As many of you have heard, our dear friend Laz Rodriguez is in need of support and love.

Last month, Laz bravely decided to share with his community his HIV-positive diagnosis. Recently hospitalized for complications due to the disease, with no support from his family, he received an outpouring of care and financial support from his friends. This not only helped financially, but provided him with the optimism he needed to get through a very scary situation.

Although Laz’s health has improved, he still has no support from his family, nor any health insurance. In addition to the stigma associated with the disease, physical complications can continue to arise—to speak nothing of the emotional difficulty of coping with an illness without familial support or continued medical care.

Right now, our goal is getting Laz to a place of stability: a place of his own to live and an improved quality of life. We hope these changes will give Laz the strength and support to find employment, maintain his energy, and get good care. Donations will go toward housing, medicine, and healing modalities, and will help keep Laz healthy and stable while he looks for work.

Laz is a beloved friend and artist in the Miami community, and we care for him dearly. Any financial contribution will continue to help. Laz is continually grateful for your support, and so are we.

An additional note: We are also open to suggestions regarding alternative housing while Laz gets on his feet.