long term goal (5-10 years) is to incorporate the above mentioned efforts with the establishment of health care centers that will service those who are often turned away elsewhere.

These centers will include:

Care and support services

• Primary Health Care in a supportive, judgment free environment
• Costs will be free and/or on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away due to an inability to pay
• Comprehensive HIV/AIDS testing and treatment
• Treatment of Opportunistic Infections
• Treatment of STD's
• Pain Management
• Home Visits
• Hospice Care
• Bereavement Counseling
• Referrals to supportive professionals and agencies
• HIV/AIDS related workshops