Our History

Bebashi has been helping people since 1985.

Bebashi – Transition to Hope was founded as a full-service HIV/AIDS organization with special interest in serving low-income people of color with HIV disease. As the second-oldest AIDS service organization in the Philadelphia region, Bebashi was the first African-American organization in the United States to address the AIDS crisis. It remains one of Philadelphia’s largest community-based minority providers of HIV/AIDS education and services for the urban community.

1985

Bebashi – Transition to Hope Founded

Bebashi was founded to address the AIDS crisis among people of color. The organization had no paid staff and office space loaned from 1199C. Rashidah Abdul-Khabeer (formerly Hassan) was the first Executive Director.

1993

Bebashi offers Medical Case Management Services to link people living with HIV/AIDS to primary care, encourage ongoing engagement in care, assist with treatment adherence and help connect them to other needed resources and services.

1996

Gary Bell joins Bebashi as Executive Director. At that time the organization had about 1700 clients, 16 staff and a budget of about $700k

1998

Moved to current location at 1235 Spring Garden Street

1998

Established Second Helping Emergency Food Pantry

1998

Created support groups for people affected by HIV.

2003

Selected to participate in the landmark Black Men’s Health Survey—a federally-funded five-year incidence study aimed to interpret the cultural, psychological, and environmental causes contributing to the disparately high rates of HIV infection among black MSM.

2007

Established Our Bodies Breast Health Program

2013

Began offering Hepatitis C education, testing and referrals.

2013

Enrolled in 340B Program, which provides drugs to eligible patients at reduced prices.

2014

Established Resource Navigation program, to assist low-income individuals in accessing resources and services to overcome challenges and achieve self-sufficiency.

2015

Launched an initiative to pay for State photo ID cards for individuals experiencing deep poverty. Having ID is necessary for individuals to apply for benefits, jobs and education.

2016

Began offering Club 1509 Services, which provide intensive prevention and navigation services for young LGBT individuals at high risk of HIV infection.

2017

Initiated Trans Necessities a resource where Trans individuals can obtain clothing, wigs, prosthetic breasts, binders and other necessities as well as health information, testing and referrals for primary care, PrEP and other resources.

2018

Bebashi serves approximately 21,000 individuals annually and provides a comprehensive array of services to empower low-income individuals to improve their health and overall well-being.

2018

Received a grant from the CDC (our first stand alone federal grant) to establish the wellness clinic.

2020

Bebashi staff was front line during the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

Celebrated the opening of the Trans Necessities Closet, a safe space for persons of trans experience or gender non- conforming individuals to have free access to gender affirming clothing, accessories, and resources.

 

 

2021

Sebrina Tate named the new Executive Director.

 

2023

Bebashi proudly unveils its very own Mobile Health Unit.

 

Bebashi in the community

Bebashi provides a continuum of care (free of charge) involving culturally sensitive and competent community education, HIV, STI, and pregnancy counseling and testing services, and medical case management (for HIV+ individuals).

Need help? Get in touch now!

If you have an immediate question or concern, call us anonymously to get an answer within 24 hours.

Donate Get Help