"Our Clinic," founded in 2002, is located in a small house in the center of Tomsk, the capital city of Siberia. Its bright, child-friendly décor makes it look more like a club house than a medical facility that provides testing for HIV and tuberculosis; psychological and social support; and needle exchange services for injecting drug users. The clinic also offers outreach services to give street counseling to drug users and condoms and HIV prevention information to commercial sex workers; and to follow-up with those diagnosed with TB to ensure that they stay current with their medication.

Homeless children from all over Tomsk use the clinic as a refuge from a gritty, cold and dangerous life on the streets. They may initially be enticed to come for a meal, but once they walk through the doors of the clinic, they get much more – a community of people who care and a circle of empathy that helps to break down barriers to adopting less risky behaviors.

With Global Fund support, the clinic provides services to about 1,500 clients per year, 40 percent of whom are street children.

"Social assistance is a very important part of the program because a person won't participate if they are worried about other things like food or taking a shower," said Timofey, a 28-year-old beekeeper, who was receiving preventive TB treatment from the clinic before becoming a volunteer peer counselor. Timofey is HIV positive and a former drug user. "Five or six years ago, it was difficult to find care because people were afraid of HIV. Now it's different, largely because of the work of the clinic."

Trust, accessibility and friendliness are the pillars of the clinic's success, said Dr. Elena Borzunova, who heads the clinic. "This is a low-threshold program because we understand that our clients will have trouble with the law, they will have behavior problems. We accept them as they are," she said.

"There's nothing really sinful about being a drug user or having an infection," said Maxim, one of the volunteer peer counselors. "I've benefitted a lot from the program. There is a professional attitude here. After all, in the end, it's about responsibility."